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Alexander Bums Usbome ............ Master’s Assistant.
Charles Musters .............................. Volunteer 1st Class.
Jonathan M a y ................................... Carpenter.
Edward H. H e lly e r.......................... Clerk.
Acting boatswain : sergeant of marines and seven privates : thirtyfour
seamen and six hoys.
On the List of supernumeraries were—
Charles Darwin .............................. Naturalist.
Augustus Earle .............................. Draughtsman.
George James Stebbing ................. Instrument Malrer.
Richard Matthews and three Fuegians : my own steward : and Mr.
Darwin’s servant.
Some changes occurred in the coui-se of the five yeai's’ voyage,
which it may be well to mention in this place.
In April 1832, Mr. Mac-Cormick and Mr. Derbishire
returned to England. Mr. Bynoe was appointed to act as
Surgeon. Mr. Mellersh received a Mate’s warrant ; and Mr.
Johnson joined the Beagle as Midshipman. In May Mr.
Musters fell a victim to fever, caught in the harbour of Rio
de Janeiro :—Mr. Forsyth took his place.
Mr. Earle sulfered so much from continual ill liealth, that
he could not remain on board the Beagle after August 1832 ;
but he lived at Monte Video several months previously to his
return to England. The disappointment caused by losing his
services was diminished by meeting Mr Martens at Monte
Video, and engaging him to embark with me as my draughtsman.
In March 1833, Mr. Hellyer was drowned at the Falkland
Islands, in attempting to get a bird he had shot. In September
1833, Mr. Kent joined as Assistant Surgeon. In June 1834,
Mr. Rowlett died, at sea, of a complaint under which he had
laboured for years : and the vacancy caused by his lamented
decease was filled by Mr. Dring.
Mr. Martens left me, at Valparasio, in 1834 ; and Mr.
King remained with his father, at Sydney, in Australia, in
February 1836. After these changes, and at our return to
England in October 1836, the list stood thus—
Robert F itz -R o y .............................. Captain and Surveyor.
John Clements Wickham................. Lieutenant.
Bartholomew James Suhvan ........ Lieutenant.
Edward Main Chaffers..................... Master.
Benjamin Bynoe .............................. Surgeon (Acting.)
John Edward Dring.......................... Purser (Acting.)
Peter Benson S tew a rt..................... Mate.
John Lort Stokes.............................. Mate and Assistant Surveyor.
Arthur Mellersh .............................. Mate.
Charles Richardson Johnson ....... Mate.
WiUiam Kent ................................... Assistant Surgeon.
Charles Forsyth .............................. Midshipman.
Alexander Bums Usborne ............ Master’s Assistant.
Thomas Sorrell .............................. Boatswain (Acting.)
Jonathan May................................... Carpenter.
And on the List of supernumeraries were Mr. Darwin : George
J . Stebbing: my steward ; and Mr. Darwin’s servant.
Our complement of seamen, marines, and boys was complete
at our return, and generally during the voyage; because,
although many changes happened, we had always a choice
of volunteers to fill vacant places.
Many of the crew had sailed with me in the previous voyage
of the Beagle; and there were a few officers, as well as
some marines and seamen, who had served in the Beagle, or
Adventure, during the wliole of the former voyage. These
determined admirers of Tierra del Fuego were. Lieutenant
Wickham, Mr. Bynoe, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Mellersh, and Mr.
King; the boatswain, carpenter, and sergeant; four private
marines, my coxswain, and some seamen.
I must not omit to mention that among our provisions were
various antiscorbutics—such as pickles, dried apples, and
lemon juice—of the best quality, and in as great abundance
as we could stow away ; we had also on hoard a very large
quantity of Kilner and Moorsom’s preserved meat, vegetables,
and soup; and from the Medical Department we received an
ample supply of antiseptics, and articles useful for preserving
specimens of natural history.
Not only the heads of departments exerted themselves for
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