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Letters from Ticknor, Prof. George (of Boston, Massachusetts), to Charles Lyell, 14 December 1843 - 20 January 1861

 File — Box: Box 3.3
Identifier: Coll-203/B1/96

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Large folder of letters written from Boston, Massachusetts, including letter from Anna Ticknor to Mary Lyell:

  1. Letter relates to the history of slavery in the United States, with commentary on current affairs, with references to Nat Turner's Rebellion [Southampton Insurrection], abolitionism, slavery, the Northwest Ordinance, and the Virginia Debate of 1832. First eight pages are in the handwriting of Ticknor's wife Anna. 1 December 1843
  2. Letter relates to 'Commentaries on North American Law' by James Kent [1763], Repudiation, Texas annexation, politics of the United States, particularly slavery, and the condition of free blacks. 26 February 1844.
  3. Summarised as 'Professorial system Universities Godley on toleration boarding houses'. This letter explains the American university system, especially in relation to religion. There is a post script about Texas annexation. There are several notes in the margins of pages. 28 April 1844
  4. Summarised as 'Dr. Ticknor on war spirit Dec 1845 No. 1'. This letter is Ticknor's thoughts on the possibility of war with Mexico. 12 December 1845
  5. Letter relate Ticknor's opinions on various aspects of American politics, including the 49th parallel, slavery, and the Irish.25 February 1846
  6. Summarised as 'Mr. Ticknor May 1846 on Channing propheter letter on Texas No. 2', but also relates to Ticknor's travel and the Mexican American War. 23 May 1846.
  7. Summarised as 'Ticknor 16 Nov 1846 Ether elections Mexican war No.3'. Ticknor also describes an anaesthetic gas created by C.T. Jackson, writes of the midterm elections of 1846, placing the Mexican American war and tariffs as the chief issues. Agassiz has written "Agassiz is here" at the end of the letter. Mention is made to William T.G. Morton, John Collins Warren, A. A. Gould, and Zachary Taylor. 16 November 1846.
  8. Summarised as 'Ticknor 30. Jan. 1847 Ether Dana 2 years before [North]? Black Mail Advertising Agassiz Mexico Bancroft No. 4'. The letter answers Lyell's question on aspects of American life, details the activities of their friends, and the Mexican-American War. There are several notes in the margins. People mentioned include: James Dana, H.D. Roger, Louis Agassiz, Edward Hitchcock, Cadwallader Colden, and James Polk. 30 January 1847.
  9. Letter relates a philosophical disagreement Ticknor had with a Mr. Grimblot, and includes commentary on Ether, the spread of Channing's writing, the expansion of slavery, the Mexican-American War, abolitionism, Unitarianism, Sketches of American History, slavery, the Missouri Compromise, Texas annexation, and the Northwest Ordinance. There are notes made in the margins of this letter. 27 February 1847.
  10. Summarised as 'Ticknor 30 March 1847 Liberality of sects Winthrop, Hilland on Milton, Leverrier No.6'. This letter relates to Unitarianism, different preachers in the New York area and their associates. Names include A.A. Gould, William Ellery Channing, Orville Dewey, Ezra Stiles Gannett, Robert Winthrop, Louis Agassiz, C.T. Jackson, Urbain Leverrier, H.D. Roger, and W.B. Rogers. 30 March 1847
  11. Summarised as 'Ticknor 29 April 1847 Schoolmasters pay people's love of [convention?] Mexico Unitarians Agassiz'. There are notes in the margins. Edward Everett, Zachary Taylor, Louis Agassiz, W.B Rogers, A.A. Gould, Benjamin Silliman, and D.D. Owen.Subjects mentioned include: education, Unitarianism, Geological Society, and the Holy Trinity. 29 April 1847 .
  12. Summarised as 'Ticknor 15 June 1847 Whewell letters Abbott Lawrence's donation Agassiz Everett no. 8'. This letter is about their associates activities at Harvard: Edward Everett, Louis Agassiz, William Whewell, Pierre Desor, and J.A. Lowell. Mention of Lake Champlain and Niagara Falls. 15 June 1847.
  13. Summarised as 'No. 24 Ticknor June 30 1847 Clergy in Legislature Christians Anti - slavery papers abolitionists'. Mentions Philadelphia and Niagara Falls. 30 June 1847.
  14. Letter is a listed response to Lyell's questions about religion in politics and schools, the public school system in general, slavery, and the Mexican American War. People mentioned include: Louis Agassiz, Edward Everett, Lowell, Eliot (family), Joseph Priestley, G.T. Curtis, Orville Dewey, W.C. Winthrop, Horace Bushnell, and Samuel Eliot. Places mentioned include: Massachusetts, New England, New Jersey, and Mexico. Subjects mentioned include: clergy, Irish, Catholics, Protestants, Unitarians, Yale University, Princeton, Liberal Christians, House of Representatives, abolitionism, slavery, Passage from the History of Liberty, and the Mexican-American War. 30 October 1847.
  15. Summarised as 'Bequeath to Cambridge Ticknor June 1848'. Letter relates to the Presidential election of 1848, the activities of their friends, the nature of American government, and immigration. People mentioned: Martin Van Buren, Zachary Taylor, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, Levi Woodbury, Abbott Lawrence, Millard Filmore, Edward Bromfield Phillips, Louis Agassiz, and Pierre Desor. Places mentioned include: New York, New England, Lake Superior, Germany , and the Mississippi Valley. Subjects mentioned inlcude: Presidential Election of 1848, Mexican American War, War of 1812, Whigs, slavery, Democrats, Abolitionism, Harvard, and immigration. 21 June 1848.
  16. Summarised as 'Ticknor Oct 16 1848 Leslie Milton, congregational church'. This letter is concerned with religion and the 1848 Presidential election. People mentioned: Peter Lesley, H.D. Rogers, and Zachary Taylor. Places mentioned include: Massachusetts, Milton, Boston, and Pennsylvania. Subjects mentioned include: schools, Calvinists, Presbyterians, Baptists, and the Association of Ministers. 16 October 1848.
  17. Summarised as 'Ticknor Jan 23 /49 Leslie (Milton) case Agassiz lecture'. This letter is about issue in the Unitarian church, Agassiz lectures, and American politics. People mentioned inlcude: Edward Everett, John C. Calhoun, Louis Agassiz, and Peter Lesley. Subjects mentioned include: Unitarian Church, Embryology, slavery, and abolition. 23 January 1848.
  18. Summarised as 'Mrs. Ticknor April 1849 on Second Visit', letter is written by Anna Ticknor to Mary Lyell. Letter mentions cholera, people in their social circle, slavery, and Lyell's Second Visit to the United States. People mentioned include: Samuel Eliot and Louis Agassiz. Places mentioned include: London, Scotland, and Kentucky. 13 April 1849.
  19. Summarised as 'Ticknor 2nd Visit to U.S. 3 Sept 1849'. Letter is a list of Ticknor's corrections to Lyell's Second Visit to the United States.People mentioned include: Joseph Story, Lawrence Abbott, Louis Agassiz, Richard H. Wilde, Peter Lesley, and Josiah Henson. Places mentioned include: South Carolina and Mississippi. Subjects mentioned include: Second Visit to the United States, Harvard, and sea serpents. 3 September 1849.
  20. Summarised as 'G. Ticknor Bowen's pamphlet Boston Jan[uar]y 23 1861'. The letter is about the tensions between the North and the South before the start of the American Civil War. People mentioned include: Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, and Francis Bowen. Subjects mentioned include: bonds and secession. 20 January 1861.

Dates

  • Creation: 14 December 1843 - 20 January 1861

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Full Extent

20 letters (1 folder)