"VOYAGEOFTHE’BEAGLE’FROMDECEMBER27，1831，TOOCTOBER2，1836。"
OnreturninghomefrommyshortgeologicaltourinNorthWales，IfoundaletterfromHenslow，informingmethatCaptainFitz—RoywaswillingtogiveuppartofhisowncabintoanyyoungmanwhowouldvolunteertogowithhimwithoutpayasnaturalisttotheVoyageofthe"Beagle"。Ihavegiven，asIbelieve，inmyMS。Journalanaccountofallthecircumstanceswhichthenoccurred;IwillhereonlysaythatIwasinstantlyeagertoaccepttheoffer，butmyfatherstronglyobjected，addingthewords，fortunateforme，"IfyoucanfindanymanofcommonsensewhoadvisesyoutogoIwillgivemyconsent。"SoIwrotethateveningandrefusedtheoffer。OnthenextmorningIwenttoMaertobereadyforSeptember1st，and，whilstoutshooting，myuncle（JosiahWedgwood。）sentforme，offeringtodrivemeovertoShrewsburyandtalkwithmyfather，asmyunclethoughtitwouldbewiseinmetoaccepttheoffer。Myfatheralwaysmaintainedthathewasoneofthemostsensiblemenintheworld，andheatonceconsentedinthekindestmanner。IhadbeenratherextravagantatCambridge，andtoconsolemyfather，said，"thatIshouldbedeucedclevertospendmorethanmyallowancewhilstonboardthe’Beagle’;"butheansweredwithasmile，"Buttheytellmeyouareveryclever。"
NextdayIstartedforCambridgetoseeHenslow，andthencetoLondontoseeFitz—Roy，andallwassoonarranged。Afterwards，onbecomingveryintimatewithFitz—Roy，IheardthatIhadrunaverynarrowriskofbeingrejected，onaccountoftheshapeofmynose！HewasanardentdiscipleofLavater，andwasconvincedthathecouldjudgeofaman’scharacterbytheoutlineofhisfeatures;andhedoubtedwhetheranyonewithmynosecouldpossesssufficientenergyanddeterminationforthevoyage。ButIthinkhewasafterwardswellsatisfiedthatmynosehadspokenfalsely。
Fitz—Roy’scharacterwasasingularone，withverymanynoblefeatures:hewasdevotedtohisduty，generoustoafault，bold，determined，andindomitablyenergetic，andanardentfriendtoallunderhissway。Hewouldundertakeanysortoftroubletoassistthosewhomhethoughtdeservedassistance。Hewasahandsomeman，strikinglylikeagentleman，withhighlycourteousmanners，whichresembledthoseofhismaternaluncle，thefamousLordCastlereagh，asIwastoldbytheMinisteratRio。
NeverthelesshemusthaveinheritedmuchinhisappearancefromCharlesII。，forDr。Wallichgavemeacollectionofphotographswhichhehadmade，andIwasstruckwiththeresemblanceofonetoFitz—Roy;andonlookingatthename，IfounditCh。E。SobieskiStuart，Countd’Albanie，adescendantofthesamemonarch。
Fitz—Roy’stemperwasamostunfortunateone。Itwasusuallyworstintheearlymorning，andwithhiseagleeyehecouldgenerallydetectsomethingamissabouttheship，andwasthenunsparinginhisblame。Hewasverykindtome，butwasamanverydifficulttolivewithontheintimatetermswhichnecessarilyfollowedfromourmessingbyourselvesinthesamecabin。
Wehadseveralquarrels;forinstance，earlyinthevoyageatBahia，inBrazil，hedefendedandpraisedslavery，whichIabominated，andtoldmethathehadjustvisitedagreatslave—owner，whohadcalledupmanyofhisslavesandaskedthemwhethertheywerehappy，andwhethertheywishedtobefree，andallanswered"No。"Ithenaskedhim，perhapswithasneer，whetherhethoughtthattheanswerofslavesinthepresenceoftheirmasterwasworthanything？Thismadehimexcessivelyangry，andhesaidthatasIdoubtedhiswordwecouldnotliveanylongertogether。I
thoughtthatIshouldhavebeencompelledtoleavetheship;butassoonasthenewsspread，whichitdidquickly，asthecaptainsentforthefirstlieutenanttoassuagehisangerbyabusingme，Iwasdeeplygratifiedbyreceivinganinvitationfromallthegun—roomofficerstomesswiththem。
ButafterafewhoursFitz—RoyshowedhisusualmagnanimitybysendinganofficertomewithanapologyandarequestthatIwouldcontinuetolivewithhim。
HischaracterwasinseveralrespectsoneofthemostnoblewhichIhaveeverknown。
Thevoyageofthe"Beagle"hasbeenbyfarthemostimportanteventinmylife，andhasdeterminedmywholecareer;yetitdependedonsosmallacircumstanceasmyuncleofferingtodrivemethirtymilestoShrewsbury，whichfewuncleswouldhavedone，andonsuchatrifleastheshapeofmynose。IhavealwaysfeltthatIowetothevoyagethefirstrealtrainingoreducationofmymind;Iwasledtoattendcloselytoseveralbranchesofnaturalhistory，andthusmypowersofobservationwereimproved，thoughtheywerealwaysfairlydeveloped。
Theinvestigationofthegeologyofalltheplacesvisitedwasfarmoreimportant，asreasoningherecomesintoplay。Onfirstexamininganewdistrictnothingcanappearmorehopelessthanthechaosofrocks;butbyrecordingthestratificationandnatureoftherocksandfossilsatmanypoints，alwaysreasoningandpredictingwhatwillbefoundelsewhere，lightsoonbeginstodawnonthedistrict，andthestructureofthewholebecomesmoreorlessintelligible。IhadbroughtwithmethefirstvolumeofLyell’s’PrinciplesofGeology，’whichIstudiedattentively;andthebookwasofthehighestservicetomeinmanyways。TheveryfirstplacewhichIexamined，namelySt。JagointheCapedeVerdeislands，showedmeclearlythewonderfulsuperiorityofLyell’smanneroftreatinggeology，comparedwiththatofanyotherauthor，whoseworksIhadwithmeoreverafterwardsread。
Anotherofmyoccupationswascollectinganimalsofallclasses，brieflydescribingandroughlydissectingmanyofthemarineones;butfromnotbeingabletodraw，andfromnothavingsufficientanatomicalknowledge，agreatpileofMS。whichImadeduringthevoyagehasprovedalmostuseless。
Ithuslostmuchtime，withtheexceptionofthatspentinacquiringsomeknowledgeoftheCrustaceans，asthiswasofservicewheninafteryearsI
undertookamonographoftheCirripedia。
DuringsomepartofthedayIwrotemyJournal，andtookmuchpainsindescribingcarefullyandvividlyallthatIhadseen;andthiswasgoodpractice。MyJournalservedalso，inpart，asletterstomyhome，andportionsweresenttoEnglandwhenevertherewasanopportunity。
Theabovevariousspecialstudieswere，however，ofnoimportancecomparedwiththehabitofenergeticindustryandofconcentratedattentiontowhateverIwasengagedin，whichIthenacquired。EverythingaboutwhichI
thoughtorreadwasmadetobeardirectlyonwhatIhadseenorwaslikelytosee;andthishabitofmindwascontinuedduringthefiveyearsofthevoyage。IfeelsurethatitwasthistrainingwhichhasenabledmetodowhateverIhavedoneinscience。
Lookingbackwards，Icannowperceivehowmyloveforsciencegraduallypreponderatedovereveryothertaste。Duringthefirsttwoyearsmyoldpassionforshootingsurvivedinnearlyfullforce，andIshotmyselfallthebirdsandanimalsformycollection;butgraduallyIgaveupmygunmoreandmore，andfinallyaltogether，tomyservant，asshootinginterferedwithmywork，moreespeciallywithmakingoutthegeologicalstructureofacountry。Idiscovered，thoughunconsciouslyandinsensibly，thatthepleasureofobservingandreasoningwasamuchhigheronethanthatofskillandsport。Thatmymindbecamedevelopedthroughmypursuitsduringthevoyageisrenderedprobablebyaremarkmadebymyfather，whowasthemostacuteobserverwhomIeversaw，ofascepticaldisposition，andfarfrombeingabelieverinphrenology;foronfirstseeingmeafterthevoyage，heturnedroundtomysisters，andexclaimed，"Why，theshapeofhisheadisquitealtered。"
Toreturntothevoyage。OnSeptember11th（1831），IpaidaflyingvisitwithFitz—Roytothe"Beagle"atPlymouth。ThencetoShrewsburytowishmyfatherandsistersalongfarewell。OnOctober24thItookupmyresidenceatPlymouth，andremainedthereuntilDecember27th，whenthe"Beagle"
finallylefttheshoresofEnglandforhercircumnavigationoftheworld。
Wemadetwoearlierattemptstosail，butweredrivenbackeachtimebyheavygales。ThesetwomonthsatPlymouthwerethemostmiserablewhichI
everspent，thoughIexertedmyselfinvariousways。Iwasoutofspiritsatthethoughtofleavingallmyfamilyandfriendsforsolongatime，andtheweatherseemedtomeinexpressiblygloomy。Iwasalsotroubledwithpalpitationandpainabouttheheart，andlikemanyayoungignorantman，especiallyonewithasmatteringofmedicalknowledge，wasconvincedthatI
hadheartdisease。Ididnotconsultanydoctor，asIfullyexpectedtoheartheverdictthatIwasnotfitforthevoyage，andIwasresolvedtogoatallhazards。
Ineednothererefertotheeventsofthevoyage——wherewewentandwhatwedid——asIhavegivenasufficientlyfullaccountinmypublishedJournal。ThegloriesofthevegetationoftheTropicsrisebeforemymindatthepresenttimemorevividlythananythingelse;thoughthesenseofsublimity，whichthegreatdesertsofPatagoniaandtheforest—cladmountainsofTierradelFuegoexcitedinme，hasleftanindelibleimpressiononmymind。Thesightofanakedsavageinhisnativelandisaneventwhichcanneverbeforgotten。Manyofmyexcursionsonhorsebackthroughwildcountries，orintheboats，someofwhichlastedseveralweeks，weredeeplyinteresting:theirdiscomfortandsomedegreeofdangerwereatthattimehardlyadrawback，andnoneatallafterwards。Ialsoreflectwithhighsatisfactiononsomeofmyscientificwork，suchassolvingtheproblemofcoralislands，andmakingoutthegeologicalstructureofcertainislands，forinstance，St。Helena。NormustIpassoverthediscoveryofthesingularrelationsoftheanimalsandplantsinhabitingtheseveralislandsoftheGalapagosarchipelago，andofallofthemtotheinhabitantsofSouthAmerica。
AsfarasIcanjudgeofmyself，Iworkedtotheutmostduringthevoyagefromthemerepleasureofinvestigation，andfrommystrongdesiretoaddafewfactstothegreatmassoffactsinNaturalScience。ButIwasalsoambitioustotakeafairplaceamongscientificmen，——whethermoreambitiousorlesssothanmostofmyfellow—workers，Icanformnoopinion。
ThegeologyofSt。Jagoisverystriking，yetsimple:astreamoflavaformerlyflowedoverthebedofthesea，formedoftrituratedrecentshellsandcorals，whichithasbakedintoahardwhiterock。Sincethenthewholeislandhasbeenupheaved。Butthelineofwhiterockrevealedtomeanewandimportantfact，namely，thattherehadbeenafterwardssubsidenceroundthecraters，whichhadsincebeeninaction，andhadpouredforthlava。ItthenfirstdawnedonmethatImightperhapswriteabookonthegeologyofthevariouscountriesvisited，andthismademethrillwithdelight。Thatwasamemorablehourtome，andhowdistinctlyIcancalltomindthelowcliffoflavabeneathwhichIrested，withthesunglaringhot，afewstrangedesertplantsgrowingnear，andwithlivingcoralsinthetidalpoolsatmyfeet。Laterinthevoyage，Fitz—RoyaskedmetoreadsomeofmyJournal，anddeclareditwouldbeworthpublishing;soherewasasecondbookinprospect！
TowardsthecloseofourvoyageIreceivedaletterwhilstatAscension，inwhichmysisterstoldmethatSedgwickhadcalledonmyfather，andsaidthatIshouldtakeaplaceamongtheleadingscientificmen。Icouldnotatthetimeunderstandhowhecouldhavelearntanythingofmyproceedings，butIheard（Ibelieveafterwards）thatHenslowhadreadsomeoftheletterswhichIwrotetohimbeforethePhilosophicalSocietyofCambridge（ReadatthemeetingheldNovember16，1835，andprintedinapamphletof31pagesfordistributionamongthemembersoftheSociety。），andhadprintedthemforprivatedistribution。Mycollectionoffossilbones，whichhadbeensenttoHenslow，alsoexcitedconsiderableattentionamongstpalaeontologists。Afterreadingthisletter，IclamberedoverthemountainsofAscensionwithaboundingstep，andmadethevolcanicrocksresoundundermygeologicalhammer。AllthisshowshowambitiousIwas;
butIthinkthatIcansaywithtruththatinafteryears，thoughIcaredinthehighestdegreefortheapprobationofsuchmenasLyellandHooker，whoweremyfriends，Ididnotcaremuchaboutthegeneralpublic。Idonotmeantosaythatafavourablerevieworalargesaleofmybooksdidnotpleasemegreatly，butthepleasurewasafleetingone，andIamsurethatIhaveneverturnedoneinchoutofmycoursetogainfame。
FROMMYRETURNTOENGLAND（OCTOBER2，1836）TOMYMARRIAGE（JANUARY29，1839。）
ThesetwoyearsandthreemonthswerethemostactiveoneswhichIeverspent，thoughIwasoccasionallyunwell，andsolostsometime。AftergoingbackwardsandforwardsseveraltimesbetweenShrewsbury，Maer，Cambridge，andLondon，IsettledinlodgingsatCambridge（InFitzwilliamStreet。）onDecember13th，whereallmycollectionswereunderthecareofHenslow。Istayedherethreemonths，andgotmymineralsandrocksexaminedbytheaidofProfessorMiller。
Ibeganpreparingmy’JournalofTravels，’whichwasnothardwork，asmyMS。Journalhadbeenwrittenwithcare，andmychieflabourwasmakinganabstractofmymoreinterestingscientificresults。Isentalso，attherequestofLyell，ashortaccountofmyobservationsontheelevationofthecoastofChiletotheGeologicalSociety。（’Geolog。Soc。Proc。ii。
1838，pages446—449。）
OnMarch7th，1837，ItooklodgingsinGreatMarlboroughStreetinLondon，andremainedtherefornearlytwoyears，untilIwasmarried。DuringthesetwoyearsIfinishedmyJournal，readseveralpapersbeforetheGeologicalSociety，beganpreparingtheMS。formy’GeologicalObservations，’andarrangedforthepublicationofthe’ZoologyoftheVoyageofthe"Beagle"。’InJulyIopenedmyfirstnote—bookforfactsinrelationtotheOriginofSpecies，aboutwhichIhadlongreflected，andneverceasedworkingforthenexttwentyyears。
DuringthesetwoyearsIalsowentalittleintosociety，andactedasoneofthehonorarysecretariesoftheGeologicalSociety。IsawagreatdealofLyell。Oneofhischiefcharacteristicswashissympathywiththeworkofothers，andIwasasmuchastonishedasdelightedattheinterestwhichheshowedwhen，onmyreturntoEngland，Iexplainedtohimmyviewsoncoralreefs。Thisencouragedmegreatly，andhisadviceandexamplehadmuchinfluenceonme。DuringthistimeIsawalsoagooddealofRobertBrown;IusedoftentocallandsitwithhimduringhisbreakfastonSundaymornings，andhepouredfortharichtreasureofcuriousobservationsandacuteremarks，buttheyalmostalwaysrelatedtominutepoints，andheneverwithmediscussedlargeorgeneralquestionsinscience。
DuringthesetwoyearsItookseveralshortexcursionsasarelaxation，andonelongeronetotheParallelRoadsofGlenRoy，anaccountofwhichwaspublishedinthe’PhilosophicalTransactions。’（1839，pages39—82。）Thispaperwasagreatfailure，andIamashamedofit。HavingbeendeeplyimpressedwithwhatIhadseenoftheelevationofthelandofSouthAmerica，Iattributedtheparallellinestotheactionofthesea;butI
hadtogiveupthisviewwhenAgassizpropoundedhisglacier—laketheory。
Becausenootherexplanationwaspossibleunderourthenstateofknowledge，Iarguedinfavourofsea—action;andmyerrorhasbeenagoodlessontomenevertotrustinsciencetotheprincipleofexclusion。
AsIwasnotabletoworkalldayatscience，Ireadagooddealduringthesetwoyearsonvarioussubjects，includingsomemetaphysicalbooks;butIwasnotwellfittedforsuchstudies。AboutthistimeItookmuchdelightinWordsworth’sandColeridge’spoetry;andcanboastthatIreadthe’Excursion’twicethrough。FormerlyMilton’s’ParadiseLost’hadbeenmychieffavourite，andinmyexcursionsduringthevoyageofthe"Beagle"，whenIcouldtakeonlyasinglevolume，IalwayschoseMilton。
FROMMYMARRIAGE，JANUARY29，1839，ANDRESIDENCEINUPPERGOWERSTREET，TO
OURLEAVINGLONDONANDSETTLINGATDOWN，SEPTEMBER14，1842。
（Afterspeakingofhishappymarriedlife，andofhischildren，hecontinues:——）
DuringthethreeyearsandeightmonthswhilstweresidedinLondon，Ididlessscientificwork，thoughIworkedashardasIpossiblycould，thanduringanyotherequallengthoftimeinmylife。Thiswasowingtofrequentlyrecurringunwellness，andtoonelongandseriousillness。Thegreaterpartofmytime，whenIcoulddoanything，wasdevotedtomyworkon’CoralReefs，’whichIhadbegunbeforemymarriage，andofwhichthelastproof—sheetwascorrectedonMay6th，1842。Thisbook，thoughasmallone，costmetwentymonthsofhardwork，asIhadtoreadeveryworkontheislandsofthePacificandtoconsultmanycharts。Itwasthoughthighlyofbyscientificmen，andthetheorythereingivenis，Ithink，nowwellestablished。
Nootherworkofminewasbeguninsodeductiveaspiritasthis，forthewholetheorywasthoughtoutonthewestcoastofSouthAmerica，beforeI
hadseenatruecoralreef。Ihadthereforeonlytoverifyandextendmyviewsbyacarefulexaminationoflivingreefs。ButitshouldbeobservedthatIhadduringthetwopreviousyearsbeenincessantlyattendingtotheeffectsontheshoresofSouthAmericaoftheintermittentelevationoftheland，togetherwithdenudationandthedepositionofsediment。Thisnecessarilyledmetoreflectmuchontheeffectsofsubsidence，anditwaseasytoreplaceinimaginationthecontinueddepositionofsedimentbytheupwardgrowthofcorals。Todothiswastoformmytheoryoftheformationofbarrier—reefsandatolls。
Besidesmyworkoncoral—reefs，duringmyresidenceinLondon，IreadbeforetheGeologicalSocietypapersontheErraticBouldersofSouthAmerica（’Geolog。Soc。Proc。’iii。1842。），onEarthquakes（’Geolog。Trans。
v。1840。），andontheFormationbytheAgencyofEarth—wormsofMould。
（’Geolog。Soc。Proc。ii。1838。）Ialsocontinuedtosuperintendthepublicationofthe’ZoologyoftheVoyageofthe"Beagle"。’NordidIeverintermitcollectingfactsbearingontheoriginofspecies;andIcouldsometimesdothiswhenIcoulddonothingelsefromillness。
Inthesummerof1842IwasstrongerthanIhadbeenforsometime，andtookalittletourbymyselfinNorthWales，forthesakeofobservingtheeffectsoftheoldglacierswhichformerlyfilledallthelargervalleys。
IpublishedashortaccountofwhatIsawinthe’PhilosophicalMagazine。’
（’PhilosophicalMagazine，’1842。）Thisexcursioninterestedmegreatly，anditwasthelasttimeIwaseverstrongenoughtoclimbmountainsortotakelongwalkssuchasarenecessaryforgeologicalwork。
DuringtheearlypartofourlifeinLondon，Iwasstrongenoughtogointogeneralsociety，andsawagooddealofseveralscientificmen，andothermoreorlessdistinguishedmen。Iwillgivemyimpressionswithrespecttosomeofthem，thoughIhavelittletosayworthsaying。
IsawmoreofLyellthanofanyotherman，bothbeforeandaftermymarriage。Hismindwascharacterised，asitappearedtome，byclearness，caution，soundjudgment，andagooddealoforiginality。WhenImadeanyremarktohimonGeology，heneverresteduntilhesawthewholecaseclearly，andoftenmademeseeitmoreclearlythanIhaddonebefore。Hewouldadvanceallpossibleobjectionstomysuggestion，andevenafterthesewereexhaustedwouldlongremaindubious。Asecondcharacteristicwashisheartysympathywiththeworkofotherscientificmen。（TheslightrepetitionhereobservableisaccountedforbythenotesonLyell，etc。，havingbeenaddedinApril，1881，afewyearsaftertherestofthe’Recollections’werewritten。）
Onmyreturnfromthevoyageofthe"Beagle"，Iexplainedtohimmyviewsoncoral—reefs，whichdifferedfromhis，andIwasgreatlysurprisedandencouragedbythevividinterestwhichheshowed。Hisdelightinsciencewasardent，andhefeltthekeenestinterestinthefutureprogressofmankind。Hewasverykind—hearted，andthoroughlyliberalinhisreligiousbeliefs，orratherdisbeliefs;buthewasastrongtheist。Hiscandourwashighlyremarkable。HeexhibitedthisbybecomingaconverttotheDescenttheory，thoughhehadgainedmuchfamebyopposingLamarck’sviews，andthisafterhehadgrownold。HeremindedmethatIhadmanyyearsbeforesaidtohim，whendiscussingtheoppositionoftheoldschoolofgeologiststohisnewviews，"Whatagoodthingitwouldbeifeveryscientificmanwastodiewhensixtyyearsold，asafterwardshewouldbesuretoopposeallnewdoctrines。"Buthehopedthatnowhemightbeallowedtolive。
ThescienceofGeologyisenormouslyindebtedtoLyell——moreso，asI
believe，thantoanyothermanwhoeverlived。When[Iwas]startingonthevoyageofthe"Beagle"，thesagaciousHenslow，who，likeallothergeologists，believedatthattimeinsuccessivecataclysms，advisedmetogetandstudythefirstvolumeofthe’Principles，’whichhadthenjustbeenpublished，butonnoaccounttoaccepttheviewsthereinadvocated。
Howdifferentlywouldanyonenowspeakofthe’Principles’！Iamproudtorememberthatthefirstplace，namely，St。Jago，intheCapedeVerdearchipelago，inwhichIgeologised，convincedmeoftheinfinitesuperiorityofLyell’sviewsoverthoseadvocatedinanyotherworkknowntome。
ThepowerfuleffectsofLyell’sworkscouldformerlybeplainlyseeninthedifferentprogressofthescienceinFranceandEngland。ThepresenttotaloblivionofEliedeBeaumont’swildhypotheses，suchashis’CratersofElevation’and’LinesofElevation’（whichlatterhypothesisIheardSedgwickattheGeologicalSocietylaudingtotheskies），maybelargelyattributedtoLyell。
IsawagooddealofRobertBrown，"facilePrincepsBotanicorum，"ashewascalledbyHumboldt。Heseemedtometobechieflyremarkablefortheminutenessofhisobservations，andtheirperfectaccuracy。Hisknowledgewasextraordinarilygreat，andmuchdiedwithhim，owingtohisexcessivefearofevermakingamistake。Hepouredouthisknowledgetomeinthemostunreservedmanner，yetwasstrangelyjealousonsomepoints。Icalledonhimtwoorthreetimesbeforethevoyageofthe"Beagle"，andononeoccasionheaskedmetolookthroughamicroscopeanddescribewhatIsaw。
ThisIdid，andbelievenowthatitwasthemarvellouscurrentsofprotoplasminsomevegetablecell。IthenaskedhimwhatIhadseen;butheansweredme，"Thatismylittlesecret。"
Hewascapableofthemostgenerousactions。Whenold，muchoutofhealth，andquiteunfitforanyexertion，hedailyvisited（asHookertoldme）anoldman—servant，wholivedatadistance（andwhomhesupported），andreadaloudtohim。Thisisenoughtomakeupforanydegreeofscientificpenuriousnessorjealousy。
Imayherementionafewothereminentmen，whomIhaveoccasionallyseen，butIhavelittletosayaboutthemworthsaying。IfeltahighreverenceforSirJ。Herschel，andwasdelightedtodinewithhimathischarminghouseattheCapeofGoodHope，andafterwardsathisLondonhouse。Isawhim，also，onafewotheroccasions。Henevertalkedmuch，buteverywordwhichheutteredwasworthlisteningto。
IoncemetatbreakfastatSirR。Murchison’shousetheillustriousHumboldt，whohonouredmebyexpressingawishtoseeme。Iwasalittledisappointedwiththegreatman，butmyanticipationsprobablyweretoohigh。Icanremembernothingdistinctlyaboutourinterview，exceptthatHumboldtwasverycheerfulandtalkedmuch。
——remindsmeofBucklewhomIoncemetatHensleighWedgwood’s。Iwasverygladtolearnfromhimhissystemofcollectingfacts。Hetoldmethatheboughtallthebookswhichheread，andmadeafullindex，toeach，ofthefactswhichhethoughtmightproveserviceabletohim，andthathecouldalwaysrememberinwhatbookhehadreadanything，forhismemorywaswonderful。Iaskedhimhowatfirsthecouldjudgewhatfactswouldbeserviceable，andheansweredthathedidnotknow，butthatasortofinstinctguidedhim。Fromthishabitofmakingindices，hewasenabledtogivetheastonishingnumberofreferencesonallsortsofsubjects，whichmaybefoundinhis’HistoryofCivilisation。’ThisbookIthoughtmostinteresting，andreadittwice，butIdoubtwhetherhisgeneralisationsareworthanything。Bucklewasagreattalker，andIlistenedtohimsayinghardlyaword，norindeedcouldIhavedonesoforheleftnogaps。WhenMrs。Farrerbegantosing，IjumpedupandsaidthatImustlistentoher;
afterIhadmovedawayheturnedaroundtoafriendandsaid（aswasoverheardbymybrother），"Well，Mr。Darwin’sbooksaremuchbetterthanhisconversation。"
Ofothergreatliterarymen，IoncemetSydneySmithatDeanMilman’shouse。Therewassomethinginexplicablyamusingineverywordwhichheuttered。Perhapsthiswaspartlyduetotheexpectationofbeingamused。
HewastalkingaboutLadyCork，whowasthenextremelyold。Thiswastheladywho，ashesaid，wasoncesomuchaffectedbyoneofhischaritysermons，thatsheBORROWEDaguineafromafriendtoputintheplate。Henowsaid"ItisgenerallybelievedthatmydearoldfriendLadyCorkhasbeenoverlooked，"andhesaidthisinsuchamannerthatnoonecouldforamomentdoubtthathemeantthathisdearoldfriendhadbeenoverlookedbythedevil。HowhemanagedtoexpressthisIknownot。
IlikewiseoncemetMacaulayatLordStanhope’s（thehistorian’s）house，andastherewasonlyoneothermanatdinner，Ihadagrandopportunityofhearinghimconverse，andhewasveryagreeable。Hedidnottalkatalltoomuch;norindeedcouldsuchamantalktoomuch，aslongasheallowedotherstoturnthestreamofhisconversation，andthishedidallow。
LordStanhopeoncegavemeacuriouslittleproofoftheaccuracyandfulnessofMacaulay’smemory:manyhistoriansusedoftentomeetatLordStanhope’shouse，andindiscussingvarioussubjectstheywouldsometimesdifferfromMacaulay，andformerlytheyoftenreferredtosomebooktoseewhowasright;butlatterly，asLordStanhopenoticed，nohistorianevertookthistrouble，andwhateverMacaulaysaidwasfinal。
OnanotheroccasionImetatLordStanhope’shouse，oneofhispartiesofhistoriansandotherliterarymen，andamongstthemwereMotleyandGrote。
AfterluncheonIwalkedaboutCheveningParkfornearlyanhourwithGrote，andwasmuchinterestedbyhisconversationandpleasedbythesimplicityandabsenceofallpretensioninhismanners。
LongagoIdinedoccasionallywiththeoldEarl，thefatherofthehistorian;hewasastrangeman，butwhatlittleIknewofhimIlikedmuch。Hewasfrank，genial，andpleasant。Hehadstronglymarkedfeatures，withabrowncomplexion，andhisclothes，whenIsawhim，wereallbrown。Heseemedtobelieveineverythingwhichwastoothersutterlyincredible。Hesaidonedaytome，"Whydon’tyougiveupyourfiddle—
faddleofgeologyandzoology，andturntotheoccultsciences！"Thehistorian，thenLordMahon，seemedshockedatsuchaspeechtome，andhischarmingwifemuchamused。
ThelastmanwhomIwillmentionisCarlyle，seenbymeseveraltimesatmybrother’shouse，andtwoorthreetimesatmyownhouse。Histalkwasveryracyandinteresting，justlikehiswritings，buthesometimeswentontoolongonthesamesubject。Irememberafunnydinneratmybrother’s，where，amongstafewothers，wereBabbageandLyell，bothofwhomlikedtotalk。Carlyle，however，silencedeveryonebyharanguingduringthewholedinnerontheadvantagesofsilence。AfterdinnerBabbage，inhisgrimmestmanner，thankedCarlyleforhisveryinterestinglectureonsilence。
Carlylesneeredatalmosteveryone:onedayinmyhousehecalledGrote’s’History’"afetidquagmire，withnothingspiritualaboutit。"Ialwaysthought，untilhis’Reminiscences’appeared，thathissneerswerepartlyjokes，butthisnowseemsratherdoubtful。Hisexpressionwasthatofadepressed，almostdespondentyetbenevolentman;anditisnotorioushowheartilyhelaughed。Ibelievethathisbenevolencewasreal，thoughstainedbynotalittlejealousy。Noonecandoubtabouthisextraordinarypowerofdrawingpicturesofthingsandmen——farmorevivid，asitappearstome，thananydrawnbyMacaulay。Whetherhispicturesofmenweretrueonesisanotherquestion。
Hehasbeenall—powerfulinimpressingsomegrandmoraltruthsonthemindsofmen。Ontheotherhand，hisviewsaboutslaverywererevolting。Inhiseyesmightwasright。Hismindseemedtomeaverynarrowone;evenifallbranchesofscience，whichhedespised，areexcluded。ItisastonishingtomethatKingsleyshouldhavespokenofhimasamanwellfittedtoadvancescience。Helaughedtoscorntheideathatamathematician，suchasWhewell，couldjudge，asImaintainedhecould，ofGoethe’sviewsonlight。
Hethoughtitamostridiculousthingthatanyoneshouldcarewhetheraglaciermovedalittlequickeroralittleslower，ormovedatall。AsfarasIcouldjudge，Inevermetamanwithamindsoilladaptedforscientificresearch。
WhilstlivinginLondon，IattendedasregularlyasIcouldthemeetingsofseveralscientificsocieties，andactedassecretarytotheGeologicalSociety。Butsuchattendance，andordinarysociety，suitedmyhealthsobadlythatweresolvedtoliveinthecountry，whichwebothpreferredandhaveneverrepentedof。
RESIDENCEATDOWNFROMSEPTEMBER14，1842，TOTHEPRESENTTIME，1876。
AfterseveralfruitlesssearchesinSurreyandelsewhere，wefoundthishouseandpurchasedit。Iwaspleasedwiththediversifiedappearanceofvegetationpropertoachalkdistrict，andsounlikewhatIhadbeenaccustomedtointheMidlandcounties;andstillmorepleasedwiththeextremequietnessandrusticityoftheplace。Itisnot，however，quitesoretiredaplaceasawriterinaGermanperiodicalmakesit，whosaysthatmyhousecanbeapproachedonlybyamule—track！Ourfixingourselvesherehasansweredadmirablyinoneway，whichwedidnotanticipate，namely，bybeingveryconvenientforfrequentvisitsfromourchildren。
Fewpersonscanhavelivedamoreretiredlifethanwehavedone。Besidesshortvisitstothehousesofrelations，andoccasionallytotheseasideorelsewhere，wehavegonenowhere。Duringthefirstpartofourresidencewewentalittleintosociety，andreceivedafewfriendshere;butmyhealthalmostalwayssufferedfromtheexcitement，violentshiveringandvomitingattacksbeingthusbroughton。Ihavethereforebeencompelledformanyyearstogiveupalldinner—parties;andthishasbeensomewhatofadeprivationtome，assuchpartiesalwaysputmeintohighspirits。FromthesamecauseIhavebeenabletoinvitehereveryfewscientificacquaintances。
Mychiefenjoymentandsoleemploymentthroughoutlifehasbeenscientificwork;andtheexcitementfromsuchworkmakesmeforthetimeforget，ordrivesquiteaway，mydailydiscomfort。Ihavethereforenothingtorecordduringtherestofmylife，exceptthepublicationofmyseveralbooks。
Perhapsafewdetailshowtheyarosemaybeworthgiving。
MYSEVERALPUBLICATIONS。
Intheearlypartof1844，myobservationsonthevolcanicislandsvisitedduringthevoyageofthe"Beagle"werepublished。In1845，Itookmuchpainsincorrectinganeweditionofmy’JournalofResearches，’whichwasoriginallypublishedin1839aspartofFitz—Roy’swork。Thesuccessofthis，myfirstliterarychild，alwaysticklesmyvanitymorethanthatofanyofmyotherbooks。EventothisdayitsellssteadilyinEnglandandtheUnitedStates，andhasbeentranslatedforthesecondtimeintoGerman，andintoFrenchandotherlanguages。Thissuccessofabookoftravels，especiallyofascientificone，somanyyearsafteritsfirstpublication，issurprising。TenthousandcopieshavebeensoldinEnglandofthesecondedition。In1846my’GeologicalObservationsonSouthAmerica’werepublished。Irecordinalittlediary，whichIhavealwayskept，thatmythreegeologicalbooks（’CoralReefs’included）consumedfourandahalfyears’steadywork;"andnowitistenyearssincemyreturntoEngland。
HowmuchtimehaveIlostbyillness？"Ihavenothingtosayaboutthesethreebooksexceptthattomysurpriseneweditionshavelatelybeencalledfor。（’GeologicalObservations，’2ndEdit。1876。’CoralReefs，’2ndEdit。
1874。）
InOctober，1846，Ibegantoworkon’Cirripedia。’WhenonthecoastofChile，Ifoundamostcuriousform，whichburrowedintotheshellsofConcholepas，andwhichdifferedsomuchfromallotherCirripedesthatI
hadtoformanewsub—orderforitssolereception。LatelyanalliedburrowinggenushasbeenfoundontheshoresofPortugal。TounderstandthestructureofmynewCirripedeIhadtoexamineanddissectmanyofthecommonforms;andthisgraduallyledmeontotakeupthewholegroup。I
workedsteadilyonthissubjectforthenexteightyears，andultimatelypublishedtwothickvolumes（PublishedbytheRaySociety。），describingalltheknownlivingspecies，andtwothinquartosontheextinctspecies。I
donotdoubtthatSirE。LyttonBulwerhadmeinhismindwhenheintroducedinoneofhisnovelsaProfessorLong，whohadwrittentwohugevolumesonlimpets。
AlthoughIwasemployedduringeightyearsonthiswork，yetIrecordinmydiarythatabouttwoyearsoutofthistimewaslostbyillness。OnthisaccountIwentin1848forsomemonthstoMalvernforhydropathictreatment，whichdidmemuchgood，sothatonmyreturnhomeIwasabletoresumework。SomuchwasIoutofhealththatwhenmydearfatherdiedonNovember13th，1848，Iwasunabletoattendhisfuneralortoactasoneofhisexecutors。