162 LIFE OF BENJAMIN SILLIMAN. 



of my third edition, I cannot allow you to continue to read 

 my work in its less improved form. Mr. Murray has prom 

 ised me that one of the first copies shall be sent to you. We 

 print moderate-sized editions, because the science moves on 

 so fast, and so many alterations are required ; and at the 

 price of twenty-four shillings, which in this country is 

 very small for such a book, we gain but little ; but hope 

 to compensate by the rapidity of the sale. 



I congratulate you on the unexampled success of your 

 lectures, to which nothing in this country or in Europe can 

 possibly come up in point of numbers. No one can lecture 

 well to small audiences, or be eloquent to empty benches, 

 as would be the lot of most lecturers on geology here. My 

 friends who told you I was likely to visit America, have, I 

 believe, been rather sanguine in the expectation of the 

 effect which their advice had produced on me. I scarcely 

 feel that I am entitled to visit you until I know more of 

 Europe. I am just starting for a tour to the Alps. 

 Believe me most truly yours, 

 July 'i, 1835. CHAS. LYELL. 



16 Hart Street, LONDON. 



FROM SIR CHARLES LYELL. 



16 HART STREET, BLOOMSBURY SQUARE, 

 May 20, 1836. 



You will be glad to hear that I have just re 

 ceived a letter of three sheets from Sir John Herschel, 

 dated from the Cape of Good Hope, full of comments on 

 my " Geology," which he had read through for the third 

 time, and for the last time in the fourth edition. 



He speaks of my variation-of- climate theory as " a great 

 and acknowledged difficulty fairly surmounted." He talks 

 of coming home, via Brazil, in a year and a half. You will 

 see an article in the " Quarterly Review " on Dr. Buck- 

 land's Geological Bridgewater ; but the work itself is not 

 out yet, as he is working up the last chapters. I hope you 



