Skip to main content

Letters from Judd, John Wesley to Charles Lyell, 10 June 1871 - 3 December 1874

 File — Box: Box 1.8
Identifier: Coll-203/1/150

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Letters from Judd, to Lyell. Where there are summaries, these are given in quotation marks.

  1. Discussing Judd’s knowledge of the island of Heligoland and the composition of the land according to German geologists that he met. Also mentions the fossil collection of Von Strombeck and that they demonstrate beds which is rare. Includes a copy of Judd’s article.
  2. Concerns the Duke of Argyll’s discovery of chalk flints in Mull. Judd wants Lyell to discuss the physiology of the old cretaceous sea area at the next meeting of the British Geological Society.
  3. Judd is in Sutherlandshire and investigating the history of the Jurassic formation of the North of Scotland. He also summarises his findings of the geology of England and his work comparing the Western Isles with Greenland.
  4. A letter of sympathy from Judd after the death of a “revered teacher and leader” of geological pursuits, who is not named. Also discussing Lyell sending a volume of work to Judd with his thanks.
  5. Letter acknowledging receipt of the book that Lyell sent.
  6. Discussion of the formation and age of Arthur’s Seat using the work of Charles Maclaren and Edward Forbes.
  7. Discussion on how there is no common name for basic crystalline rocks. Some terms used are greenstone, diorites, diallage rocks or gabbro. Includes a page of notes on blue paper with Judd’s corrections about the coniferous deposits in Queensland.
  8. Reply to Lyell about the rocks of the Hebrides and the relationship between feldspathic rocks and basalt varieties. They discuss the composition of the rocks and how much silica it contains and payment from Lyell for proof-reading some of his work. Includes sketch of rock formation from lava.
  9. Discussion of Judd’s work and the help he has given to Lyell. There is agreement for payment and a list of the hours worked.
  10. Confirming receipt of the draft sent by Lyell and discussion of Syenite, a type of granite. Debate over which definition, British or Continental, that should be used in research.
  11. Discussion for their work about the presence of limestone in the Hebrides. That there are fossils until the rock becomes igneous and that this disappearance is of note.
  12. Highlighting of the objections of others about the formation of crystals in igneous rock and the processes in how they are made. Includes an abstract of Judd’s paper which will be read at the Geological Society’s next meeting and will feature in February’s Geological Magazine.
  13. Discusses Judd’s work on volcanic phenomena and the Vesuvius eruption of 1871/72. Judd has taken two expeditions to visit cones and craters. Lyell has sent him a copy of his work ‘Elements’.
  14. Judd has travelled to Italy and is studying volcanic rocks of the Lipari Islands and Mount Etna. He discusses the possibility of meeting up with Lyell when he returns.
  15. Judd has some papers from Professor Guiscardi arriving from Italy which he will summarise and send to Lyell.
  16. “Judd visit to Scotland, lunch on Saturday”
  17. “Guiscardi’s Works, June 29 1874”
  18. Discussion of meeting Lyell at Forfar and the work of Milne-Home on the tablet of Bo’ness.
  19. Judd’s work on the strata of Strathmore between Cupar and Blairgowrie which includes a drawing of the area with labels.
  20. “J.W. Judd from Tyndrum, Aug 20 1874” Discussing the red sandstone of Crieff and Comrie.
  21. “J.W. Judd Oban Aug 26 1874” Discussion of the Duke of Argyll’s investigations into the geology of his land.
  22. Judd’s examination of reef beds at Carnoustie and Arbroath.
  23. Judd’s work on the sea cliffs between Arbroath and Lunan Bay which includes a small notebook of annotated drawings.
  24. Judd visited Revd Hugh Mitchell to look at his collection of red sandstone and visited fossils in Montrose.
  25. “Mr Judd Sep 25 1974 Flisk dyke”. Judd visited the Dundee Museum to look at specimens.
  26. “Darwin’s & Lyell’s works used by him in studying volcanic igneous” Lyell sent Darwin’s letter to Judd.
  27. Judd’s examination of red sandstone in Fife and the volcanic rocks of Fife.
  28. “Judd Oct 11 1874 Silurian classification – Stonesfield insect”. Includes a second copy of the same letter on blue paper and a postscript.
  29. “Judd Oct 1874 on Longwynd”. Includes drawing with annotations.
  30. Discussion of Mallet’s paper on the volcano Stromboli as well as others’ work over the years on the volcano.
  31. “Judd - on petroleum origins – Principles Vol I p.410”. Discussion on the origin of petroleum oils – either animal or vegetable – depending on the work of various geologists.

Dates

  • Creation: 10 June 1871 - 3 December 1874

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Full Extent

3 folders (31 letters, 1 article, 2 drawings and 1 small notebook)

Additional Description

Processing Information

Listed by Bethany Lawson, and catalogued by Pamela McIntyre, Strategic Projects Archivist, August 2024.

Related Names

Subjects

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

https://library.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379