Chapter 27: The Beagle
Eldred led Arthur to the embankment of the Thames River.
He pointed at an old wooden two-masted sailing warship that was being towed into the shipyard dock on the opposite side of the river.
“See that ship? That’s the Beagle, the one that’s about to embark on a scientific expedition.”
“It’s 90 feet long, 25 feet wide, and has a draft of 12 feet. It’s equipped with 10 twelve-pound short cannons and can carry 120 crew members. It was launched in 1820 and cost 7800 pounds in total.”
“Although its tonnage and firepower are not as good as the active navy ships, even the worst sixth-rate warships, it’s still a bit of a self-defense capability. It should be enough to fight off ordinary pirates.”
Arthur looked at the Beagle slowly sailing on the Thames River and realized, “No wonder the Thames was so congested this morning, it was because of her? What’s wrong with this ship? Why is it so slow?”
Eldred said helplessly, “What else could it be, it’s been damaged of course. To be honest, this scientific expedition is to carry out the Beagle’s second circumnavigation.”
“It returned home after just reaching the waters near South America for the first time. I heard it was hit by a storm, and because they were unfamiliar with the local sea conditions, they almost ran aground several times. The crew almost didn’t make it back, and even the original captain committed suicide due to excessive mental pressure.”
“Considering the unsuccessful voyage last time, the Admiralty finally decided to bring the Beagle here for a complete overhaul and upgrade.”
“They removed four cannons, added another mast, coated the bottom with copper to military standards, painted it with tung oil, and finally reinforced it with iron and copper rivets.”
Saying this, Eldred couldn’t help but swallow nervously, “After all these preparations, there shouldn’t be any problems with the next voyage, right?”
Arthur asked, “If you’re so afraid, why do you still want to go?”
“Arthur, you don’t understand.”
Eldred said seriously, shaking his finger, “The Admiralty has always believed in one principle: a calm sea cannot train skilled sailors.”
“Therefore, high risk means high reward. As long as we can complete this circumnavigation, all the crew members on board, every single one, will be promoted.”
“This way, my uncle can smoothly transfer me to the Admiralty headquarters, and maybe even get me a position.”
“Arthur, if it wasn’t for such a good opportunity, would I have sought you out before?”
Arthur calmly said, “I think you’re looking for a friend to talk to on board. After all, this is a circumnavigation, you’ll be gone for at least three to five years. With your personality, if you can’t find a decent friend to keep you company, you’ll probably go crazy.”
“Sigh…” Eldred didn’t hide it, “You’ve seen through me.”
Arthur stared at the Beagle in the distance and asked, “But why doesn’t the Admiralty give you a bigger ship? For example, a warship that’s been modified, like the sixth-rate warship you mentioned?”
Hearing this, Eldred couldn’t help but complain, “That’s what I think too. But there’s no way, even the smallest sixth-rate warship is about twice the size of the Beagle. If we sail that kind of ship to America, it will easily cause friction with the North American colonists.”
Arthur asked, “A sixth-rate warship is that big? What about a first-rate warship?”
Eldred replied, “Take Nelson’s flagship, the Victory, as an example.”
“The Victory was also an old ship launched in 1778, but its displacement was already over 3500 tons.”
“It could carry 108 cannons, 850 crew members, store 35 tons of gunpowder and 120 tons of cannonballs.”
“Back then, it took over 2000 oak trees and 38 tons of iron to build it, costing over 100,000 pounds, while the national revenue at the time was only 10 million pounds.”
“But the money was well spent. This kind of first-rate battleship could typically sail continuously for six months at sea, and fight uninterrupted for days.”
“If we were to sail a behemoth like the Victory to America, the North American colonists would definitely demand diplomatic negotiations.”
“If we were to send one of the newer first-rate battleships launched in recent years, with a displacement of close to 4000 tons, those uncouth Americans would probably start picking up their guns to prepare for a third war of independence.”
“By the way, speaking of battleships and the Victory, do you know who ordered Fitzroy not to hire you?”
“Who?”
Eldred leaned in close to Arthur, his voice full of mystery, “The First Sea Lord, Admiral Thomas Hardy.”
“Is he powerful?”
“Oh my God! He’s more than just powerful!”
Eldred exclaimed excitedly, “During the Battle of Trafalgar, he was the captain of Nelson’s flagship, the Victory!”
“When Nelson’s body was transported back to the country for burial, he was one of the four people who carried Nelson’s coffin.”
“Arthur, you have no idea, he’s a super big shot in our Admiralty, the highest military commander of the Royal Navy today!”
“Fitzroy said that day that even my uncle wouldn’t dare to make demands of him. It’s true, because even the First Lord of the Admiralty wouldn’t dare to go against him directly. In military matters, the Royal Navy actually listens to him, the First Sea Lord.”
Just as Eldred was vividly describing Thomas Hardy’s glorious deeds, a young priest with a round face and wearing a black robe suddenly walked over.
He waved the cross in his hand in front of the two men, “Excuse me for interrupting, but is there anyone here named Eldred Carter?”
Arthur glanced at the priest. He looked at the other man’s face and felt a sense of familiarity, but he couldn’t figure out where he had seen him.
After thinking for a long time, he suddenly slapped his thigh and pointed at the other man, “Wayne Rooney?”
“Rooney?” The young priest was puzzled by Arthur’s words, “Sir, I think you’ve mistaken me. My name is Charles.”
“You’re also called Charles?” Arthur joked, “I just made a new friend a few days ago. He’s also called Charles, Charles Dickens. He’s a big shot.”
Hearing this, Eldred snorted disdainfully, “What kind of big shot is a court clerk? Thomas Hardy is the real big shot!”
Arthur smiled, not directly refuting him, he just said, “Even if he isn’t now, he will be in the future.”
Then, he pointed at Eldred beside him to the priest, “You must be the Cambridge-graduated priest? You’re coming to the Beagle as a naturalist?
You’re looking for this gentleman beside me, Eldred Carter, the Beagle’s cartographer, a graduate of classical literature, and the nephew of a Royal Navy admiral.”
Hearing this, Eldred dissatisfiedly said, “Arthur! Why did you reveal all my secrets?”
Arthur shrugged, “You two will be on the ship together for three to five years. With your mouth, even if I didn’t say anything, you would have said it sooner or later.”
The priest didn’t mind this little interlude. He extended his hand to Eldred in a friendly manner.
“Mr. Carter, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Although you should already know this, I’ll introduce myself out of courtesy.”
“My name is Charles Darwin, the naturalist on the Beagle, a graduate of the University of Cambridge’s Divinity School.”
(End of Chapter)
Let’s talk about the Theory of Evolution. I admire Charles Darwin the most. When I first learned about it in school, I was somewhat skeptical upon hearing that our ancestors were monkeys. However, as I read more, I began to understand the concept of evolution. It doesn’t imply that the strongest or smartest beings will survive, but rather that those who adapt the best.
People outright deny Theory of Evolution. People need to understand evolution took millions of years.