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Thanks Don et al. Great discussion re a fictional character!

I probably overstated my original praise for O'Brien and Aubrey.

I did  not mean to suggest he was writing any textbook of navigation or evolutionary science. just that in the context of an historical novel, he combined a wonderful "Jane Austen" feel for the period with some erudite gems re the politics, philosophy and science of the times. He may have of made a few mistakes, but hell, he was at least injecting these gems into  the narative. Name me another writer( eg CS Forester, who has got anyware near this?)

His Maturin/Darwin thing is of course naughty , since it predates the Beagle by a generation. However, Darwins's grandfather was very active at the time of Aubrey with early evolutionary theory.It just adds a wonderful extra depth to the whole story.

I love it and forgive him his sins. Wish i could write like him.

And Britannia did indeed rule the waves! And Grenwhich was the prime meridian. Enough said on history.God knows where we go from here following the referendum. Geoff Kolbe is happy apparently.(the Scots voted overwhemingly to remain and will now probably leave UK). Everyone I know, including lot's of young educated folk, including all my children  are dismayed and considering emigration .

Let's see what happens. We needed this social and economic  hurricane like a hole in the head.

Francis