Manuscripts on the New Zealand earthquake of 1855, 1855-1868
Scope and Contents
Manuscript notes on the New Zealand Earthquake of 1855, with Lyell drafting his text together - sticking sections together, crossing out lines, and redrafting - including:
- Three rough working copies of a paper on New Zealand Earthquake of Jan[uar]y 23 1856 [sic] sent to Paris [?] 1856 - an unpublished article. Details conversations 'in London with several gentleman well qualified in scientific conversing with several observers who were in New Zealand last year at the time of the great New Zealand Earthquake'. Heavily scored through and amended, some sketches.
- Manuscript with sections glued together, referencing evidence provided by Mr. F.A. Weld, who is referred to in Principles.
Dates
- Creation: 1855-1868
Creator
Language of Materials
English
Biographical / Historical
The earthquake which occurred in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand in 1855 was the biggest earthquake New Zealand has ever suffered. 5000 km2 was shifted vertically, the maximum horizontal shift was 12 metres and the maximum uplift was 6 metres. These notes enabled Lyell to include an account of the earthquake in the 10th edition of Principles of geology, or, The modern changes of the earth and its inhabitants considered as illustrative of geology, (1867-1868).
Full Extent
1 folder
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
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