HMS Beagle

A few months ago I watched a very interesting documentary about what became of HMS Beagle which included the fact that after some very dedicated detective work (which was followed closely in the documentary and was extremely interesting) they thought they had found the remains buried in mud.

I've found an article on the BBC site which details these findings so if you haven't seen the documentary it's worth reading. [Article no longer available - link removed]

And if that inspires you there is also a site dedicated to building a new beagle http://thebeagleproject.blogspot.com/

With my passions as a naturalist and with my love of history I am of course drawn to the Beagle Project. I periodically check back up on the project just to see that it is still one the rails, because as a biologist (and one trained as an evolutionary biologist), I am very hopeful that this project will bear fruit. A real working research vessel made in the Beagle's image would be an amazing tool for exploring nature and the past.

Darwin himself was quite a character; one worth of inclusion in a novel, although it would be later in the period. (And I think POB made good use of the biology / botany aspect, which certainly enriched his work.)
As a tangent, I've just acquired a small brass "travel" microscope of the time. About 6" long, in is in its original case, with an alternative lens, matching probe, and some slides, it is the sort of thing that would have been carried by an interested officer, or passenger.
Oh, what a period to live in!