258 THE VOYAGE. jETAT. 26. [1834. 



sterile, but abounding with the highest interest to a geologist. 

 For the first time since leaving England I now see a clear and 

 not so distant prospect of returning to you all : crossing the 

 Pacific, and from Sydney home, will not take much time. 



As soon as the Captain invalided I at once determined to 

 leave the Beagle, but it was quite absurd what a revolution in 

 five minutes was effected in all my feelings. I have long been 

 grieved and most sorry at the interminable length of the 

 voyage (although I never would have quitted it) ; but the 

 minute it was all over, I could not make up my mind to 

 return. I could not give up all the geological castles in the 

 air which I had been building up for the last two years. One 

 whole night I tried to think over the pleasure of seeing 

 Shrewsbury again, but the barren plains of Peru gained the 

 day. I made the following scheme (I know you will abuse 

 me, and perhaps if I had put it in execution, my father would 

 have sent a mandamus after me) ; it was to examine the Cor- 

 dilleras of Chili during this summer, and in the winter go from 

 port to port on the coast of Peru to Lima, returning this time 

 next year to Valparaiso, cross the Cordilleras to Buenos Ayres, 

 and take ship to England. Would not this have been a fine 

 excursion, and in sixteen months I should have been with you 

 all ? To have endured Tierra del Fuego and not seen the 

 Pacific would have been miserable. . . . 



I go on board to-morrow ; I have been for the last six 

 weeks in Corfield's house. You cannot imagine what a kind 

 friend I have found him. He is universally liked, and re- 

 spected by the natives and foreigners. Several Chileno Sig- 

 noritas are very obligingly anxious to become the signoras of 

 this house. Tell my father I have kept my promise of being 

 extravagant in Chili. I have drawn a bill of ;ioo(had it not 

 better be notified to Messrs. Robarts & Co.) ; 50 goes to the 

 Captain for the ensuing year, and 30 1 take to sea for the small 

 ports ; so that bond fide I have not spent ;i8o during these 

 last four months. I hope not to draw another bill for six 



