My dear Elizabeth

Charles is come home—so little altered in looks from what he was five years ago & not a bit changed his own dear self—he had landed at Falmouth on Sunday evening & travelled night & day till he came to Shrewsbury late last night— We heard nothing of him till this morning when he walked in just before breakfast— We have had the very happiest morning—poor Charles so full of affection & delight at seeing my Father looking so well & being with us all again— his hatred of the sea is as intense as even I can wish—arriving at its climax by a storm on the Bay of Biscay. He is looking very thin¹ —but well— he was so much pleased by finding your & Charlottes kind notes ready to receive him I shall indeed enjoy my dear Eliz going to Maer with him, how happy he will be to see you all again— When I began this letter I did not know he would feel tranquil enough to write himself, but he said he must be the first to tell Uncle Jos of his arrival— he feels so very grateful to Uncle Jos & you all & has been asking about every one of you— he must go to London to be able to be on the spot when his things are taken out of the Beagle so I am afraid he will certainly be gone before A^t Sarah comes to us—which I am sorry for. Now we have him really again at home I intend to begin to be glad he went this expedition & now I can allow he has gained happiness & interest for the rest of his life

Good bye dear Eliz it is pleasant to wr⁠⟨⁠ite to⁠⟩⁠ those who sympathize so entirely with us Y^r aff C S D