To J. S. Henslow   [5 October 1846]

My dear Henslow

In a few days’ time my third & last Part of the Geology of the Voyage of the Beagle, viz on S. America will be published, & I want to know how I can send you a copy. I take shame to myself that the others were not sent, for I consider that you have a right to them.¹ Have you any house of call, where your parcels accumulate?

I am very sorry & so is my wife that your scheme of paying us, a little visit on your way to M^r Jenyns broke down.—² I sh^d. have much enjoyed having you here. I was at Southampton & saw there L. Jenyns: I did not think he was looking at all well; sadly too thin: I was very glad to hear from him, that M^rs. Henslow was a little better. L. Jenyn’s new book appears a very nice one, as far as I have read.—³ I wish you had been at Southampton; there was a capital congregation of naturalists & I saw many old friends & was introduced to many new acquaintances. Altogether we enjoyed (for my wife was with me) our week exceedingly, & took some little excursion, especially one to Winchester Cathedral. I think I shall certainly attend the Oxford meeting⁴ & no doubt you will be there.

You cannot think how delighted I feel at having finished all my Beagle materials, except some invertebrata: it is now 10 years since my return, & your words, which I thought preposterous, are come true, that it w^d take twice the number of years to describe, that it took to collect & observe.

Farewell my dear Henslow, how I wish that I lived nearer to you | Yours most truly | C. Darwin