ch. vi.] 1831-1836. 145 



Again, to his sister Susan in August, 183C : 



" Both your letters were full of good news ; especially 

 the expressions which you tell me Professor Sedgwick* used 

 about my collections. I confess they are deeply gratifying 

 I trust one part at least will turn out true, and that I 

 shall act as I now think as a man who dares to waste one 

 hour of time has not discovered the value of life. Professor 

 Sedgwick mentioning my name at all gives me hopes that 

 he will assist me with his advice, of which, in my geological 

 questions, I stand much in need." 



Occasional allusions to slavery show us that his feeling 

 on this subject was at this time as strong as in later life, f: 



" The Captain does everything in his power to assist me, 

 and we get on very well, but I thank my better fortune he 

 has not made me a renegade to Whig principles. I would 

 not be a Tory, if it was merely on account of their cold 

 hearts about that scandal to Christian nations Slavery." 



" I have watched how steadily the general feeling, as 

 shown at elections, has been rising against Slavery. "What 

 a proud thing for England if she is the first European 

 nation which utterly abolishes it ! I was told before leaving 

 England that after living in slave countries all my opinions 

 would be altered : the only alteration I am aware of is form- 

 ing a much higher estimate of the negro character. It is 

 impossible to see a negro and not feel kindly towards him ; 

 such cheerful, open, honest expressions and such fine mus- 



* Sedgwick wrote (November 7, 1835) to Dr. Butler, the head master of 

 ShreAvsbury School : " He is doing admirable work in South America, and 

 has already sent home a collection above all price. It was the best thing in 

 the world for him that he went out on the voyage of discovery. There "was 

 some risk of his turning out an idle man, but his character will now be fixed, 

 and if God spares his life he will have a great name among the naturalists of 

 Europe. . ." I am indebted to my friend Mr. J. W. Clark, the biographer of 

 Sedgwick, for the above extract. 



t Compare the following passage from a letter (Aug. 25, 1845) addressed to 

 Lyell, who had touched on slavery in his Travels %n iforth America. " I was 

 delighted with your letter in which you touch on Slavery ; I wish the same 

 feelings had been apparent in your published discussion. 'But I will not write 

 on this subject, I should perhaps annoy you, and most certainly myself. I 

 have exhaled myself with a paragraph or two in my Journal on the sin of 

 Brazilian slavery; you perhaps will think that it is in answer to you; but 

 such is not the case. I have remarked on nothing which I did not hear on 

 the coast of South America. My few sentences, however, are merely an ex- 

 plosion of feeling. How could you relate so placidly that atrocious sentiment 

 about separating children from their parents ; and in the next page speak of 

 being distressed at the whites not having prospered ; 1 assure you the contrast 

 made me exclaim out. But I have broken my intention, and so no more on 

 this odious deadly subject." It is fair to add that the " atrocious sentiments " 

 were not Lyell's but those of a planter. 



