Part of Collection

University Archives and Manuscripts

Title

Notebook No.147

Creators/Contributors

Rights

Out of Copyright. Free use.

Collection

Papers of Sir Charles Lyell

Production Date

15 June 1846 - July 1846

Shelfmark (Identifier)

Coll-203/A1/147

Catalogue Record

https://archives.collections.ed.ac.uk/repositories/2/archival_objects/180305

Subjects

Minerals, Collection and Preservation
American (cultural identity)
Irish Studies
Alabama (United States)
Religion and science
Slavery--United States
Egypt
United States -- Mississippi -- Philadelphia

Description

This Notebook contains a record of Charles Lyell’s return to the UK after his second travel to America (Notebooks 121- 145), and so covers American and UK topics, whilst he is based on London, before travelling to Kinnordy - via Edinburgh, Granton and Craig Crook Castle. Note on pg. 70 indexed as 'Ld Cockburn, Hill's daguerrotype' indicates they visited Bonaly, where the Lyell were photographed. This notebook has a hard light brown cover with red on the spine and in triangles on the corners. It was written in pencil and ink with the index at the back covering seven pages (from p.129 - p.135). This notebook includes detailed notes of political and religious discourse, historical discussions, slavery, and discussions of scientific papers and popular literature. Lyell covers the Wandering Jew many times in this notebook, having interest in its discussion of class structures and morality. He writes about 'Slaves in the US - drivers and gangs' on page 43, with more on page 47. This notebook also contains activities relating to the organisation of the Lyell’s lives, writing of the books and the management of the collections. On page 1 is a list of tasks, including 'paging of notebooks' and 'pasting newspaper cutting into American notebook (see reference Coll-203/10). From page 13 there’s a list of ‘boxes unpacked and labelled’ June 1846, London – which continues up to page 23. On page 22 there is a list of articles examined in study, 16 Hart Street ‘window cupboard’. From page 29 there are calculations relating to expenditure (the Lyell’s may be considering taking another property) from page 39, and a list of ‘boxes in store room’ taken July 1846. On page 45 there is a list of books, maps and MS ‘for Kinnordy’ including taking Mary’s MS notebooks. From page 52, there is a list of insects at Kinnordy. This organisation, which could include packing as well as inventory, appears in both Charles and Mary’s hands; the list of ‘books, maps and MS’ to take to Kinnordy on page 45 starts in his hand and ends in hers.