CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE OLIN LIBRARY QE 22.L98aT"'^"''"'"'"-""''>' ^"^ journals imMiMmlf.f.'i*' of Sir Charl 3 1924 012 129 544 Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924012129544 SIR CHARLES LYELL, BART. VOL I. LONDON : PRINTED BT SQUAKE 3P0TTI8W00DE AND CO., NEW-STllKET ASD PAELIAMENT 8TRKKT ^ t£?9n.' yy^ lA'^iu^.H ri^ 1 yZ6£'A/992^/Z^ /£^' LIFE LETTEES AND JOUENALS OF SIR CHARLES LYELL, BART. AUTHOR OF 'PRINCIPLES OP GEOLOGY' &C. EDITED BY HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, MBS. LYELL IN TWO VOLUMES—VOL. I. m\t^ |ortraite LONDON JOHN MUEEAY, ALBEMAELE STEEET 1881 All ri[/h(s feser'ved PEE FACE. The Geolotjical Works of Sir Charles Lyell are the best monument which he has left to the world as a record of his labours in Science, but something more may be desired to be known of tlie hfe of one who loved Nature's works with an intensity which was only equalled by his love of Truth. These volumes contain a sketch of the early days of Geological Science, and of the Geological Society of London, with glimpses of some of the bright characters who adorned it. An autobiographical account of his boyhood is given, and large extracts from the private journals and letters to his wife, his family and friends, as these record better than any panegyric the untiring energy and enthusiasm which never flagged during a long life, rendering it a useful and a very happy one. His cultivated mind and classical taste, his keen interest in the world of politics and in the social pro- gress and education of his country, and the many opportunities he enjoyed of friendly intercourse with the most leading characters of his age, make the letters VI PREFACE abound in lively anecdotes and pictures of society, con- stantly intersj)ersed with his enthusiastic devotion to Natural History. The geological information is given, as he gathered it in, from his personal observations at the time, though he afterwards may have arrived at different conclusions as he advanced in the study of the subject. Many thanks are due to all who have kindly lent me their letters, and have thus contributed to the com- pletion of these memoirs. — CONTENTS OF THE FIE ST VOLUME. CHAPTER I. NOVEMBER 1797— 1812-14. PAGK Birth at Kinnordy—Bartley Lodge—School at Eingwood—Adventures School-life at Salisbury—Old Sarum — More School Adventures Entomology—Dr. Fowler—111, and sent Home—Love of Insects Dr. Bayley's School at Midhurst — Reflections on School-life Classicus Paper—Taste for Poetry—Latin "Verses—Petty Gambling —Chess— Music—The enraged Musician— Cowdry Park and Birds- nesting .... .... .1 CHAPTER II. FEBRUARY 1816—NOVEMBER 1817. Letters — from Oxford—Fellow Students—Gifford—Kirke White ' Chris- tabel '—Examination—Lord Exmouth—Ammonites Bucklandi—Visit to Mr. Dawson Turner at Yarmouth—Dr. Arnold— Geology—Journey to Scotland—Trip to Staffa — lona—Betum to Oxford—Lines on Staffa ........ .32 CHAPTER III. JUNE, JULY 1818. Tour on the Continent—Paris—Jardin des Plantes—Versailles—Mal- maison—Theatre Fran^ais— Corneille's Play—Practical Efficiency of the Bibliothfequedu Eoi—Visit to P^re la Chaise—The Louvre —Journey continued to the Jura Mountains—Grand View over Switzerland Chamouni—Glacier de Bossons—Mer de Glace—Couvercle, and le Jardin—Flowers and Insects—Return to Geneva— Basle—Holbein- Falls of SchafEhausen Lucerne of — —Ascent the Eighi . .57 — viii CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. CHAPTER IV. JULY—SEPTEMBER 1818. PAGE Meyringen—The Giesbach—Glacier of the Ehone—View from the Grimsel belle —Theory of Pink Snow explained—Grindelwald Glacier—La BatteliSre—Avalanche from the Eiger—Berne and Dr. Wittenbach— The Vallais—Desolation from the bursting of the Drance—Val de Bagne—The Bridge of Lourtier—Convent of St. Bernard—Ancient Temple of Jupiter—Brieg—The Simplon—Lago Maggiore—Milan— Verona—Venice—Bologna—Florence . -84 CHAPTER V. SEPTEMBEE 1820—JULY 182.3. Letter from Rome—Lnpressions of the Forum— Political Discontent at Naples—Geological Anniversary Dinner—Geologising in Surrey—Visit to Romney Marsh—Geology of the Isle of Wight—Geological Club Dinner—Paris—Soiree at Cuvier's—Alexander von Humboldt—La Place—Axago—Politics—Aliments for ever 112 CHAPTER YI. JULY 1823—OCTOBER 1824. Alexander Brongniart — Manufacture of Sevres—M. Pichon— Tertiary Formations at Meudon—M. Constant Prevost—Marshal Soult's Gallery —Political Discussion at Cuvier's—Excursion to Fontainebleau with M. Constant Pr6vost—Division of Property—Baron de Fferussac—His Cosmogony—Political Changes in France—Versailles—Geological Ex- cursion to the Marne—Centralisation of Paris—Return to England Rev. W. D. Conybeare—Plesiosaurus from Lyme Regis—Constant Pr6vost's Visit to England—Kinnordy—Accompanies Dr. Buckland to 132 Ross-shire . ... CHAPTER VII. JULY 1825 DECEMBER 1827. Clathrarium Lyelli—Entomology—Lockhart becomes Editor of the ' Quarterly Revievf '—Breakfast at Lockhart's with Sir Walter Scott — Visit to Cambridge—Pleasure in reading Lamarck—Planning his future Work—On Intolerance in Science 160 CHAPTER VIII. JANUARY— SEPTEMBER 1828. Arrival of Ava Fossils—Botanical Chair, London University—Dr. Flem- ing's History of British Animals—Party at Sir George Phillips'—Tour —— CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. ix abroad with Murchison—Paris—Journey to Auvergue—Secondary and Freshwater Formations of France—Volcanic Phenomena near Cler- mont— Count de Montlosier—Beautiful Scenery about Mont Dor Cantal Fossils — Entomology — Nice — Murchison Overtaxing his Strength—Paper on Excavation of Valleys—Determines to go to Naples and Sicily—Letter to Herschel—Parts from the Murchisons at Padua — Giotto's Paintings 175 CHAPTER IX. OCTOBER 1828—JANUARY 1829. Parma—Professor Guidotti— Fine Collection of PossU Shells—Adventure at the Douane at Parma—Geology of the Valley of the Elsa Eiver near Siena—Ancient Volcanos near Viterbo—Geology of Eome—Naples- Embarks for Ischia—Psestum—Temple of Neptune—Catania—Ascent of Etna—The Casa Inglese—The Gemmellaros—Hardships and Adventures—Syracuse—Agrigentum •— A Festa — Palermo—Banditti — Difficulty of leaving Sicily—Eeturn to Naples 205 CHAPTER X. JANUARY—DECEMBER 1829. Eome—News from home on Geological speculations—Dr. Wollaston's Death— Tivoli—Grand section of Travertin—Geologists at Genoa Journey to Geneva—De CandoUe—Necker—Paris—Lecture of Pre- vost's—Cuvier—Arrangement of his Library— Eeturn to London Lively Meeting at the Geological Society—Fossils in pavement-stone in Forfarshire—Sedgwick and Murchison geologising abroad—Letter from Constant Provost— Project of going to Iceland . 236 CHAPTER XI. FEBRUARY—AUGUST 1830. Dr. Fleming's remarks on Conybeare—Determination not to enter into controversy— Opening of the Atheneeum Club—Milman's ' History of the Jews '—Proposed trip to the Crimea— Letters to Poulett Scrope on the ' Principles '—Leaves England with Captain Cooke for the Py- renees—Excursion into Catalonia 259 CHAPTER XII. AUGUST—NOVEMBER 1830. Volcanos of Olot—Earthquakes—Count d'Espagne— Cork-trees on the French side of the Pyrenees—Pine-trees—Political state of the coun- try—Expedition to Mont Perdu—Letter to Scrope on Geology Eipple-mark—Paris—Louis Philippe—Political agitation in Belgium VOL. I. a — X CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. and France— Srndying shells with Deshayes—Disturbance by the mob—Returns to London— ^crope's review in ' Quarterly '—Removes to Raymond Buildings ... -83 CHAPTER XIII. FEBErARY SEPTEMBER 1831. — Appointed Professor of Geology at King's College "Visit to Cambridge Journal to Miss Homer— Jlrs. Somerville's ' Mechanism of the Heavens '—Party spirit on the Reform Bill—On Education of Boys JIadame de Stael and her Writings—Sir William Napier—Goes to 31.5 Scotland—Edinburgh—Lord Cockbum—Dr. GrevUle—^innordy . CHAPTER XIV. SEPTEMBER DECEMBER 1831. Xew Volcanic Island in the Mediterranean—Life at Kinnordy with his family—Election excitement—Murray of Simprim—Returns to Lon- don—Dinner at the Linnaean Club—Gumming, the sail-maker Geological .Society Meeting—Duke of Sussex at the Royal Society Visit to Jermyns—Thinks of giving up his Professorship at King's College . 339 CHAPTER XV. JAXUAET MAY 1832. Conversation with Babbage—Mrs. Lockhart—Visit to Dr. Fitton at Hendon—Dinner at Mr. Mallet's at Hampstead—Entomology—Anni- versary Dinner of the Geological Society—Party at Murchison's Sedgwick declines a Living—Captain Basil Hall— Zoological farm at Kingston Hill—Butterflies—On Religious Toleration—Lectures at King's College—Preform Bill . 361 CHAPTER XVI. Jr^"E 1832 APRIL IS 34. His Marriage—Tour to Switzerland and the Italian Lakes—Return to London—Lectures at the Royal Institution—Heidelberg—Von Leon- hard's Lecture—Dr. Schmerliiigs work in the Caves near Lifege—Dr. Bowstead— Sydney Smith—The Drummond Light .... 387 CHAPTER XVII. MAY JtrNE 1834. Departs for Sweden—Lubeck—Picks up Shells on the Baltic—Arrives at Copenhagen—Expedition to Mcen with Dr. Forchhammer—The Crown — CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. xi PAGE Prince Christian—Visit to the Country Palace of Sorgen-frey—Geo- logy—Departs for Sweden—Engages an Interpreter—Legend of the Backe-hasten— Castle of Kalmar . 407 CHAPTER XVIII. JUNE—DECEMBER 1834. Stockholm— Berzelius—Eeview of the Fleet by Prince Oscar—Upsala Herr Adjuncter Marklin—Linnaeus' Garden—Liber Argenteus—Mea- sures the Sea-level—Returns to Stockholm—Gotheborg— Sails to Hull —Edinburgh Scientific Meeting—Agassiz . 425 CHAPTER XIX. JANUARY DECEMBER 1835. Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise— Crag shells of Suffolk—Paris—Von Buch—Berzelius—Geology of Switzerland—Meeting of Naturalists at Bonn—Agassiz' Catastrophe System—His Love of Natural History . 444 Deshayes' zeal for Conchology . ... CHAPTER XX. FEBRUARY—-DECEMBER 1836. On money for Museums being frittered away in Buildings—Letter to Sir John Herschel on the Origination of New Species — Kinnordy—Dr.