Letter 263 — Darwin, C. R. to Henslow, J. S., 8 Nov 1834
Summary
Sends two boxes of specimens and part of his “hum-drum letter-like” journal.
Transcription
Beagle. Valparaiso
November 8th. 1834
My dear Henslow.—
This letter is merely to inform you that I send by H.M.S. Challenger two boxes, with Specimens.— She does not sail from this port till January, & will not arrive in England for at least 4 months afterwards.f1 This letter goes by the Challenger to England.— In one of the Cases, I have given you an account of all our proceedings & future prospects &c &c.— I have also sent a part of my Journal.— would you be kind enough to direct & book it by some Coach to Dr Darwin Shrewsbury.— I did not think of sending it till five minutes before closing the Box, otherwise I would have directed it.— Of course, if you are inclined, you can look at any part of my hum-drum letter-like journal There are three small parcels of seeds; the one in the oblong box I have labelled as coming from T. del Fuego. it comes from Chiloe: (Climate &c &c like T. del Fuego but considerably warmer).— I do not much expect, that any one seed will grow.—
Continue to direct Valparaiso: if you know any person in Liverpool who would post your letters to me by any of the numerous ships to this port I should receive them a couple of months sooner.— in this case, they must be directed to the care of R. Corfield Esqr.— Yours most truly obliged | Chas. Darwin
Footnotes
- f1
- The Challenger sailed from Coquimbo on 5 February 1835, but did not proceed to England. After arriving at Rio de Janeiro in March, she set out on 1 April on her ill-fated voyage to the west coast of South America (see `Loss of His Majesty’s frigate Challenger‘ 1835). CD’s cases, if they were shipped in the Challenger, may have been transferred to another vessel at Rio de Janeiro.
