Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

Aug. 1828. CAPTAIN STOKEs's DEATH. 153 considering upon their report, which was, as I afterwards found, very unfavourable, when a boat came from the Beagle, with the dreadful intelligence that Captain Stokes, in a momen- tary fit of despondency, had shot himself. The surgeons instantly repaired on board, and finding him alive, had recourse to every means in their power, but without hope of saving his life. During the delirium that ensued, and lasted four days, his mind wandered to many of the circum- stances, and hair-breadth escapes, of the Beagle's cruize. The following three days he recovered so much as to be able to see me frequently ; and hopes were entertained by himself, but by no one else, that he would recover. He then became gradually worse, and after lingering in most intense pain, expired on the morning of the 12th. Thus shockingly and prematurely perished an active, intel- ligent, and most energetic officer, in the prime of life. The severe hardships of the cruize, the dreadful weather expe- rienced, and the dangerous situations in which they were so constantly exposed — caused, as I was afterwards informed, such intense anxiety in his excitable mind, that it became at times so disordered, as to cause the greatest apprehension for the consequences. On the return of the Beagle he got better and the officers were so sanguine in hoping for his complete restoration to health, on account of his progressive recovery, that nothing which had transpired was communicated to me until after his decease. His remains were interred at our burial-ground, with the honours due to his rank, and a tablet was subsequently erected to his memory.