PERSONS ON BOARD. 



19 



extremely fond of geology, and indeed all branches of natural 

 history. In consequence an offer was made to Mr. Darwin to 

 be my guest on board, which he accepted conditionally ; per- 

 mission was obtained for his embarkation, and an order given 

 by the Admiralty that he should be borne on the ship's books 

 for provisions. The conditions asked by Mr. Darwin were, that 

 he should be at -liberty to leave the Beagle and retire from the 

 Expedition when he thought proper, and that he should pay a 

 fair share of the expenses of my table. 



Knowing well that no one actively engaged in the surveying 

 duties on which we were going to be employed, would have 

 time — even if he had ability— to make much use of the pencil, 

 I engaged an artist, Mr. Augustus Earle, to go out in a private 

 capacity ; though not without the sanction of the Admiralty, 

 who authorized him also to be victualled. And in order to 

 secure the constant, yet to a certain degree mechanical attend- 

 ance required by a large number of chronometers, and to be 

 enabled to repair our instruments and keep them in order, I en- 

 gaged the services of Mr. George James Stebbing, eldest son of 

 the mathematical instrument-maker at Portsmouth, as a private 

 assistant. 



The established complement of officers and men (including 

 marines and boys) was sixty-five : but, with the supernumera- 

 ries I have mentioned, we had on board, when the Beagle 

 sailed from England, seventy-four persons, namely : — 



Robert Fitz-Roy Commander and Surveyor. 



John Clements Wickham Lieutenant. 



Bartholomew James Sulivan Lieutenant. 



Edward Main Chaffers Master. 



Robert Mac-Cormick Surgeon. 



George Rowlett Purser. 



Alexander Derbishire Mate. 



Peter Benson Stewart Mate. 



John Lort Stokes Mate and Assistant Surveyor. 



Benjamin Bynoe Assistant Surgeon. 



Arthur MeUersh Midshipman. 



Philip Gidley King Midshipman. 



c 2 



