Darwin, C. R. 1846. [Note on sandstone and query on coral reefs]. In Stokes, J. L., Discoveries in Australia, with an account of the coasts and rivers explored and surveyed during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle in the years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43, by command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Also a narrative of Captain Owen Stanley's visits to the islands in Arafura Sea. London: T. and W. Boone, Vol. 1: 108, 331.

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1846. [Note on sandstone and query on coral reefs]. In J. L. Stokes, Discoveries in Australia, with an account of the coasts and rivers explored and surveyed during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle in the years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43, by command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Also a narrative of Captain Owen Stanley's visits to the islands in Arafura Sea. London: T. and W. Boone, vol. 1: 108, 331.

REVISION HISTORY: Scanned, transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe and Kees Rookmaaker 9.2006. RN3

NOTE: See record in the Freeman Bibliographical Database, enter its Identifier here. The surrounding pages are given as images to provide relevant context.

"Stokes, John Lort, 1812-85. Naval Officer. S served on all three voyages of Beagle. Was mate and Assistant Surveyor on 2d voyage. After 18 years, a record, on Beagle, surveyed New Zealand and the English Channel. Nearly became Hydrographer. 1838 CD saw in London. 1841 Commanded Beagle at end of 3d voyage when Wickham was invalided. During the voyage he was speared by aborigines. 1846 Author of Discoveries in Australia. 1863 Rear Admiral. 1871 Vice-admiral. 1877 Admiral. 1882 Apr. 27 S letter in The Times, printed immediately after report on CD's funeral, about CD's seasickness. CD would say "Old fellow I must take the horizontal for it". "It was distressing to witness this early sacrifice of Mr. Darwin's health, who ever afterwards seriously felt the ill-effects of the Beagle's voyage". 1883 Apr. 25 S letter in The Times on CD "marvelous persevering endurance in the cause of science of that great naturalist, my old and lost friend, Mr. Charles Darwin". LL 1: 224, transcribed in Darwin Online. 1864 Jul. 14. ED recorded "Admiral Stokes called". 1888 Feb. 13 Mrs & Miss Stokes came to see ED. A few more visits either way until 1895. 1882 recollections of CD in DAR112.A97-A98, recalled CD's favourite expressions were "by the Lord Harry" and "beyond belief". Transcribed in Darwin Online." (Paul van Helvert & John van Wyhe, Darwin: A Companion, 2021)

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Since this was written, I have consulted my friend, Mr. Darwin, who has kindly examined a specimen I brought away. He pronounces it "a superficial highly ferrugineous sandstone, with concretionary veins and aggregations."¹ The reader should, however, consult Mr. Darwin's work on the 'Geology of Volcanic Islands,' p. 143.

¹ The specimen was collected on 7 February, when the Beagle was anchored 1 1/2 miles from Port Swan, Western Australia (see pp. 95 and 101).

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"Are there masses of coral or beds of shells some yards above high water mark, on the coast fronting the barrier reef?"¹

¹ See Correspondence vol. 13, p. 345.

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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)