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Text Online
From:
Michael Faraday
To:
Charles Lyell
Date:
1824
Source of text:
Lyell (1825), 95
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Faraday Project
Text Online
From:
J. S. Henslow
To:
Charles Lyell
Date:
14 June 1831
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society Library
Summary:

No summary available.

Contributor:
Henslow Correspondence Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Sir Charles Lyell
Date:
[20 February 1836]
Source of text:
APS B.D25.L.1 (C: RS:HS 25.4.20)
Summary:

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.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Sir Charles Lyell
Date:
[12 June 1837]
Source of text:
APS B.D25.L.2 (C: RS:HS 25.5.8) Cannon (1961), 311-14 inc)
Summary:

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.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
30 July 1837
Source of text:
The University of Edinburgh Centre for Research Collections (Lyell Collection Coll-203/A1/69: 140–2)
Summary:

Galapagos land birds and reptiles.

No two naturalists agree on any fundamental idea [of species]. "Everything is arbitrary."

Has been with Richard Owen going over the S. American fossils.

Has worked out the non-relation between animals’ bulk and luxuriance of vegetation.

The horse once common on the Pampas. The mystery of the extinction of these animals.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[19 Dec 1837]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.9)
Summary:

Responds to Lyell’s query [missing] about northern and southern limits of coral islands of the Pacific. Warns that coral islands are much more thinly distributed than people realise and cites examples. Comments on views of Matthew Flinders. Reading work of É[lie] de B[eaumont]. Notes difficulty of setting an east-west boundary to coral islands.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
William Fullerton Lindsay-Carnegie
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[14 Feb 1838]
Source of text:
DAR 170: 3
Summary:

Impressed by CD’s theory [of earthworm action].

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Robert Bastard James
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[c. 10 Mar 1838]
Source of text:
DAR 168: 43
Summary:

Sends four samples of dust blown on board his ship from the coast of Africa, nearly 400 miles away, during four days in March 1838. Gives careful descriptions and relates the tests he made of it [see Collected papers 1: 200].

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
9 Aug [1838]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.10)
Summary:

Comments on receiving copy of Lyell’s Elements [of geology]. Much is new to CD, and he is copying out notes and references.

Criticises geological work of John Phillips.

Describes expedition to Glen Roy, about which he is writing a paper ["Parallel roads of Glen Roy" (1839), Collected papers 1: 87–137].

Enjoys the Athenaeum Club.

Criticises entomological work of F. W. Hope.

Asks Lyell to obtain for him a copy of barometric readings made at Leith.

Asks him to ascertain altitude of several Scottish lochs.

Comments on FitzRoy’s character.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[14] Sept [1838]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.11)
Summary:

Comments on an article in Edinburgh Review [by David Brewster, 67 (1838): 271–308] on Comte’s Philosophie positive.

Discusses falsity of Élie de Beaumont’s views of contemporaneous parallel lines of elevation and subsidence.

Owen’s views of relationship of reptiles to birds.

On "question of species" CD has filled notebook after notebook with facts, "which begin to group themselves clearly under sub-laws".

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[12 Nov 1838]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.12)
Summary:

Announces his engagement to Emma Wedgwood.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[c. 9 Jan 1839]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.15)
Summary:

Discusses his Glen Roy paper [(1839), Collected papers 1: 87–137], which he is sending to CL.

Remarks on Charles MacLaren’s treatment of alluvium. Comments on alluvial action in Lochaber.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[19 Feb 1840]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.21)
Summary:

Remarks on his illness and treatment.

Discusses MS [of Coral reefs] and changes in his view of coral reefs since Journal of researches. Mentions C. G. Ehrenberg’s observations on coral reefs.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[21 Feb – 4 Apr 1841]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.26)
Summary:

Answers a number of queries from Lyell concerning geography and geology of Chiloé Island and its relationship to the Cordilleras.

Asks about "perched rocks" on Jura and notes their relevance to Louis Agassiz’s theory. Discusses Agassiz’s view on Jura.

Mentions seeing Robert Brown.

Notes R. I. Murchison’s discovery of shells in central England.

Weakness of negative evidence.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[Mar 1841]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.27)
Summary:

Discusses the role of ice in determining the geological features of the Jura. Mentions view of Agassiz. Objects to idea of "a [sea of ice] carrying rocks". Notes Agassiz’s earlier view of "ice expanded in the line of the Great Swiss Valley". Comments on Pentlands.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[9 Mar 1841]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.23)
Summary:

Defends his theory [in "Parallel roads of Glen Roy" (1839), Collected papers 1: 87–137] against the view that the "roads" were formed by glacial action.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[12 Mar 1841]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.25)
Summary:

Discusses at length Louis Agassiz’s book [Études sur les glaciers (1840)] and Agassiz’s explanation of moraines. Defends his own theory of the importance of floating ice. Relates glacier theory to his own interpretation of Glen Roy.

Mentions a paper he is writing on South American boulders and till [Collected papers 1: 145–63].

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
6 [July 1841]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.24)
Summary:

Discusses various types of coral reefs on which he has been collecting notes. Views of C. G. Ehrenberg. His conception of the formation of Bermuda.

Pessimistic about the effect of his poor health on his scientific work.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project
From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
Sir Charles Lyell
Date:
1 June 1842
Source of text:
JDH/1/2 f.103-106, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:

JDH writes to Charles Lyell about specific points of geological interest encountered on the Ross Antarctic Expedition. Thanks Lyell for giving him Darwin's book with a description of Cape Verde. Also says he values THE GEOLOGICAL RESEARCHER & the profile of Lyell, which he keeps in his cabin with his father & Baron Humboldt's. Describes the Geology of Kerguelen Island & compares it to the account of Captain Cook who knew it as Desolation Island. Rocks incl: Trass, lava, Breccia, whinstone, volcanic conglomerations, basalt configurations, Quartzes & Zeolites. McCormick sent back fossil woods. Letter includes a sketch of Christmas Harbour. Birds incl: endemic Chionis & night Petrel. 3 insects: a Curculio, apterous moth & a spider. Describes the Kerguelen climate. Found more plants than expected: seaweeds, lichens, Mosses & Jungermannia, all perennial South American types. Writes about icebergs near Kerguelen & refers to the theory of erratic boulders which Charles Lyell's son has written about. Describes an agate fossil trunk he found in Van Diemen's Land & his notes on it in TRANSACTIONS OF THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF TASMANIA. The Auckland Island flora resembles that of New Zealand. Describes icebergs, first seen at latitude 63 degrees south. At 66°S collected black volcanic rock containing Olivine from an iceberg, which is illustrated. Describes mountainous land mass at 71°S & an island with a penguin rookery. Dredging to 300 fathoms found marine life: chiefly Mollusca, Crustacea, Corals, Bicellaria, some Ophiura & Syenite rock deposited by an ice berg. On an island 76°S observed signs of the different natural means of rock transportation & land formation. Includes a sketch of the ship 'Erebus' anchored off this island's cliffs. Describes discovery of the volcanoes 'Erebus' & 'Terror' incl. sketch. Discusses abundance of Diatoma found in the tow net & stomachs of Salpa & his belief that it is vegetable not animal. JDH has a geological collection for Lyell Jnr.

Contributor:
Hooker Project
From:
Charles Robert Darwin
To:
Charles Lyell, 1st baronet
Date:
[Sept–Dec 1842]
Source of text:
American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.30)
Summary:

Discusses relationship of subsidence to the formation of coral reefs.

Contributor:
Darwin Correspondence Project