258 LONDON AND CAMBRIDGE. .ETAT. 28. [1837. 



all the rest of the fortnight 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 difficult 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.] 



C. Darwin to J. S. Henslow. 



[4th November, 1837.] 



My dear Henslow, 



. . . Pray tell Leonard* that my Government work is 

 going on smoothly, and I hope will be prosperous. He will 

 see in the Prospectus his name attached to the fish ; I set my 

 shoulders to the work with a good heart. I am very much 

 better than I was during the last month before my Shrews- 



* Rev. L. Jenyns. 



