In August he writes to Henslow to announce the success of the scheme for the publication of the 'Zoology of the Voyage of the "Beagle",' through the promise of a grant of 1000 pounds from the Treasury: "I have delayed writing to you, to thank you most sincerely for having so effectually managed my affair. I waited till I had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer (T. Spring Rice.). He appointed to see me this morning, and I had a long conversation with him, Mr. Peacock being present. Nothing could be more thoroughly obliging and kind than his whole manner. He made no sort of restriction, but only told me to make the most of [the] money, which of course I am right willing to do. "I expected rather an awful interview, but I never found anything less so in my life. It will be my fault if I do not make a good work; but I sometimes take an awful fright that I have not materials enough. It will be excessively satisfactory at the end of some two years to find all materials made the most they were capable of." Later in the autumn he wrote to Henslow: "I have not been very well of late, with an uncomfortable palpitation of the heart, and my doctors urge me STRONGLY to knock off all work, and go and live in the country for a few weeks." He accordingly took a holiday of about a month at Shrewsbury and Maer, and paid a visit in the Isle of Wight. It was, I believe, during this visit, at Mr. Wedgwood's house at Maer, that he made his first observations on the work done by earthworms, and late in the autumn he read a paper on the subject at the Geological Society. ("On the formation of mould," 'Geol. Soc. Proc.' ii. 1838, pages 574-576.) During these two months he was also busy preparing the scheme of the 'Zoology of the Voyage of the "Beagle",' and in beginning to put together the Geological results of his travels. The following letter refers to the proposal that he should take the Secretaryship of the Geological Society.] CHARLES DARWIN TO J.S. HENSLOW. October 14th, [1837]. My dear Henslow,