This file consists of five autograph letters signed from Ferenc Pulszky to Lady Mary Lyell and her husband Sir Charles Lyell, sent from Bayswater and Highgate (London), Turin, Budapest, and dated 1 July 1851, 23 June 1857, 18 March 1861, 19 February 1863 and 23 July 1875. Also includes an oval photographic portrait on a larger carrier.

1. Letter from Ferenc Pulszky to Charles Lyell, dated 1 July 1851: "I enclose a letter of Mr Mazzini [i. e. the Italian politician and freedom fighter Giuseppe Mazzini] and another of Hofferth, overwhelmed with business I am utterly unable to bid you a hearty Adieu, but I am sure you will not forget your Hungarian friends [...]". With tear verso.

2. Letter to Mary Lyell, dated 23 June 1857: "I am very thankful to you for all your kindness but I fear that it would be to much excitement for the children to have a series of holydays without interruption. They behave now very quietly & I think it is better to keep them at home. As soon as Mad Pulszky will be allowed to see anybody I will at once write to you & to Miss Susan [...]". Middle fold partly cut.

3. Letter to Mary Lyell, dated 18 March 1861: "Madam Pulszky is going on very well, I do not allow her as yet to get up but her health is quite satisfactory and I hope that in a few weeks she will again be strong, but I am detennined to keep her indoors for considerable time. My youngest son is a strong baby, sleeps quietly and disturbs us seldom at night. Being at Turin we have naturally all our hands full with politics. The Italians want & shall get Rome peacefully this year Venetia is to be freed in 1862, [...] have therefore plenty of time to prepare for the campaign against Austria. Such is at least my impression, strengthened by all I heard from Garibaldi p. e. the Italian guerrilla fighter Guiseppe Maria Garibaldi] himself at Caprera. Still it is not impossible that a collision may take place earlier though it is not probable. The electoral District of Szécsény has returned me to the Diet much to the satisfaction of Theresa, though I cannot deny that this friendly remembrance after twelve years of exile made a deep impression upon me. The Hungarian affairs are going on swimmingly, and we are very anxious about the result of the diet which is to meet in a fortnight [...]". Pulszky continues on detail of the christening of their baby, on the family's well being and affairs, and asks for the Lyell's "plans for the coming summer". One day earlier on 17 March 1861, Victor Emmanuel was proclaimed first king of Italy in Turin. Garibaldi's attempt to conquer Rome in 1862 was fought back by the papal army under Pallavicini, Garibaldi defeated and heavily wounded.

4. Letter to Charles Lyell dated 19 February 1863: "You made me a very great pleasure by sending me your geological evidence for the anitquity of men. I read the volume with the greatest interest well aware that it is one of those books which mark a progress in science and sets at rest a vexed question I sought in it likewise your opinion about the unity or diversity of the origin of mankind, and though you have not committed yourself to any of the too contrary hypothesis, it seems to me that you favour the theory of unity though transmutation and selection does not necessarily exclude the theory of diversity [...]", continuing on the political situation of the US, followed by that of Italy and noting: "Garibaldi's wound has not yet began to heal, probably it will last as yet many months before he is again able to walk and to ride [...]". With two tears close to the middle fold due to opening of the letter.

5. Letter to Mary Lyell on the occasion of Sir Lyell's death, dated 23 July 1875: "I am very much obliged to you for sending me some notices and Dear Stanley's sermon on Sir Charles. He was an honorary Member of our Academy and as it is customary with us to make a public speech on the deceased members, I have been charged to honour Sir Charles's [!] memory so much the more, since the sympathy of all your family with Hungary is well remembered by the older generation, and should not be forgotten by the new one [...]". Pulszky gives details on his children's development and careers and a planned "halfscientific expedition": "In September I intend to go with Charley and Poly, Professor [Johannes Adolph] Overbeck ot Leipzic, Dr Henselmann whom you perhaps still remember, and Mr Rauscher an able young painter, to Constantinople and Athens [...]". Pulszky closes the letter with listing his current obligations and posts: "Government has appointed me Inspector General of The Libraries and Museums, which gives me much to do. I arrange now the National Museum, where the geological and mineralogical collection become the third or fourth in importance in Europe, of course the antiquities are not neglected, I have to arrange too, the picture Gallery and to superintend some scientific publications, Next year in autumn we have here at Pest the Meeting of the prehistorical and anthropological Congress, which last year at the Meeting at Stockholm has elected me Chairman for that occasion [...]". Slightly pierced close to the middle fold.