In Which I Am Old and Frail and Darwin Releases The Origin of Species

It's been twenty-something years since Darwin and I journeyed on The HMS Beagle. I am graying at the temples and my knees are not as soft as they once were when I climbed tropical trees in Argentina and Brazil. Mother is still alive - sometimes I want to write that the longevity of her life is a curse, but that would be exaggerating the situation. In reality, she is quite lovely and spends the rest of her days playing with my two children, who are turning out to have a strong interest in the natural sciences.

The reason I am writing is because of this little thing I received with my post:

I had started to believe that Darwin was never going to publish his theories. Rumors had flown that Mr. Darwin had discovered the studies of a Mr. Alfred Wallace, who had also reached the conclusion of natural selection and was intent on releasing his work. To give credit where it was due, Uncle Darwin decided to hurry up the printing of his beloved book.

I had not cried for a long time, but when I held the book in my hand, a tear began to slip down my cheek. Surely theologists would argue, and surely the public would be alarmed - but surely still was the fact that Darwin's theories would influence us for years and decades and centuries to come, a scientifically sound discovery written by one of the most intelligent people I've ever met.

And so, the adventure commences yet again.

We have seen that man by selection can certainly produce great results, and can adapt organic beings to his own uses ... But Natural Selection ... is a power incessantly ready for action, and is as immeasurably superior to man's feeble efforts, as the works of Nature are to those of Art. -The Origin of Species 

In Which Darwin and I Bid Farewell

What a joyous sight!

After five years on the ocean, I nearly cried out when the shoreline of England came into view. I hadn't realized how much I missed it - the cakes, the tea, the ornate buildings - all of it was absolutely marvelous! (Though I was not quite as nostalgic for the corsets and dress fittings that would unfortunately come). When we docked, Mother rushed forward and gave me a lasting embrace, remarking all the while on the state of my hair and face. "Where did all this dirt come from," and "How is it that you're so dark?" were a few examples of her flabbergasted observations.

After the long reunion, I walked away to talk with Charles Darwin, the gentleman who had taught me so much while we traveled the world on The Beagle. "When will you publish your work?" I asked. He'd named his collection of findings on the Beagle the Origin of Species, which I thought was rather splendid.

Uncle Darwin gave a sigh, as if the question unsettled him. "I must find more evidence for the things we saw in the Galapagos. It could be quite a while before I send my discoveries to the printing press." He paused, a hesitant look on his face.

"What is it?" I inquired.

"I could be ridiculed. Christians and other believers will not be happy if I ever were to show it to the world."

"Not to be satirical," I argued, "but you must have faith that your theories are true and factual. You should not let such an important work languish in the dark!"

Uncle Darwin smiled. "You're an optimistic young girl. Oh! Look at at the time - I must be off. Good day to you."

I felt a little melancholy as I watched him travel to his coach on the dock, all his belongs stuffed into his carriage. He'd made no mention of meeting again; how would I continue my work as a naturalist? But as the horses started rolling away, Darwin's head appeared out the window, bushy brows and all, and he issued the following exclamation:

"I'd forgotten to invite the lovely young Junior Naturalist I'd met on The Beagle to come to my lecture on Wednesday! We shall discuss more about my work when you arrive!"

And there, in a few words, was Darwin: enthusiastic about origins, and not quite as interested in endings.

In Which I Write Two Reports

I was a bit disgruntled this morning when Uncle Darwin presented me with two dusty books.

"Write a report on each; I'll only require you to read the introduction," he insisted.

I wonder if he knew the introductions would be a few hundred pages long. I was feeling tired and seasick and weary, and did not desire to any kind of cognitive work at all. However, as I kept reading the text got more exciting. Or, in lieu of sounding too enthusiastic, they were less dreadful than I expected.

The first was a collection of essays written by Charles Lyell. He's an English geologist who criticized the catastrophic theory, which stated that the earth formed from many catastrophic geologic events (to accommodate things like the Great Flood, of course). Instead, he brought about the idea of uniformitarianism, or the gradual change of the earth. I could see how Darwin was integrating his theories into his own paper - after all, he has to prove that the earth has a a very long lifespan in order for evolution to occur.

Charles Lyell

The second book was a biography on Thomas Malthus, who Darwin greatly admires. Malthus theorized that organisms have a tendency to overpopulate. He passed only a year before our journey began across the world. It's so interesting to think that Darwin is being influenced by the work of half a century ago!

Thomas Malthus

More report work to do - I will write later.

In Which I Dream of Flying Fish

Mother would foam at the mouth if she were to see me lately - brown as a walnut shell, a little injun without shoes or morals. The sailors have taught me some uncouth vernacular, and I would write them down for you, but I promised Uncle Darwin I wouldn't. (How disappointing.)

Anyways, today was absolutely dreadful. We haven't landed anywhere since the Cocos Islands, and I'm all at the thought of salted trout - salted trout for break-fast, salted0trout for dinner, salted-trout for supper - it's absurd!

It was when I was helping with the rigging (and salted-trout had yet again invaded my thoughts) that I decided I needed an adventure. I finished tying some knots, and then my two feet led to Uncle Darwin's study. The door was ajar, and even though a girl like me should never, ever, look into someone's study, I was too weak with boredom to fight off the curiosity.

The inside was rather cold, and a few books were laid open upon desks and tables. I skimmed through a few, but I can't remember for the life of me the content of those works - they were all quite dry, and no diagrams were to be found anywhere. I did find a journal of Darwin's notes, and with a gleeful smile, I came upon a little page that looked like this:

Lamarck? - English Zoologist, Intelligent naturalist

• Lamarckism: theorizes that unused structures in animals become smaller, and unused structures can be passed on; likely, explains inheritance of genes, but would natural selection be a better explanation for this phenomenon?
• Unfortunate he passed, I am in need of a thoughtful colleague
• Lamarck's Philosophie Zoologique -  remember to scour the libraries once we return.
• I smell salted-trout. Shall we ever be free from its bland assault on the tongue?
• After a good laugh, I couldn't rid the image of Mother shaking her head in disapproval and pulling out her little ruler. And so I left, smelling the smell of salted trout pervade the hull of the ship. 

Wouldn't it be queer if fish learned how to fly and lost their fins?

After a good laugh, I couldn't rid the image of my mother's disapproving frown, a little in her nimble fingers, and so I left, smelling the smell of salted trout pervade the wood in the hull.

(I can still smell it now! We need to make land or I shall go mad as a hatter!)

In Which I Discover Analogous Structures

Another lesson again, this time on Analogous Structures. They're anatomical parts that share similar functions. As we've traveled the islands I've seen so many beautiful birds and bees. Darwin marvels at the variety of specimen. A few days ago a butterfly alighted on my finger an probed me with its little antennae. I never want to leave!

From Left to Right: Danaus (genus) (Butterfly), and Fringillidae (family) (Finch)

In Which I Discover Homologous Structures

A lesson on homologous structures today. Uncle Darwin defines them as anatomical parts that share similar structures. I sketched a few examples so I'll remember and impress the other girls at Miss Emily's when I got back:

From Left to Right: Scalopus aquaticus (Mole), Equus ferus (Horse),  Desmodus rotundus (Common Vampire Bat). They all seem to share the same common ancestor, no?

In Which I Meet Geochelone Elephantophus

Oh journal, it's been such a long time! I would tell you all about the adventures I've had since I last wrote, but it would take much too many pages and words. Good news that Darwin is writing a book!

Anyways, we landed in the Galapagos just a few days ago, and the sights are incredible! Today we saw a few giant tortoises basking in the sunlight. They are such gentle and docile creatures - and Darwin says that they have a lifespan of over one hundred years!

Geochelone Elphantophus: The Mighty Galapagos Tortoise!

We would need a hundred years to see all the flora and fauna on the island. I'm trying to record it all so Mother can get a glimpse of all the things I've experienced on and off the Beagle. Darwin says my scientific drawings are progressing quite well. If only I could wield a pencil like he does!

In Which Darwin Celebrates My Birthday and Calligraphy Pens are Utterly Misused

I woke up feeling quite home-sick today. Usually on my birthday, mother bakes me a poundcake with a little pinch of sugar, but we haven't got that kind of stuff on the ship. 

Imagine my surprise, then, when Darwin approached me around noon and handed me an embossed wooden box. I looked at it with immense gratitude and quickly unlocked it - inside was a set of calligraphy pens!

"I thought that a Junior Naturalist ought to get her own drawing materials on her birthday," he explained. 

I was so excited that I practiced using them all day. At first my sketches were rather horrific, but they've gotten better, I think. And oh! As another birthday wish come true, we finally sighted land today! I celebrated by drawing out the Galapagos Islands - those are the places Darwin's most excited to visit. (I'm becoming quite good, aren't I?)

The Galapagos Islands! 

In Which I Discreetly Illustrate a Map of Our Voyage When the Captain Isn't Watching

Sorry - I was too tired to come up with a clever title. But look at this beautiful work of cartography!



I saw the Captain carrying it around the deck earlier this morning, looking and poking at it with his curious instruments. He left it on an overturned barrel, and I quickly took that moment to scurry forward with my pencil and paper and copy it down for posterity. I had to skip over a few specific locations, as the Captain had noticed my weaseling and was coming my way. But I'm very proud of it! And to think we're going to places I've only read in books! 

In Which I Meet Mr. Darwin and He Spins a Tale

A Painting of Mr. Charles Darwin

Today, I was climbing up the stairs to the deck when I bumped into a tall man in a heavy overcoat. It took me a few moments to catch my bearings, but then I realized - It was Mr. Darwin himself! His eyebrows were much bushier in reality than they were in imagination. I think he noticed me staring, for at that moment he began to wiggle those bushy eyebrows in a rather furious manner. As my mother would say, I laughed in a completely unladylike manner. She always was embarrassed by my duck-like honk. But I had no care.

After all the tears of joy had been wept, we introduced ourselves. I told him about Miss Emily’s School for Girls and my top marks (mother would be proud) and he talked about about his life in England. He was born on the 12th of February, 1809, in Shrewsbury, which I’d passed by once on a holiday. At the age of eight, he went to its eponymous boarding school, the campus run by a certain Samuel Butler. After a few years of elementary education, Darwin was accepted to the University of Edinburgh and then the University of Cambridge, where he developed his interest in the life sciences. When he divulged the details of the dissections they performed on marine animals, I knew immediately I wanted to go to Cambridge.

But now I was here, and I was speaking with one of the premier naturalists of the day! Mr. Darwin started talking about the studies he was going to conduct on the voyage, and I could tell he was enthused - the Captain called him three times before he heard.

“My apologies, I must be on my way,” he said. “My colleagues are irked and awaiting for my presence. Let’s talk again sometime - I can tell that you’re going to become a wonderful Junior Naturalist.” (Me? A Junior Naturalist? Can you imagine!) 

And with that, he was off.

In Which Evolution is Defined and the Adventure Commences

I’ve boarded the HMS Beagle (what a grand ship!) and found my quarters belowdecks. It’s very spacious, and I’m writing on a little desk that sits below the porthole. The Captain predicts that we’ll be on the sea for five or so years, and so I asked that I be immediately acquainted with these charming surroundings. And oh, dear reader, the circumstances that brought me to this place are quite momentous! I was invited just at the last week-end to journey with the acclaimed naturalist, Mr. Charles Robert Darwin. Mother tells me it’s because of the top marks I’ve been receiving at Miss Emily’s School for Girls. Mothers are always going on about top marks. I think it helps that I’m a distant cousin of Mr. Darwin’s (even if my cousinship is a few times removed).

Wait - what's this peculiar object?

Sorry for the interruption - I just made the most miraculous discovery! Something was hidden under my pillow, and when I went to investigate, I realized it was a scroll of parchment - and not just any old thing! It's in Darwin's own hand! Let me transcribe it for you:

Evolution (noun): the process of change by which new species develop from preexisting species over time.

Sounds absolutely thrilling! I cannot wait to ask Mr. Darwin about it. The Beagle cannot set sail any sooner!