216 THE APPOINTMENT TO THE 'BEAGLE.' ^TAT. 22. [1831, 



C. Darwin to J. S. Hcnslaw. 



Devonport, December 3, 1831. 



MY DEAR HENSLOW, 



It is now late in the evening, and to-night I am going 

 to sleep on board. On Monday we most certainly sail, so 

 you may guess in what a desperate state of confusion we are 

 all in. If you were to hear the various exclamations of the 

 officers, you would suppose we had scarcely had a week's 

 notice. I am just in the same way taken all aback, and in 

 such a bustle I hardly know what to do. The number of things 

 to be done is infinite. I look forward even to sea-sickness 

 \vith something like satisfaction, anything must be better than 

 this state of anxiety. I am very much obliged for your last 

 kind and affectionate letter. I always like advice from you,, 

 and no one whom I have the luck to know is more capable of 

 giving it than yourself. Recollect, when you write, that I am 

 a sort of protfgt of yours, and that it is your bounden duty 

 to lecture me. 



I will now give you my direction : it is at first, Rio ; but 

 if you will send me a letter on the first Tuesday (when the 

 packet sails) in February, directed to Monte Video, it will give 

 me very great pleasure ; I shall so much enjoy hearing a little 

 Cambridge news. Poor dear old Alma Mater I I am a very 

 worthy son in as far as affection goes. I have little more to> 

 write about .... I cannot end this without telling you how 

 cordially I feel grateful for the kindness you have shown me 

 during my Cambridge life. Much of the pleasure and utility 

 which I may have derived from it is owing to you. I long for 

 the time when we shall again meet, and till then believe me,, 

 my dear Henslow, 



Your affectionate and obliged friend, 



CH. DARWIN. 



Remember me most kindly to those who take any interest 

 in me. 



