Aug. 1828. 



CAPTAIN STOKEs's DEATH. 



153 



considering upon their report, which was, as I afterwards 

 found, very unfavourable, when a boat came from the Beagle, 

 with the dreadful intelligence that Captain Stokes, in a momen- 

 tary fit of despondency, had shot himself. 



The surgeons instantly repaired on board, and finding him 

 alive, had recourse to every means in their power, but without 

 hope of saving his life. During the delirium that ensued, and 

 lasted four days, his mind wandered to many of the circum- 

 stances, and hair-breadth escapes, of the Beagle''s cruize. The 

 following three days he recovered so much as to be able to see 

 me frequently ; and hopes were entertained by himself, but by 

 no one else, that he would recover. He then became gradually 

 worse, and after lingering in most intense pain, expired on the 

 morning of the 12th. 



Thus shockingly and prematurely perished an active, intel- 

 ligent, and most energetic officer, in the prime of life. The 

 severe hardships of the cruize, the dreadful weather expe- 

 rienced, and the dangerous situations in which they were so 

 constantly exposed — caused, as I was afterwards informed, 

 such intense anxiety in his excitable mind, that it became at 

 times so disordered, as to cause the greatest apprehension for 

 the consequences. On the return of the Beagle he got better ; 

 and the officers were so sanguine in hoping for his complete 

 restoration to health, on account of his progressive recovery, 

 that nothing which had transpired was communicated to me 

 until after his decease. 



His remains were interred at our burial-ground, with the 

 honours due to his rank, and a tablet was subsequently erected 

 to his memory. 



