1 837.] SECRETARYSHIP. 287 



not speaking idly, that when I consulted Dr. Clark in town, 

 he at first urged me to give up entirely all writing and 

 even correcting press for some weeks. Of late anything 

 which flurries me completely knocks me up afterwards, 

 and brings on a violent palpitation of the heart. Now 

 the Secretaryship would be a periodical source of more 

 annoying trouble to me than all the rest of the fort- 

 night put together. In fact, till I return to town, and see 

 how I get on, if I wished the office ever so much, I could not 

 say I would positively undertake it. I beg of you to excuse 

 this very long prose all about myself, but the point is one 

 of great interest I can neither bear to think myself very 

 selfish and sulky, nor can I see the possibility of my taking 

 the Secretaryship without making a sacrifice of all my plans 

 and a good deal of comfort. 



If you see Whewell, would you tell him the substance 

 of this letter ; or, if he will take the trouble, he may read it. 

 My dear Henslow, I appeal to you in loco parentis. Pray 

 tell me what you think ? But do not judge me by the activity 

 of mind which you and a few others possess, for in that case 

 the more different things in hand the pleasanter the work ; 

 but, though I hope I never shall be idle, such is not the case 

 with me. 



Ever, dear Henslow, 



Yours most truly, 



C. DARWIN. 



[He ultimately accepted the post, and held it for three years 

 from February 16, 1838, to February 19, 1841. 



After being assured of the Grant for the publication of the 

 ' Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle? there was much to be 

 done in arranging the scheme of publication, and this occupied 

 him during part of October and November.] 



