1846 APPOINTMENT TO THE RATTLESNAKE 27 



faith in my own star (Wie das Gestirn, ohne Hast, ohne Rast), 

 I knew this was only because I was to have something better, 

 and so it turned out; for a day or two after I was ousted from 

 the museum, Sir J. Richardson (who has shown himself for 

 some reason or another a special good friend to me) told me 

 that he had received a letter from Captain Owen Stanley, who 

 is to command an exploring expedition to New Guinea (not 

 coast of Africa, mind), requesting him to recommend an assist- 

 ant surgeon for this expedition — would I like the appointment? 

 As you may imagine I was delighted at the offer, and immedi- 

 ately accepted it. I \vas recommended accordingly to Captain 

 Stanley and Sir W. Burnett, and I shall be appointed as soon 

 as the ship is in commission. We are to have the Rattlesnake, 

 a 28-gun frigate, and as she will fit out here I shall have no 

 trouble. We sail probably in September. 



New Guinea, as you may be aware, is a place almost un- 

 known, and our object is to bring back a full account of its 

 Geography, Geology, and Natural History. In the latter de- 

 partment with which I shall have (in addition to my medical 

 functions) somewhat to do, we shall form one grand collection 

 of specimens and deposit it in the British Museum or some 

 other public place, and this main object being always kept in 

 view, we are at liberty to collect and work for ourselves as we 

 please. Depend upon it unless some sudden attack of laziness 

 supervenes, such an opportunity shall not slip unused out of 

 my hands. The great difficulty in such a wide field is to choose 

 an object. In this point, however, I hope to be greatly assisted 

 by the scientific folks, to many of whom I have already had 

 introductions (Owen, Gray, Grant, Forbes), and this, I assure 

 you, I look upon as by no means the least of the advantages 

 I shall derive from being connected with the expedition. I have 

 been twice to town to see Captain Stanley. He is a son of the 

 Bishop of Norwich, is an exceedingly gentlemanly man, a thor- 

 ough scientific enthusiast, and shows himself altogether very 

 much disposed to forward my views in every possible way. 

 Being a scientific man himself he will take care to have the 

 ship's arrangements as far as possible in harmony with scientific 

 pursuits — a circumstance you would appreciate as highly as I 

 do if you were as well acquainted as I now am with the ordinary 

 opportunities of an assistant surgeon. Furthermore, I am given 

 to understand that if one does anything at all, promotion is 

 almost certain. So that altogether I am in a very fair way, 

 and would snap my fingers at the Grand Turk. Wharton Jones 



