Notebook No.128, 25 December 1845 - 2 January 1846

This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from December 25 1845 to January 2nd 1846 while traveling through Charleston (South Carolina), Savannah (Georgia), and Darien (Georgia). The index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 115 and nine unumbered pages. Notes are in pencil and ink and include field sketches. An X is used to mark a pencil cross made at certain entries. A date written in the left margin has been inserted at the beginning of the appropriate section.

The following table of contents is Lyell's own words, copied from Lyell's own "Index", found at the end of the notebook, transcribed from digital surrogates using the platform Transkribus. When known, Lyell's abbreviations and contractions have been expanded using brackets [ ]. When writing is unclear, and transcription is not possible, this is denoted using [...]. The inclusion of [sic] indicates the misspelling of a word is deliberate and taken from the notebook. X is used to mark a pencil cross made at certain entries. It is not clear if this notation is written contemporaneously or later. A date noted in the left margin has been inserted at the beginning of the appropriate section.

Index
Dec[ember] 25
p. 1 X Charleston S[outh]. C[arolina] with Mr. Sheppard
p. 1 X - [Charleston South Carolina] Crotilus [sic Crotalus] Adamantinus
p. 1 X Rattle-snake electrified
p. 1 X - [Rattle-snake] age of by rattles, 2 spec[ies]
p. 1 X Tortoises, laughing gas.
p. 1 Anti-English pamphlet, by placemen
p. 3 X Prunus Virginiana et cetera Medical Coll[ege]
. p. 3 Palmetto grove S[outh] of Hopeton
p. 3 X Episcopal church, fireworks, Xmas [sic Christmas]
p. 3 X Whiter colour of blacks in church
p. 3 ? H. Couper & Pulaski wreck of
p. 5 ? Intense frost Thermom[eter] 26 below zero
p. 5 ? Mercury frozen in Canada
p. 5 & 7 X Dr Bachman
p. 5 Hoit [sic Hoyt] & MacKensie [sic Mackenzie] letters, Democracy
p. 7 X Dr Bachman, 200 land mammalia
p. 7 X - [Dr Bachman] how many common to Europe
p. 7 - [Dr Bachman] Skunk, secretory vessels, stuffed
p. 9 ? - [Dr Bachman] Pecori [sic Peccary] from Texas
p. 9 - [Dr Bachman] Musk rat only breaks weak shells
p. 9 X - [Dr Bachman] Squirrels, divis[ion] of peculiar to N[orth]. Am[erica].
p. 9 X - [Dr Bachman] Flying squirrels described, P[ennsylvania]
p. 11 - [Dr Bachman] Public men not respected in U.S.
p. 11 - [Dr Bachman] X Rabbit, lepus palustris, diving
p. 11 ? - [Dr Bachman] Monkey in Texas
p. 11 - [Dr Bachman] Wolf varieties of - Wild cats
p. 11 X Blacks a degraded caste S[outh]. C[arolina].
p. 13 X - [Blacks] low governing here
p. 13 X Turkey buzzards scavenger
p. 13 X Rich caste depressed in South
p. 13 ? Geology, Gibbes, fossils Cooper R[iver].
p. 15 ? - [Geology] Miocene in S[outh]. C[arolina].
p. 15 ? - [Geology] Mio[cene] in S[outh]. C[arolina].? Darlington
p. 15 ? Meteorolite Eo[cene]? in Claiborne
p. 17 X Slavery Hoares [sic Hoar’s] mission to free slaves
p. 17 X - [Slavery] law for imprisoning free blacks
p. 17 ? Meteoric iron how detected, test
p. 17 ? Slave married by congregation[al] minister erraterum Lyells Travels
p. 17 2nd Erratum city guard
p. 19 ? Barrister & Att[orney] not separated
p. 19 ? - [Barrister & Attorney] advantage of
p. 19 ? - [Barrister & Attorney] practice in several courts
p. 19 ? Bachman Mus[eum] rattlers imported
Dec[ember] 27th
p. 21 X - [Bachman] has reduced U.S. spec[ies]. to 200

p. 21 X Squirrels migrate
p. 21 X Slavery, Hoare's [sic Hoar’s] mission
p. 23 X - [Slavery] free black must have guardians
p. 23 X Frost Charleston Dec 27 /45/
p. 23 Hitchcock small salary not eno[ugh]’ in U.S.
p. 23 ? Intolerance in V[irginia] ag[ainst] Romanists
p. 23 X Fox of White Mount[ains]
p. 23 ? Flying squirrel eating Canary bird
p. 25 Geology, Shells Mio[cene]. Gibbes collect[ed]
p. 25 Cherokquee [sic Cherokee] newspaper in language of
p. 25 Iron 1/4 of all worked is from U.S.?
p. 25 Aplysia Charlest[on]. pier
[Note: The above 3 index lines should refer to page 24.]
p. 25 Geology. Scutella macrophora S[outh]. C[arolina].
p. 26, 27 - [Geology] list of Gibbes shells, Lyellia
p. 28, 29 - [list of Gibbes shells] Mio[cene]. Goose Cr[eek] S[outh]. C[arolina].
p. 30 X Slavery, Texas, breeding slaves
p. 30 X - [Slavery] V[irginia] if it sh[ould] emancipate w[ould]. do much [‘much’ interlined]
p. 30 ? Tour "in front
of you" p. 24 X War, English P[ost]. Office Steamer at Charleston excited alarm
p. 30 X War, England must be ruined by debt
p. 30 ? War taxes sh[ould] be raised within the year
p. 34 Conrad on Maryl[and] tertiary being equivalent of crag
p. 34 ? S[outh]. C[arolina] a nullifying state sh[ould] not violate internat[ional] law ab[out] Oregon
p. 34 X Fire, Charlest[on] in 1838.
p. 34 X Charleston kept down by fire, by slavery, by absenteeism
p. 34 X - [Charleston] Ships not owned by
p. 34 X - [Charleston] not unhealthy
p. 34, 37 Fox in America like English fox, [‘fox’ interlined] X
p. 37 X Bachman representative spec[ies] both sides of Rocky Mount[ains]
p. 37 X Equality, Pettigrew [sic Petigru] on each anxious to top his neighbour
p. 37 Tyler was Gov[ernor] of V[irginia] no lawyer
p. 37 Negros ugliness of, Pettigrew [sic Petigru]
p. 38 X No Verdun detention to be feared
p. 39 X Turkey buzzards protected
p. 39 ? Basil Hall "to improve fools
p. 39 X New Orleans the only thriving city in a slave State
p. 39 Articles dearer but better in South
p. 39 ? Buying & selling slaves looked down on [‘on’ interlined]
p. 41 X Winthrop on arbitration between G[reat]. Brit[ain] & U.S.
p. 41 Mountain of S[outh]. C[arolina] finest scenery
p. 41 X Democracy clear-sighted as to annexat[ion] [‘n’ interlined]
p. 43 X General standard w[ould] be lowered by
p. 43 Massachusetts ag[ainst] annex[ation], Sinde
p. 43 Abolition has retarded emancipation
p. 43 X Turkey buzzards like bronze monuments
p. 43 ? Party at Mitchell Kings Charleston
p. 44 X Slave dealer, Steamer Charlest[on] to Savannah
p. 44 X Slaves c[ould] not read but count to 1000
p. 44 X Edisto P[oint]. White beach
p. 44 X Beaufort channel, pine, live-oak
p. 46 X - [Beaufort] Plant[ations] of cotton, palmetto, salt marsh
p. 46 X - [Beaufort] Oyster beds, town, oranges, frost
p. 46 X - [Beaufort] black populat[ion] peculiar scenery
p. 48 X Beaufort river - dense oyster beds
p. 48 X - [Beaufort] mild climate caused by Gulf stream
p. 48 - [Beaufort] U.S. must possess Mexico
p. 48 Episcopal church saved by laity
p. 49 Negros laughing at Savannah
p. 49 X Partridges after revolut[ion] tough
p. 49 State sovereignty may save N[ew]. Eng[land]. states
p. 49 Live oaks not evergreen
p. 49 X Spanish fort, Anglo-saxons expel all
Dec[ember[ 29
p. 50 X Fossil bones Skiddaway [sic Skidaway]
p. 50 Tide in Cockspur isl[and] rise of 5 f[eet]
p. 50 Savannah, death by fossil hunting
p. 51 Submerged forest betw[een] Savannah & Darien
p. 51 X Savannah popul[ation] 12000 - Camelia [sic Camellia]
p. 53 Southern planters commanding air (Shepard)
p. 53 X War panic - letters of naturaliz[ation]
p. 53 X - [War] Times on annexat[ion] of Texas
p. 53 X Hudson of Savannah in Lyell's travels
p. 54 X J. Le Conte (Leconte) 111 S. Broad St S[avannah].
p. 56 ? Queries H. Couper - South[ern] aristocracy
p. 56 X - [Queries] Loblolly pine
p. 58 X Racoon oysters, growth of, Cockspur Isl[and]
p. 60 X Oysters rapid growth
p. 60 & 64 X - [Oysters] Eagle caught by, Lt. Alexander
p. 62 X Raccoon oysters explained
p. 62 X Cockspur Isl[and] waste of coast
p. 62 Oyster fossils inland & above sea-level
p. 64 ? Pinus palustris, seeds eaten by squirrel
p. 64 X Flying Squirrel nocturnal at Savannah
p. 64 Palmetto blue & serrated, vis [‘vis’ interlined]
p. 64 Tillansia, [sic Tillandsia] Loblolly, betw[een] Savannah & Skiddaway [sic Skidaway]
p. 64 & 60 X Eagle caught by oyster
p. 66 Pinus palustris (Savannah?)
p. 66 X Palmetto or Cabbage palms 40 f[eet] high
p. 66 X Alligator when decapitated
p. 66 Skiddaway [sic Skidaway] ferry, laurel tree
p. 68 Marsh mud, marine shells in, Alexand[er]
p. 68 X Savannah frost in Dec[ember], palms
p. 68 X - [Savannah] Salt water frozen, Frost of 1835
p. 68 X Palm grow slow, 6 f[eet] high 12 y[ears]
p. 70 X - [Palm] & cotton & negros
p. 70 Slavery, servant & habeas corpus
p. 70 X Loblolly pines
p. 70 Martins kill hawks, G[eorgia
] p. 70 X Rooks in Skiddaway [sic Skidaway]
p. 72 Malaria? Charleston
p. 72 & 74 X Geol[ogy] section Skiddaway [sic Skidaway]
p. 72 X Tree struck by lightning steam condens[ed]
p. 72 X Bone deposit Skiddaway [sic Skidaway]
p. 72 ? Plants Smylax, [sic Smilax] Ilex et cetera
p. 74 X Roots erect of Pines like trunks
p. 74 X Vernon stumps with oysters explain[ed]
p. 74 X Geology, Section Skiddaway [sic Skidaway]
p. 74 X Tap root of Loblolly pine
p. 74 X Palm section
p. 74 ? Fires caused by careless negro
p. 74 ? Tillansia [sic Tillandsia] purple flowers
p, 76 Section S[outh] of Savannah by Leconte
p, 76 ? Bones position of Skiddaway [sic Skidaway]
p, 76 ? Cotton name of
p, 76 & 85 X Alligator Crocod[ile]. lucius stomach like gizzard, arrow head
p, 76 ? Cherokee rose - single one out
p. 77 X Birds seen Dec. 29 Leconte
Dec[ember] 31st
p. 78 Boat shoved along over mud vis [‘vis’ interlined]
p. 78 X Skiddaway, [sic Skidaway] Geology, waste of cliff
p. 78 Geology, sand 50 ft. thick Savannah
p. 78 Rice killed by drought & rise of tide
p. 78 Islands on coast how formed

p. 79 Geology, Skiddaway [sic Skidaway] shells list of
p. 81 - [Geology] Islands caused by denud[ation] during rise
p. 81 Warm weather, rice grounds
p. 81 X Cactus prickly
p. 81 X Boarding house life gossiping
p. 81 Steamer in West[ern], going where it was damp
p. 81 X Cabbage Palmetto eatible
p. 81 X Loblolly Bay, red Cedar
p. 83 - [Loblolly] magnolia glauca, Loblolly
p. 83 Blue crane - Steamer Savann[ah] to Darien
p. 83 X War danger of because placemen turned out [‘out’ interlined]
p. 83 X - [War] democracy trade on hatred to England
p. 83 X Polk brought in by 5000 N.Y. bad votes
p. 83 ? Savannah, names of persons at
p. 83 X Abolitionists of Engl[and] exagg[erated] in S[outh].
p. 85, 76 X Alligators stomach like gizzard
p. 85 - [Alligators] eggs et cetera as Bartram describ[ed]
p. 85 X Alligators brain
p. 85 X Geology, Skiddaway [sic Skidaway] fossils, place of
p. 85 Mixed race q[uery] 2 1/2 per cent only?
p. 85 X Savannah to Darien 100 miles
p. 85 X Sapelow [sic Sapelo] I[sland] Gulf Stream
January 1st 1846
p. 87 Sugar cultiv[ation] aband[onded] in G[eorgia]
p. 87 ? "I reckon & I guess
p. 87 XO Darien - Negro pilot, birds
p. 87 X War - 4th July address
p. 87 X Negro offering to "hesitate", wait
p. 87 X Darien Cypress leafless
p. 88 X - [Darien] splendid live oaks
p. 88 X Insanity in U.S. most with man
p. 88 X - [Insanity] this only in U.S. Leconte
p. 88 X Darien Sand at, burrs
p. 90 X Alatamaha [sic Altamaha] R[iver]. H. Couper
p. 90 X - [Altamaha River] boatman singing, plants
p. 90 - [Altamaha River] geology
p. 92 ? - [Altamaha River] roots of Cypress - Magnolia
p. 92 X Boat of Cupressus disticha
p. 94 X Magnolia glauca 30 f[eet] high
p. 94 H. Couper, Tulip tree, shad nets
p. 94 Indian shell heaps, shells in
p. 94 Negros age of exaggerated H.C.
p. 94 ? Slaves from Africa in 1794
p. 94 - [Slaves] cannot be educated beyond certain point [‘point’ interlined]
p. 96 X - [Slaves] stop short in music
p. 96 X Negro races, Foolah [sic Foula] best
p. 96 X - [Negro] most healthy in worst season for the whites
p. 96 X - [Negro] Gang of ditchers most healthy
p. 96 X Slaves pension off - educated
p. 98 X Geology, swamp mud - marl
p. 98 Cypress standing tho' dead 30 y[ears]
p. 98 X H. Couper notes on talk with
p. 100 X Planters overreaching themselves by annexat[ion] of Texas
p. 100 X - [Planters] improvidence of from inequality of crops
p. 100 X Education of negro by whites
p. 100 X Abolition has thrown back, 50 y[ears]
p. 100 X Social change slow
p. 100 X Planters visit north less now
p. 100 X - [Planters] annoyed by Abolitionists
p. 100 X Blackbirds, hospital et cetera H.C's.
Jan[uary] 2nd
p. 102 Terraces like Darwins in G[eorgia].
p. 102 Water oaks 55 f[eet] in 25 y[ear]
p. 102 Live oak size of in 42 y[ears]
p. 102 X Shrike impales lizards
p. 102 & 104 X Pines succeed oaks, oaks pines
p. 104 X Geology shells in Burnetts Cr[eek]. H.C.
p. 104 Hypocrisy conventional on relig[ion]
p. 104 - [Hypocrisy] less than in England
p. 104 X Oaks succeeding pines, owing to birds & squirrels planting seeds
p. 105 List of shells Brunswick canal
p. 106 ? Section betw[een] Ellis & Gibsons Br.
p. 106 X Black birds Skiddaway [sic Skidaway] Marsh mud
p. 108 ? Megatherium in freshw[ater] & not in marine shelly beds below
p. 108 ? Section of megatherium beds
p. 110 ? Chelonian with E. primigenius
p. 112 ? Birds names of blackbird & shrike
p. 112 X Black bird useful
p. 114 X Jays bury acorns & forget them
p. 114 X Blue Jay
p. 114 X Swamp rabit [sic rabbit]