Notebook No.146, 6 June 1846 - 14 June 1846

This notebook contains Charles Lyell’s notes from 6 June 1846 to 14 June 1846, while on the RMS Britannia, from the approximate midpoint through to the end of the ocean passage and arrival back home in England. The Lyells departed from Boston on 1 June, to Halifax, and and arrived in Liverpool on 13 June 1846. While the disembarkment is recounted at the end of the previous notebook, the last journal entry here was written on the following day recording Lyell’s observations enroute from Liverpool to London by railway. The discussions written during the ocean voyage are mostly about politics and religion in the United States, reflecting the experiences Lyell recently had during his travels and conversations he had with passengers onboard. Notes are in ink and pencil. The index is located in the back of the notebook on pages 69 and 71, plus three unnumbered pages; the last two of which are written on two of four pages of blue paper, added and held in place with red thread.

When known, Lyell's abbreviations and contractions have been expanded using brackets [ ]. Abbreviations in standard use, such as two letter abbreviations for United States place names, have not been expanded. When writing is unclear, and transcription is not possible, this is denoted using [...]. Quotation marks are Lyell's own notation for ditto, as is the abbreviation "do"; The inclusion of [sic] indicates the misspelling of a word is deliberate and taken from the notebook. There are numerous margin notations in this index. X is used to mark a pencil cross, and ? also marked in pencil, made at certain entries. It is not clear if this notation is written contemporaneously or later. At times Lyell has included dates (inner left margin) and these have been inserted at the beginning of the appropriate section.

Index
June 6. 1846
p. 1 X Britannia Steamer – with Capt[ain]. Elliot
p. 1 X Texas without trees in parts - Cotton in
p. 1 X Slaves imported into (African) not many
p. 1 Western country E[ast]. of rocky Mount[ains]. barren
p. 3 X Price of land sold by State 1½ $
p. 3 X War with England, Texas for
p. 3 X Convention of Baltimore - compact kept.
p. 5 X Transition State of American constitut[ion].
p. 5 X Lawyer in U.S. barrister & attorney
p. 7 X Lieut[enant] Chase on fortifying Mississ[ippi].
p. 7 X Cushing Caleb, envy & uncharitableness
p. 9 X U.S. Texivorous - want Canada
p. 9 ? In China Americans are English No. 2.
p. 9 X Gelman Mrs Southern Matron
p. 9 ? Western States little known in P[ennsylvania]. & Mass[achusetts]
p. 11 X War - supposit[ion]. that Irish w[ould] rise for U.S.
p. 11 X Experimental view of General & States constit[ions].
p. 13 X - [Experimental] changes in Judges, naturalizat[ion]. etc. etc.
p. 13 X Voting of States sh[ould]. be simultaneous
p. 14 X Iceberg danger of
p. 14 X Bridgeport Repudiat[ion]. case explain[ed].
p. 14 X Small factory shares
p. 14 ? Workmen in factories usually vote ag[ainst]. masters
p. 16 X Bridgeport - Illinois etc. repudiation
p. 18 & 22 X West Indies majority of males caused decrease [‘22 &’ interlined at end of line]
p. 18 X Calhoun on Engl[and]. enancipat[ing] to spite U.S.
p. 20X West Indies – Coulies [sic Coolies] bad measure
1846.
p. 20 X Convention N.Y. to disfranchise free blacks
p. 22 X Internal slave trade, whether avoidable
p. 22 X Repudiation, Olin & Holford on
p. 24 X Iceberg danger of
p. 24 X Texas, French meddling with
June 8th.
p. 26 X Northern Lights, Aurora seen
p. 26 X Texas Duff Green & Calhoun
[p. 26] X West India slaves compared to U.S.
p. 26 X Icebergs loss of steamers
p. 28 X State loans & debts & repudiation & conduct of Barings house - Elliot.
p. 28 X Party - loyalty to often Treason to principle
p. 30 X Columbus, tonnage of his vessels
p. 30 X Land represented by poor man, delegates
p. 32 X Annexat[ion]. & Conquest of U.S. like Englands?
p. 32 ? Dissolution of Union, why improbable
p. 32 ? Houston‘s extension of Texas
p. 32 X Icebergs, precaution ag[ainst]. running on
p. 32 X Power in the President. Holford advice
p. 34 X Holford on U.S. money affairs
p. 34 X Properly qualific[ations] to vote how practicable
p. 36 Rich man alone in Engl[and]. are free to speak, Elliot
p. 36 X L[ouisiana]. Convention – measures to shorten Sessions
p. 36 X Society in U.S. not to be estimated as G[reat]. Brit[ain]. w[ould]. be by state of Tipperary
p. 38 X In U.S. nothing to pull down, advantage
p. 38 X Natural, Aristocracy Burke on
p. 40 X - [Natural, Aristocracy] in U.S. has not its true weight
p. 40 X Emigrants to U.S. lower because of ultra democracy ruling there
p. 40 ? Scott greatest Capt[ain]. from Achilles to Murat
p. 40 ? Everett ag[ainst]. money tho' marr[ied] to millionaire
p. 42 X Iceberg with rock amp; mud on it, seen
p. 44 X Suffrage in Michigan lowered alters the President[ial]. Elect[ors]. test
p. 47 X Naturalization law explained by Romulus M. Saunders
[Note: pp. 46-47 – Lyell has written upside down on the odd numbered, right side facing page.]
p. 48 X Judge in L[ouisiana]. cashiered for fraud
[Note: This is referring to Judge Leonard; named with expanded account in Notebook 135.]
p. 48 X Cure for this w[ould]. be property qualific[ations].
p. 48 X Iceberg with rocks why rarely seen
p. 48 X Railway S[outh]. C[arolina] to Wilmington why bad
p. 50 ? Polk a sneaker
p. 50 ? Botts sleeping with Tyler P.U.S. [nonstandard abbreviation of President of the United States]
p. 52 X Mulattos of intermediate intelligence
p. 52 X Dr Olin on Liberia.
p. 52 X - [Dr Olin] on effect of Xtianity [sic Christianity] negros
p. 54 X Negros lose much by not reading newspapers in U.S.
p. 54 X Coloured people, term explain[ed].
p. 54 X Methodists says Olin prevailed how ag[ainst]. high Calvanism [sic Calvinism] N[ew]. Engl[and].
p. 56 X Baptists opposed [‘vol’ deleted] congregationalists by advocating voluntary principle
p. 56 X Episcopalians also tho' whigs
p. 56 X Nothengarians explained by Olin
p. 58 X Methodists how they prevailed in N[ew]. Engl[and].
p. 58 X Episcopalians succeeded not with negros
p. 58 ? B[isho]p Onderdonk. Puseyite.
p. 58 X Discipline & organization [sic] of Anglican Ch[urch].
p. 60 X Differences between Tractarian & evangelical greater than Baptist & Methodist
p. 60 X Nothingarian. Horace Mann.
p. 60 X Westleyians [sic Wesleyans] in England, now not [? churchmen]
p. 61 X Texas, coast flat etc.
p. 62 X Methodists, Education of
p. 62 X - [Methodists] bishops of & their duties:
p. 63 ? Elliot on servility of Liverpool Custom H[ouse]. officers
p. 64 X Puseyites in U.S. rarely turn Catholics
p. 64 X Calvanists [sic Calvinists] have softened in N[ew]. Engl[and].
p. 64 ? Milton, Course of theo[olgy]. recommend[ed].
p. 64 X Harper on trashy literature less read than formerly. Olin.
p. 64 X Revivals – reaction. Olin
p. 64 & 66 X Presidentship U.S. Executive Council propos[ed]. for Elliot & Clay [‘& 66’ added at end of line]
p. 65 ? Liverpool appearance of on landing
p. 65 X Pickett of Al[abama].
p. 65 ? Church Liverpool, Clerk reading
p. 66 X Taxation in U.S. Gallatin upon
p. 66 ? Frostburg Coal good for steamers
p. 66 ? Duelling feeling for in S[outh]. Dr Olin
p. 66 X War spirit in U.S. enlisting of all to fight Indians, from interests
p. 68 ? Texas & New Constit[uents]. Clay on
[Note: Commentary is about a law giving property rights to married women in New Orleans.]
p. 68 X Slavery, ½ popul[ation] seeing that other half is working
p. 68 ? Schools in S[outh]. why unsupported
p. 68 X Episcopalian, inferior man sent in colonial times to V[irginia]. etc.
[p. 68] Sea-serpent why rarely seen.
p. 68 X Clay on admission of 18 million of people into the cabinet.
p. 70 X Railway in Engl[and]. fewer houses seen than in U.S.
p. 70 X Liverpool popul[ation]. less healthy
p. 70 X - [Liverpool] smoke of compared to N.Y.
p. 70 Cattle & meadows of Engl[and].
p. 70 X Titled Ambassador for U.S.