226 THE VOYAGE. ^ETAT. 25. [1834. 



My love to Nancy; * tell her, if she was now to see me 

 with my great beard, she would think I was some worthy 

 Solomon, come to sell the trinkets. 



C. Darwin to C. Whitley. 



Valparaiso, July 23, 1834. 



My dear Whitley, 



I have long intended writing, just to put you in mind th^t 

 there is a certain hunter of beetles, and pounder of rocks, 

 still in existence. Why I have not done so before I know 

 not, but it will serve me right if you have quite forgotten me. 

 It is a very long time since I have heard any Cambridge news ; 

 I neither know where you are living or what you are doing. 

 I saw your name down as one of the indefatigable guardians 

 of the eighteen hundred philosophers. I was delighted to 

 see this, for when we last left Cambridge you were at sad 

 variance with poor science ; you seemed to think her a public 

 prostitute working for popularity. If your opinions are the 

 same as formerly, you would agree most admirably with 

 Captain Fitz-Roy, — the object of his most devout abhorrence 

 is one of the d — d scientific Whigs. As captains of men-of- 

 war are the greatest men going, far greater than kings or 

 schoolmasters, I am obliged to tell him everything in my own 

 favour. I have often said I once had a very good friend, an 

 out-and-out Tory, and we managed to get on very well to- 

 gether. But he is very much inclined to doubt if ever I really 

 was so much honoured ; at present we hear scarcely anything 

 about politics ; this saves a great deal of trouble, for we all 

 stick to our former opinions rather more obstinately than be- 

 fore, and can give rather fewer reasons for doing so. 



I do hope you will write to me : (' H. M. S. Beagle, S. 

 American Station ' will find me). I should much like to hear 

 in what state you are both in body and mind. I Quie'n Sabe ? 

 as the people say here (and God knows they well may, for 



* His old nurse. 



