From:
Charles Lyell
To:
Mary Somerville
Date:
3 Jun 1831
Source of text:
MSL 6 / 138, Dep. c. 371, Bod, MS
Summary:
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Contributor:
Brigitte Stenhouse
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Comments on [MS of] CD’s paper ["Elevation on the coast of Chili" (4 Jan 1837), Collected papers 1: 41–3].
Invites CD to dinner. "Don’t accept any official scientific place, if you can avoid it".
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.
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"I could think of nothing for days after your lesson on coral reefs, but of the top of submerged continents. It is all true, but do not flatter youself that you will be believed, till you are growing bald, like me, with hard work & vexation at the incredulity in the world."