Showing 63 results

(Includes the text of a poem entitled ‘The Coliseum’, being Lyell’s entry for the Newdigate Prize at Oxford.)

(This is a draft of Lyell’s entry for the Chancellor’s Prize at Oxford. The winning entry, by T. H. Ormerod, was printed.)

WW entirely agrees with JCH's reply to Milner on the subject of the application for a commission to inquire into the University: 'such an interference might do much harm but would not be likely to produce any good. As to Lyell [Charles Lyell], who is I believe one of the main movers in the business, I look upon him as the most bigoted of men in what relates to the Universities. You may judge of this from knowing that he holds the Universities to be entirely wrong in their arrangements, because the same persons lecture both in classics and in mathematics. This he has published in his Travels in America (by way of an appropriate channel) as the great evil of Cambridge and Oxford: and though I tried to set him right in my last book about our studies, he will not believe that the fad is otherwise'. WW has seen the first issue of 'Politics for the People' but does not yet 'catch the object or hopes of the conductors'.

Carlisle - Mr and Mrs Forbes are to go on an excursion to Cumberland. JDF will search for traces of glaciers in the lake country, and compare his findings with those he made at Skye last year. His conclusions from the latter 'appear to have been adopted with more than common unanimity by geologists holding various opinions' [Notes on the Topography and Geology of Cuchullin Hills in Skye and on the Traces of Ancient Glaciers which they Present, Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, 1846]. Although JDF has not read through Michael Faraday's 'big memoir...it seems to me that he has formed an undue estimate of the importance of his discoveries in this instance and has put them forth with a prominence which he used not to display'. Roderick Murchison's work on Russia is a fine piece but too 'exclusively technical' [The Geology of Russia in Europe and the Ural Mountains, vol. 1, London, 1845]. Charles Lyell will not increase his reputation by publishing any more 'American Notes' [Travels in North America, 2 vols., London, 1845].

JGL encloses 'a cheque for Mr Murray in acknowledgement of your friend's share in the art on yr second volume'. JGL is not impressed with it.

Cambridge - CL encloses he received from John Gibson Lockhart. In the letter JGL is sorry that WW 'has had much reason to complain - I mean as to his paper on Jones. What used to be diffused over 3 months is now squeezed out in 3 weeks. If WW agrees to undertake a review of CL's 2nd vol. 'he may rely on my entertaining no other proposition from any quarter whatever respecting it' ['Lyell's 'Principles of Geology', vol. 2', Quarterly Review, 1832].

Draft of an article published in The Quarterly Review, vol. 47.

Trinity Lodge - Thanks RJ for his suggestions and sends him the revised sheet [see WW to RJ, 28 Sept. 1845]. WW does not intend to write much on his dispute with Charles Lyell [see WW to RJ, 16 Sept. 1845]: 'for my book is intended mainly as a treatise on local questions, now under discussion in the University' ['Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge', 1845]. WW wrote his book because 'people were going on in a very thoughtless manner with regard to changes in our examinations which I hope I shall stop'.

Trinity Lodge - WW sends RJ what he has said about Charles Lyell (p. 116) [see WW to RJ, 16 Sept. 1845]: 'I want you to tell me if it is said in a proper manner'. WW has read 'Baufield's book which is much more remarkable and striking than I had expected from his task. It appears to me however that he attaches far too much value to one or two abstract expressions of some of his foreign authorities'.

Trinity Lodge - WW is pleased RJ liked his analysis of his book [see WW to RJ, 5 August 1845: RJ, 'Lectures on the Political Economy of Nations', 1845?]. WW is writing a reply to Lyell's Travels [Charles Lyell, 'Travels in North America', 2 vols., 1845] in which he attacks 'me for my defence of our college system: the fact being, that his head is turned by his success in lecturing in America. One might have supposed that his recollections of his experience in King's College would have shown him that lecturing may go with very little teaching, even in the best hands; but this he appears to have quite forgotten'. Could RJ look at WW's reply and say whether he thinks it too fierce ['Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambirdge', 1845].

Announces that he will come down with Arthur on the 22nd [December]. States that William talks of coming to see him for two days 'on the Saturday'. Declares that his work is over, and that he is 'grinding' at Arabic and ethnology. His friends are 'all coming up from the different schools and it is very jolly'. Replies that she should not get him a ticket for the concert since he does not know if he shall come until the evening. Intends to bring his Arabic home with him. Reports that he has read Prehistoric Man [by Daniel Wilson?], but wasn't very impressed with it, and announces that there are 'some interesting scientific books expected by Lyall and Huxley, bearing on Primæval Man'. States that he looks forward to seeing Miss [Lucy?] Brown.

Thanks WW for a copy of his pamphlet showing that all matter is heavy ['Demonstration that All Matter is Heavy', Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 7, 1841]: 'I think, one of the most curious and acute metaphysical discussions for its length, in any language, going one step further, if I mistake not, than Kant did in a similar direction'. He has had the Lyells [Charles Lyell] staying for a fortnight: 'They are most agreeable people and have left a most agreeable impression wherever they have travelled in the country'. GT encloses a copy of the Geological Survey of the State of Massachusetts.