Part of Collection

University Archives and Manuscripts

Title

Notebook No.148

Creators/Contributors

Rights

Out of Copyright. Free use.

Collection

Papers of Sir Charles Lyell

Production Date

September 1846 - December 1846

Shelfmark (Identifier)

Coll-203/A1/148

Catalogue Record

https://archives.collections.ed.ac.uk/repositories/2/archival_objects/180306

Subjects

America
Slavery--United States
Bowood House (England)

Description

This black notebook contains a record on Charles Lyell’s discussions, theories, and ideas in London - with detailed notes of a social nature, of a visit to Bowood - after his return from his second visit to the U.S (Notebooks 121-145). In this notebook, he covers events and locations from both the U.S and the U.K including Durham, Richmond Valley, Harley Street, Prince Edward Island, Mildenhall, New York, etc. Lyell’s comments on America are profuse, but they don’t appear to have made it into his published works. This notebook has detailed notes of geological features, flora and fauna political debates, religious discussions as well as recording his notes on traditions and religion in the Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue. Lyell looks at and speaks with key individuals such Agassiz (Biologist and Geologist), Edward Forbes (Naturalist), Orville Dewey (American Unitarian minister), Charles Bunsen (Diplomat and Scholar), Henry Milman (Historian and Ecclesiastic), Thomas Macaulay (Whig Politian), C Moore (Geologist), and Richard Dana (American Lawyer and Politian). A reference to Mrs Jane Marcet is of note, as a renowned female writer of popular science books. Lyell also mentions 'Two Years Before the Mast' and slavery. These subjects are interjected by notes on writing progress; p.59 has details of work for Principles 7th Edition – with it noted as being sent to Printer on pg. 73, and more details on pg. 101.