Dunse,
2nd. Septr 185⟨1⟩
Mr. Wm. Kemp | Galashiels
My Dear Sir
It is now a very lon⟨g⟩ time since I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you.— I tru⟨st⟩ that you continue to enjoy you⟨r⟩ usual good health and that yo⟨u⟩ still continue as opportunity offe⟨rs⟩ to prosecute your geological researches.—
Having lately received from Sir R. I. Murchison a copy of his paper on the Silurian rocks of the South of Scotland, I thought there still might be a possibility of finding some organic traces amon⟨g⟩ ⟨the [almost all of line excised]⟩ Lammermuirs, although I had ⟨of⟩ten looked in vain for anything ⟨of⟩ this character.— I accordingly ⟨la⟩id down upon a map the lines ⟨of⟩ strike of the greywacke so far ⟨as⟩ I had observed the same, with ⟨a⟩ view of finding out, if possible, ⟨th⟩e continuation of the slate beds ⟨at⟩ Grierston in which numerous ⟨g⟩raptolites have been found.— ⟨Th⟩is done I selected the course of ⟨t⟩he Dye above Longformacus as ⟨be⟩ing most suitable for examining ⟨t⟩hose particular strata which I was ⟨le⟩d to infer were probably the ⟨eq⟩uivalents of the Grierston beds.— A few days ago I devoted a day ⟨to⟩ a very close examination and ⟨w⟩as rewarded by the discovery of ⟨[line excised]⟩
I observed also a great variety o⟨f⟩ very curious markings such as I have no doubt must have had an organic origin, altho’ all trace⟨s⟩ of organic matter has disappeared⟨.⟩ Numerous blanched spots occur in some of the slates, containing a spe⟨ck⟩ of protoxide of iron in the centre just as is seen in similar spot⟨s⟩ from the fossiliferous strata of the Old Red.— I was also much interested in observing some of the slates marked exactly as a⟨t⟩ Thornilee quarry.— The beds so marked are seen in the Dye about half a mile below Horseupcleugh ⟨[&?]⟩ from their position nearly in the continuation of the strike of the Thornilee strata I have no doubt as to their being true equivalents ⟨[one line missing]⟩ ⟨g⟩raptolite are exposed in the cours⟨e o⟩f the Dye about a mile below ⟨B⟩yrecleugh thus corresponding pret⟨ty n⟩early with the continuation of the ⟨G⟩rierston beds, supposing the strikes ⟨to⟩ be on an average persistent in ⟨t⟩he directions observed.—
Now I think it would be well ⟨w⟩orth your while, when you can ⟨co⟩mmand the requisite leisure to ⟨lo⟩ok carefully over the strata betwe⟨en B⟩owland & Galashiels (particularly ne⟨ar Tor⟩woodlee) and see whether you ⟨ca⟩n fall in with any graptolites, or ⟨a⟩ny blanched spots or mysterious look⟨ing m⟩arkings of an apparently organic ⟨c⟩haracter.— If you find any markings ⟨li⟩ke those of Thornilee please mark ⟨t⟩he place & the directions of the dip ⟨or⟩ strike and let me know.—
I suspect we shall have to give ⟨[one line excised]⟩ to Murchison to be used by hi⟨m a⟩s the base of his grand Siluria⟨n⟩ System.— He appears to be mu⟨ch⟩ delighted with the discovery of Lower Silurian fossils in Ayrshire, Dumfries-shire, Galloway, &c. and wishes to have the whole Sout⟨h o⟩f Scotland greywacke annexed to the Silurian system.— My pre⟨sent⟩ impression is that the higher b⟨eds⟩ of the S. of Scotland greywacke c⟨o⟩rresponds to the Lower Silurian, but that the lower beds of the greywacke cannot be include⟨d⟩ within the Silurian system unles⟨s⟩ Sir Roderick gets an act authorisi⟨ng⟩ him to extend the limits of his system downwards.—
The entire thickness of the ⟨[one line excised]⟩ owing to the great number of ⟨s⟩harp foldings which the rocks ⟨h⟩ave undergone, the same beds ⟨a⟩re brought up again & again so ⟨as⟩ to present an immense apparent ⟨t⟩hickness.— It will require a very ⟨lo⟩ng time & much labour however ⟨b⟩efore the true order of succession ⟨&⟩ the true thickness of these strata ⟨a⟩re ascertained.—
I had the pleasure of ⟨v⟩isiting the Exhibition about ⟨ ⟩ weeks ago.— Such a sight! & such ⟨a⟩ study! But I must not attempt ⟨to⟩ say anything about it.— To ⟨co⟩nvey an idea of it to one who ⟨h⟩as not seen it is impossible, so ⟨t⟩hat I shall content myself with ⟨s⟩aying “go & see it if you ⟨possibly [one line missing]⟩
I have not yet got the fe⟨w⟩ days touring in the West Highlan⟨ds⟩ which I intended.— Mr. Purves ⟨is⟩ at present in London, but on his return I shall endeavour to move off.—
I hope John & Wm. continue to like Mallow.
With kindest regards to Miss Kemp and all your Son⟨s⟩ | I Remain | My Dear Sir | Yours Ever Truly | Wm. Stevenson
Please cite as “KEMP94,” in Ɛpsilon: The William Kemp Collection accessed on 30 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/epsilon-testbed/kemp/letters/KEMP94