Will call on Sir J. Herschel, then take short trip in the African desert.
Horrified at the publication of "the little book of extracts" from his letters to Henslow ["Letters to Professor Henslow" (1835), Collected papers 1: 3–16].
A defence of the work of missionaries in the Pacific islands and Australia. [The letter was apparently written by RF with supporting evidence quoted from CD’s journal. The letter is signed by RF alone. A summary conclusion, as printed, is signed by both:] "On the whole, balancing all that we have heard, and all that we ourselves have seen concerning the missionaries in the Pacific, we are very much satisfied that they thoroughly deserve the warmest support, not only of individuals, but of the British Government."
Asks JSH to propose him for Geological Society. His meeting with Sir John Herschel and Andrew Smith at Cape of Good Hope.
In five days of geologising on St Helena, he found that the shells on high land had been mistakenly identified as seashells. They are land shells, but of species no longer living.
Can think of nothing but the return to England and his family.
Beagle is again in Brazil because of need to check on "singular disagreements in the Longitudes".
Pleased by Sedgwick’s praise.
Happily home, he sends thanks to his "first Lord of the Admiralty". Will visit Maer in two or three weeks.
CD has come home – little altered in looks and otherwise not a bit changed. He will go to London to be there when Beagle arrives, and he and Caroline will visit Maer soon.
Welcomes CD home; urges him to come to Woodhouse.
CD describes his happy home-coming. Finds his family and Shrewsbury unchanged.
His joy at being home. Anxious to see JSH for advice on his geological specimens.
Sends news of his movements since Beagle put in at Falmouth. His charts are safe and already being engraved.
Announces his engagement.
Last four days have been spent calling on naturalists. Geologists have been kind, but zoologists seem to think a number of undescribed creatures a nuisance.
Will send his belongings to Cambridge, but eventually his quarters must be London.
FitzRoy is to be married.
Congratulates CW on his marriage. Waiting in London till Beagle arrives in Woolwich.
Describes recent visit to Henslow in Cambridge.
At a loss to arrange specimens and observations.
They are impatient for CD’s arrival.
EW is reading F. Head’s "gallop" [Rapid journeys across the Pampas (1826)] "to get up a little knowledge for him".
CD has nearly settled in favour of living in Cambridge.
CD will not get to Maer that week. The Langtons are leaving and will meet him at Shrewsbury.
CD in London to meet with naturalists about his collections. Lyell and Owen are helpful, but no one else, except R. E. Grant, seems to want to examine his specimens.
Alerts JSH to boxes of specimens and letter of 30 Oct on the way by wagon.
Thomas Bell has expressed interest in CD’s Crustacea and reptiles.
CD’s ignorance about his botanical specimens embarrasses him.
Asks whether JSH is disappointed with Galapagos plants.
All his affairs are most prosperous. Has found many who will undertake description of animals; he will work at the geology. Lyell has been most friendly and kind.
CD has been proposed to the Geological Society.
Arranges to meet CW for conversation.
His fossil bones are unpacked and some are great treasures. He has some geology to do: R. I. Murchison has lent him a map and asked him to look at a part of the country he has been describing.
Their only protection against having Harriet Martineau as sister-in-law is that she works Erasmus too hard.