Text Online
From:
Charles Lyell
To:
Michael Faraday
Date:
10 April 1833
Source of text:
James Innes
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Faraday Project
Showing 21–34 of 34 items
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Hears that JH expressed to William Whewell great pleasure in parts of CL's book. Has been altered and improved since the 1st edition. When in Copenhagen last year [H. C.] Oersted was reading JH's paper on double stars. Murray has sold 1750 copies of CL's book.
Charles Lyell wrote letter to JH recently. Now encloses with it letters of introduction to persons in Rio and abstract of paper by Charles Babbage. [Henry] Brougham's attacks on Thomas Young.
Preparing fifth edition of Principles of Geology, using JH's facts about boiling seeds. Mathematical error in CL's climate theory. CL's first speech as president of Geological Society. Criticizes R.S.L. JH's volcanic theory was too complex; will incorporate it into later editions. Benefits to science of Charles Babbage's social parties. Latest publications in geology. P.S. Glad to learn that JH thinks origin of new species may occur through intermediate causes; Germans criticized this. CL chooses not to engage in controversies. Speculates on successive extinction of species. Notes on African hot springs.
Has been requested by Gideon Mantell to write JH a letter of introduction for a Lieut. H. I. Thomas, a friend of Davies Gilbert. Thomas wishes to be the bearer of any letter or parcel CL may have. Believes that a copy of the President's speech he sent may be lost in the post. Thinks that JH's theory of subterranean isothermal lines interesting. Dined with the Somervilles last Sunday.
Charles Babbage will publish JH's volcanic theory in Ninth Bridgewater Treatise, together with JH's letter to R. I. Murchison. William Whewell read both at Geological Society. Babbage wants to compare JH's theory with passage from Bishop [Samuel] Butler. Whewell's notion of new species. Charles Darwin's new theory of coral islands is forcing CL to give up CL's volcanic crater theory. [Letter continues 28 May.] Sends copy of Babbage's Treatise with quotes from JH. News of Charles Wheatstone's submarine telegraph and David Brewster's proof that diamond is of vegetable origin.
Thanks CL for the gift of a new edition of CL's Principles of Geology. JH comments on a number of issues, in a very long letter, including the replacement of extinct species by other species, CL's solution of the problem of the variation of climate, and the evolution of language. JH speculates at length on the isothermal activity under the earth's crust that may result in volcanoes or the formation of new land masses, and describes a considerable number of geological examples that JH sees as supporting CL's ideas.
Ideas expressed by JH in his previous letter to CL (see JH's 1836-2-20) about secular variations of isothermal surfaces of the interior of the earth were similar to ideas expressed by Charles Babbage in a paper to the Geological Society. This was drawn to JH's attention by CL and by R. I. Murchison. JH argues that he did not know of Charles Babbage's paper, and goes on to point out how JH's ideas differ. Concludes with mention of having re-discovered the sixth satellite of Saturn, not seen since its discovery by JH's father, William.
Express their concern that the offer for sale to the British Museum, by G. A. Mantell and Thomas Hawkins, of two valuable collections, has been declined.