Sydney Harbour, March 21, 1848.

...I have deferred writing to you in the hope of knowing something from yourself of your doings and whereabouts, and now that we are on the eve of departing for a long cruise in Torres Straits, I will no longer postpone the giving you some account of “was ist geschehen” on this side of the world.  We spent three months in Sydney, and a gay three months of it we had,—­nothing but balls and parties the whole time.  In this corner of the universe, where men of war are rather scarce, even the old “Rattlesnake” is rather a lion, and her officers are esteemed accordingly.  Besides, to tell you the truth, we are rather agreeable people than otherwise, and can manage to get up a very decent turn-out on board on occasion.  What think you of your grave, scientific brother turning out a ball-goer and doing the “light fantastic” to a great extent?  It is a great fact, I assure you.  But there is a method in my madness.  I found it exceedingly disagreeable to come to a great place like Sydney and think there was not a soul who cared whether I was alive or dead, so I determined to go into what society was to be had and see if I could not pick up a friend or two among the multitude of the empty and frivolous.  I am happy to say that I have had more success than I hoped for or deserved, and then as now, two or three houses where I can go and feel myself at home at all times.  But my “home” in Sydney is the house of my good friend Mr. Fanning, one of the first merchants in the place.  But thereby hangs a tale which, of all people in the world, I must tell you.  Mrs. Fanning has a sister, and the dear little sister and I managed to fall in love with one another in the most absurd manner after seeing one another—­I will not tell you how few times, lest you should laugh.  Do you remember how you used to talk to me about choosing a wife?  Well, I think that my choice would justify even your fastidiousness...I think you will understand how happy her love ought to and does make me.  I fear that in this respect indeed the advantage is on my side, for my present wandering life and uncertain position must necessarily give her many an anxious thought.  Our future is indeed none of the clearest.  Three years at the very least must elapse before the “Rattlesnake” returns to England, and then unless I can write myself into my promotion or something else, we shall be just where we were.  Nevertheless I have the strongest persuasion that four years hence I shall be married and settled in England.  We shall see.

I am getting on capitally at present.  Habit, inclination, and now a sense of duty keep me at work, and the nature of our cruise affords me opportunities such as none but a blind man would fail to make use of.  I have sent two or three papers home already to be published, which I have great hopes will throw light upon some hitherto obscure branches of natural history, and I have just finished a more important one, which I intend to get read at the Royal Society.