[1]

Work finished¹

If not marry

Travel. Europe, yes?

America ????

If I travel it must be exclusively geological
United States, Mexico

Depend upon health & vigour & how far I become Zoological

If I dont travel — Work at transmission of Species — Microscope simplest forms of life — Geology. ؟oldest formations?? Some experimets — physiological observation on lower animals

B

Live in London for where else possible in small house, near Regents Park — keep horse — take Summer tours Collect some specimens some line of Zoolog: Speculations of Geograph. range, & Geological general works. — Systematiz. — Study affinities.

Work finished

If marry — means limited, Feel duty to work for money. London life, nothing but Society, no country, no tours, no large Zoolog. Collect, no books. ¶ Cambridge Professorship, either Geolog, or Zoolog. — comply with all above requisites — I could not systematiz zoologically so well. — But better than hybernating in country, & where? Better even than near London country house. — I could not indolently take country house & do nothing — Could I live in London like a prisoner? If I were moderately rich, I would live in London, with pretty big house & do as (B), but could I act thus with children & poor? No— Then where live in country near London; better, but great obstacles to science & poverty. Then Cambridge, better, but fish out of water, not being Professor & poverty. Then Cambridge Professorship, — & make best of it, do duty as such & work at spare times — ¶ My destiny will be Camb. Prof. or poor man; outskirts of London, some small Square &c:— & work as well as I can

¹ These notes record Darwin's speculations about the prospect of marriage and his future life and work. They were written before his engagement and marriage to his cousin Emma Wedgwood in January 1839. The note has been dated to after 7 April 1838 and is written on the three blank 'pages' of a letter leaf from Leonard Horner, 7 April [1838]. Darwin's notes on marriage are also transcribed and annotated in Correspondence vol. 2, appendix iv.

[1v]

I have so much more pleasure in direct observation, that I could not go on as Lyell does, correcting & adding up new information to old train & I do not see what line can be followed by man tied down to London.—

In country, experiment & observations on lower animals. — more space —

Charles Darwin Esq

36 Marlborough Street

L. Horner was a [illeg] or Factory inspector in 1833 & amended in 1834 & 1844

[illeg] 1901