Gideon Algernon Mantell’s unpublished journal, June-November 1852

Turnbull Library Record, Volume 16, Issue 2, 1 October 1983, Page 77

Gideon Algernon Mantell’s unpublished journal, June-November 1852

EDITED BY SHARON DELL

The Mantell Family papers are a primary source for the study of early British geology and as such attract almost constant international interest. Gideon Algernon Mantell (1790-1852) was never free from the necessity of providing his own living; out of his considerable experience as a general practitioner in Lewes, Brighton, and London he contributed to the medical literature and gained a reputation in this field. It is, however, as a geologist and man of science that the discoverer of the Iguanadon is principally known. Through his publications, lectures, and the display of his collections, Gideon Mantell played a significant part in fostering the widespread popular enthusiasm for the study of Britain’s fossil remains, and in laying the foundations for the systematic scientific study of them.

Although a brilliant lecturer ‘filling the listening ears of his audience with seductive imagery, and leaving them in amazement with his exhaustless catalogue of wonders’ 1 his ‘peculiarly sensitive, not to say querulous, susceptibility to interference with his own ideas made his life none too happy’. 2 Colleagues and family alike suffered from his dominating personality, and his domestic relationships suffered severely. He lived apart from his wife, his elder son Walter emigrated to New Zealand, one daughter died in adolescence, the other made an unwelcome marriage, and it was with one child only, Reginald, that he maintained consistently close relations.

When Gideon Mantell died in London in November 1852 it was this son, Reginald, who resigned his job as a railway engineer in Kentucky and returned to England to supervise the dispersal of his father’s estate. After the collections of natural history specimens, books, and household effects had been sold, and specific bequests to his other children and friends had been taken care of, Reginald took up employment in India, and, as residual legatee, took the balance of his father’s papers with him. They in turn were sent on to Walter Mantell when Reginald died in Allahabad in 1857. In New Zealand, Walter played a prominent part in government and politics, and pursued the family interest in natural history, collecting the remains

of New Zealand’s native birds, and maintaining an independent scientific correspondence with several of his father’s colleagues. When the Mantell Family collection was given to the Turnbull Library, Walter had already done some preliminary ordering; he had annotated letters, and gone through the journals crossing out passages which (when still decipherable) refer to the family’s domestic troubles. The collection was known to, but not used by, Mantell’s biographer Sidney Spokes, 3 and in 1940 E. C. Curwen edited and published a greatly abridged version of Gideon Mantell’s journal, typescripts of the four known manuscript journals being supplied by the then Turnbull Librarian, Johannes Andersen. 4 The last entry in that volume is for 14 June 1852, and until now we have had to rely on Mantell’s voluminous and intimate correspondence with Professor Benjamin Silliman of Yale University for information on the remaining six months of his life.

Given the history of the papers, it was perhaps not surprising to find, on closer examination of Reginald Neville Mantell’s papers, that a volume assigned to, and in fact principally used by him, also contained the last six months of Gideon’s journal. It is physically uniform with Gideon’s other volumes, and it is evident that Reginald used its unused pages while at leisure in India to write up his own account of the weeks spent in London sorting and organising his father’s estate, and considering what next to do with his own life; it thus constitutes volume five of Gideon’s journal and volume eight of Reginald’s.

Although some evaluation has been made of Gideon Mantell’s papers, 5 a fuller description of the nature of the whole Mantell Family collection —correspondence, manuscripts, books, drawings, and photographs relating to Gideon and his two sons —awaits completion. The international interest in Gideon Mantell justifies the publication here of the final months of his journal, though the entries in this section do not differ significantly in character from those in previous volumes. His ambitions have not lessened, he is as quick to take offence, yet his energy in continuing to practise medicine, to write, to visit friends and colleagues, and to undertake exhausting excursions despite increasingly incapacitating pain, continues to amaze.

The journal is transcribed without alteration or editorial comment; where words are unclear a question mark has been added in square brackets. The running titles, repeating the date and place (his home at Chester Square, Pimlico) have been omitted. The volume also includes a list of letters to and from his son Walter in New Zealand from 15 June to 21 October 1852, a list of American letters from 12 June 1852, a list of items in ‘Box sent to Walter Feby. 17 by the Persia’, and two letters tipped in: a copy of a letter to the

editors of the Annals of Natural History, and a letter dated 14 November [1852] from P. J. Martin of Pulborough to Mr Pritchard about Mantell’s death. None of these items are reproduced. Reginald’s own account of the dispersal of the estate is particularly interesting, and his journal sheds light on some of the family difficulties. Miss Foster of Clapham is revealed as an intimate member of the family circle, and Reginald records after his first visit to her on his return that ‘Poor Miss Foster was quite overcome and feels more than all the sad bereavement and through her tears told me more than I had yet heard of the last days and hours of his life’. 6 Later, after a tirade from his brother-in-law against Miss Foster and indirectly his father, he ‘wrote a note to Ellen about what Mr P had said about Papa and Miss Foster ... to ask her to hint to Mr P the unnecessity of reverting to past times’. 7 He also makes a significant comment on the family temperament when, in March 1853, he writes in despair, ‘I am so harassed and worried . . . that I am very low spirited and my natural irritability increased to such an extent that I am not fit for anyone to live with me for any length of time . . . This adds to my distress till I sometimes think I shall go mad. I fear I have my poor Father’s unhappy temperament without his sufferings as an excuse for it or his talents to hide it and feel that I would rather not live than live such an unhappy life as that would lead me’. 8

As a final comment, a quote from the obituary which appeared in the Illustrated London News is a refreshingly human note among the glowing catalogues of Gideon Mantell’s very real achievements: ‘Dr Mantell took great delight in imparting to others a knowledge of his favourite science: he was fluent and eloquent in speech, full of poetry, and extremely agreeable in manner to all who manifested an admiration of his genius’. 9

Private Humanum est errare Stat nominis umbra 1852 June 15th.

Chester Square, Pimlico. June 1852. June 14. Monday. Received two Louisville papers and a letter dated Paris, Kentucky, May 17 & 27, from my youngest son Reginald Neville Mantell in reply to my letters of April 27 & May 7th. Memoir on the fossil shells of the Greensand in the environs of Geneva from M. Pictet. Left woodblocks of Telerpeton and jaw of Iguanadon for M. Lee the lignographer, to engrave for a new edition of my medals. Gathered some Deutzia leaves from Mr Allnutt’s garden for Mr Morris.

15. Went to the Archaeological, & British Museum. Sent a notice of 8.8. & four woodblocks to the Editor of the Annals of Natural History: sent copy of “Petrif.” and Telerpeton paper, to M. Pictet of Geneva through M. Bailliere of Regent Street. 16. Wednesday. D Robert Brown (Pres. Lin. Soc.) called and spent three hours in looking over my fossil plants from the Wealden. Sir Rod. Murchison called respecting the disputation between himself and Prof. Sedgwick. To Clapham. Attended meeting of Council of Geolog. Society: a full attendance. It was agreed that a paper of Sir Roderick’s in reply to Professor Sedgwick’s strictures, should be inserted in the next number of the Geolog. Journal The evening meeting pretty well attended: returned with M. Alfred Woodhouse. Reed from M. Koninck his “Memoire sur les brachiopodes &tc”; & from M. Pictet “Mem. sur les fossiles A GresVert des Environs du Geneve”.

17. Thursday. Sir William Jardine called and examined all the specimens of footprints from Connecticut in my possession. In the evening called at the Craven Hotel on my friend Mr. P. J. Martin of Pulborough, and took him with me to the meeting of the Royal Society: the last for the season. Earl Rosse in the chair. Returned to

the Craven with Mr Martin and chatted with him till eleven, & returned home. 18. Sir P. Malpas Egerton called to see Mr Taylor’s chalk skull; would not pronounce it to be fish! —Corrected proof of “Notes on Belemnites” for the July number of Annals of Natural History. 19. Received by post a section of the Ridgeway cutting near Weymouth from the Rev. O. Fisher of Dorchester. Mr. Lee brought five new wood-cuts.

20. Sunday. Mr Woodhouse dined with me: his 28th birthday. Went twice to Clapham, & afterwards up the river to Kew with Mr Woodhouse; very wet, obliged to remain below deck almost the whole time. 21. No letter from America. Mr West came & drew on wood all day. Received specimens of insect-marlstone from the Wealden, Durlstone Bay, from M Shipp of Blondford: sat up till two examining it under the microscope. 22. Walked in the evening as far as the Crystal Palace: it is rapidly being pulled down; but the grand arch of the transept is still entire in its outline. Wrote to Prof. Silliman, & Prof. Pictet of Geneva. 23. Called at the Geological & Royal Society for books: in the evening attended meeting of Microscopical Society; a full attendance: a paper on volvox globator by my friend Prof. Williamson was read: walked home.

24. Called on M Baly & Troughton & Sims respecting Reginald’s instruments. Suffering severely from neuralgia. 25. Friday. M Series Wood called. Wrote to Reginald in reply to a letter from him of June 7, received yesterday. 26. To Clapham: in the evening M Lee brought three new woodcuts. Mr A. Woodhouse came. 27. To my utter astonishment received a note from the Earl of Rosse informing me that at his suggestion, the Minister, Lord Derby had offered me an annuity of £100: as an expression of respect from the Crown for my scientific labors! This is most kind of Lord Rosse; who made the application of his own accord: and I am so little known to his lordship personally, that it is the more surprising to me. It is very gratifying in every sense. Walked to the Athenaeum in the evening. Received a book & letter from Prof. Hitchcock of Amherst College, Massachussetts, dated April 17th.

28. Mr West came & made drawings on wood. To Clapham as usual: very ill again. 29. Tuesday. Called on Earl Rosse &c Visit from Mr Isaac Lea of Philadelphia. Mr West finished the drawings. In the evening

walked to Vauxhall bridge and back with Mr Dinkel: a beautiful moonlight evening. 30. 11l all night with intense headache; rose very late: half dead. To Clapham as usual. Attended meeting of the Council of the Gelogical [sic] Society. July 1. The Queen prorogued Parliament: a fine day. Walked into the park near the Duke of York’s column as the procession returned; had a good view ofher Majesty & Prince Albert. Wrote to the Earl of Derby & thanked him for my appointment Called on Sir R. Murchison: lent him a copy of the last edition of my “Wonders of Geology”.

2. Letter & two papers from Reginald. Wrote to him by return of post. My “Notes on Belemnites’’ appears in the July number of the Annals of Natural History. Called at the Archaeological Inst, and left the brass shield from the tomb of John Mantell in Heyford Church. 3. Saturday. As usual begin the day in acute pain—oh! it is almost unbearable. 4. Called on Mrs. Lea of Philadelphia in Cavendish Square. 5. At home all day looking over my river shells &c for Mr Lea to inspect tomorrow. Paper from Reginald, but no letter. The weather intensely hot quite suddenly. 6. Tuesday. Mr Lea called & looked over & sorted all my American “Naiades”. 7. Called on Sir R. Murchison, who most kindly had looked through my “Wonders” & revised the passages relating to the Silurian, Devonian &c. Saw a noble skull of fossil monkey, from India.

8. Called on Lady Rosse: went to the College of Surgeons, & voted for Members of Council. 9. Friday. Letters from Reginald & Prof. Silliman. Parcel from Rev. Ormond Fisher of Dorchester, of spimens [sic] of insects in Wealden limestone, & of shells, gyrogonids [?] &c in chert & flint from Wealden beds of Ridgeway & Durlstone Bay: a glorious treat! —Sent him by post a copy of my Brit. Mus. book. Mr. Beckles of St. Leonard’s came & spent two hours in showing me wealden fossils he had lately collected. Lady Rosse called with microscopic specimens &c. In the evening Mr Lea came & looked over all my Wealden unionidae &c till V2 past eleven. I returned with him to his hotel to see Mrs Lea, & did not get home till near one oClock. 10. Took the Countess of Rosse specimens of American shells. Sent a copy of my Telerpeton paper to Dr Gibbes of Columbia. Received

copies from Annals of Nat. Hist, of my Belemnite paper, & woodblocks returned. Mr Lee of Kennington brought woodblocks of Wealden insects & Trilobites. 11. Sunday. Called on Mr Morris at Kensington, and in the evening walked to the Athenaeum. The Crystal Palace is half pulled down. Weather still very hot. 12. In the evening Mr Beckles called & we looked over his specimens that they may be packed up & returned for he did not give me even a duplicate worth having! 13. Received a letter from Mr. v. Breder, of Haarlem announcing my election into the “Societe Royale Hollandaise des Sciences”. Went to the British Mus. to compare my portion of upper jaw of the Iguanadon, which is still so problematical as to the precise position in the skull, as to be unsafe to describe it. I have supposed it may possibly be part of a pterygoid bone, & therefore took it to compare with the model of the Mosasaurus. I am not quite satisfied that this is the true interpretation, though Mr Waterhouse is inclined to believe I have solved the problem. Called at the Geological Society, & returned the “Smithsonian Contributions”.

14. In the evening went with M Woodhouse on the river: the water low, & horribly offensive! 15. At home all day, drawing fossil fern, writing &c. Topping brought me in the evening a slice of the silicified shells (Cinder-bed) from Durlstone Bay, which I had sent him to prepare for the microscope. It turns out capitally, &. forms an interesting object: the sections of the shells are numerous, & the cavities lined with quartz & rock crystal. Letter from Rev. O. Fisher.

16. Friday. The weather still intensely hot: thermometer in my dining room from 78° to 80° Fahrein-heit [sic]. Walked in the evening to the Serpentine with Mr. A.W. Sat watching the lightning of a distant storm, till the nearer approach of the clouds warned us to return; a soaking shower came on as we reached Belgrave Square, & we were drenched when we got home.—Wrote to Reginald & Prof. Silliman. 17. Sent copy of Ramble to Lewes to Chevalier Bunsen. Letter from Prof. Phillips; and Prof. Williamson. Went to the Geological Society for books. Mr Lee brought four more engravings. 18. Another beautiful & hot day. Mr D. Sharpe called & accompanied me in my carriage to Clapham. Called on M Fludson & saw his fossils. In the evening walked with M. Dinkel as far as the Crystal Palace which is now in a very dilapidated state. 19. Letter from Reginald of June 23d & 30 th. he had received my Telerpeton paper by post. Called on M Murray, Sir Chas. Lyell,

and Museum of Practical Geology and Mr Bohn. 21. Called on Mr Tomes, Mr Tennant who showed me a fine mass of gold in quartz rock from Australia, worth about £SO. Took specimens from the plastic clay of Castle Hill, Newhaven, to the Museum of Practical Geology.

22. Thursday. Called at two oClock on the Chevalier Bunsen, and took luncheon with him & his family. M Dinkel came to draw on wood, and as usual loitered away all the day in doing scarcely an hour’s work. The troble [sic] of getting the illustrations executed is great indeed: I must give up having any more. Went to Clapham as usual. Letters from Miss Phillips of York & Prof. Williamson of Manchester. Reed newspaper from Reginald. Wrote to Reginald. 23. Rose at six. At eight went with Mr Alfred Woodhouse from the London bridge station to Brighton: thence train to Hastings, & thence to Battel, to attend the meeting of the Sussex Archaeological Society. Arrived at Battel Station at V2 past twelve, met many Sussex friends waiting. Walked to the Abbey in which by permission of Lady Webster the meeting was held. Some 3 or 400 of the elite of the Sussex gentry were assembled, more than half ladies: many of them were eminently beautiful, and all looked very charming. The hall was crowded when we arrived, the reading of papers having commenced. We strolled the gothic apartments, and afterwards over the grounds where I met & spoke to many old friends. Owing to the blundering arrangements of those who directed the meeting, we were obliged to leave just as the party had sat down to dinner in the ruins of the refectory, which was covered over with an awning for the purpose, and looked very pretty & appropriate. We lingered a long while on the spot where the high altar of the Abbey was situated, & which is supposed to have been fixed where the body of Harold was discovered. The day was magnificent with a refreshing breeze. We reached Hastings at five; took refreshment at the Castle Hotel, and then strolled to the beach till the omnibus was ready to take us to the station. We had a pleasant journey to Brighton & thence to London, and reached home by ten oClock. The country looked very beautiful, the corn remarkably fine. Got through the fatigue very tolerably. We visited the Church at Battel, & sat some time inspecting the tomb of Sir Anthony Brown: and ascended one of the ruinous towers of the gateway of Battel Abbey. Found a parcel of Prof. Shephard of South Carolina on my return. 24. Saturday —to Clapham as usual. Passed a night with much suffering from cramp, the effect of over-fatigue. Ellen Maria called with her boy—after an interval of nine years. —

25th. M Charlesworth called: a thorough wet day—to Clapham, a severe thunderstorm. M Tomes called in the evening. 26. Mr Dinkel came & spent the whole day in drawing the head of the Rhynchosiachthys for a wood-cut!

27. Went into the City on my way home from Clapham. Called on M Clay, & M F. Harford. Returning home over Westminster Bridge, my man got the carriage entangled between two waggons in the middle of that dangerous & scandalous pass; got away with only the carriage step twisted off: but a narrow escape of my life; & yet this state of things has been allowed to go on from year to year, while hundreds & hundreds of thousands pounds are annually squandered on that absurd edifice yclypt the Houses of Parliament: nations like some individuals seem to reserve their average stock of absurdity for some special occasion. Wednesday. A fine day. Wrote lots of letters & cleared up all arrears. Very unwell; not recovered from the fatigue of Friday—the emotions of Saturday —& the fright of yesterday!— 29. Thursday. M Beckles called & took away the bones of the Pelorosaurus, fern-leaf, & every scrap of stone that belonged to him: did not offer me a single duplicate! Mr. Dinkel called & I paid him £4. .3 for drawings on wood. 30. Suffering the last two nights from neuralgia & spasms. Wrote to Reginald & sent him newspapers. In the evening Mr. Alfred Woodhouse called, & we went up the river to Kew: called on Mr Hannay; a lovely moonlight evening. Returned by Omnibus soon after ten.

31. Letter from Prof. Silliman. M Lee brought other engravings. August 1. A very hot day. Went with my sister to the Cemetery at Norwood. Called on M Taylor in Vassal Road, and looked at some of his beautiful chalk fossils. Went to the Athenaeum in the evening: met Dr. Arnott: walked home. 2. Monday . Letter from Reginald, ofjuly 14th. Called on Mr Tomes & examined bone sections under the microscope. 5. Thursday. A most lovely day. Went to Clapham. At one with Mrs Allnutt (in her carriage) to the opening meeting of the New Crystal Palace at Penge Hill, Sydenham for which tickets had been sent me to witness the erection & inauguration of the first column. A brilliant party had assembled; some ten thousand persons must have been present. The view was enchanting from the surpassing beauty of the scenery, & the state of the atmosphere which was peculiarly favorable to enhance the magic of the aerial perspective. Met Lyell, Wheatstone, Lyon Mayfair, Scott Russell, Paxton, Gould, Smee, Marshall Hall, and many others. After the placing of the column, the eternal “God save the Queen”, and a fair oration from M Laing the Chairman of the Crystal Palace Company; the invited parties (between 500 & 600) assembled in a noble marquee & sat down to the best cold collation I ever beheld. The wines, fruits,

& viands were excellent, & the attendance good. We obtained seats very comfortably & remained till the chairman concluded a long speech, in which the prospects & intentions of the Company were fairly seated. A delightful drive back to Mr Allnutt’s; & thence home in their chaise by half past seven; —very tired. 6th Friday. Mrs Pritchard called after her tour on the Continent. Received hamper of fossils from Mr. G. Woodhouse 7th. Received letters from Walter dated Dunedin, Otago, Feby 29 to March 2nd. In the evening to the Colosseum with Mr. Woodhouse. 9. Called on Mr Baly, Troughton & Sims: to Clapham. 10. Letter from Dr. Jager of Stuttgardts. Went to Troughton & Sims; purchased various articles for Reginald.

11. Reginald’s birth-day. Prof. C. U. Shepard called on me. Wrote to Walter. Sent boxes for Reginald to go with his instruments by Troughton’s. The box contains —2 night shirts 6/ 6 Dayshirts 20/ 6 hankchfs 5/ six pr of socks 5/ Towels 7/9 Swimming belt 8/6 Bag 2/6 —Instruments Alarum 15/ 3 inch prismatic compass & belt 1/16/4 —3 ivory scale 18/6. Theodolite from Troughton & Sims £32.7.0: Eye Piece 10/- Dummy Level, second hand from Mr Baly . Sent to the packet Ship London, Capt. Hebard, London Docks, care of Prof. U. C. Shepard. Passenger to New York. Books —Wonders —Medals — Petrifactions —Herschel’s Nat. Philos. Philos, in Sport. Lectures on Gold.

12. A thorough drenching rain: at home hard at writing all day. 13. Wrote to Reginald & M Peabody; & sent letter by post to Walter from Mr Cooke. Called & paid Troughton. £32,7.0; and ascertained that the box was sent yesterday to the London Docks to Prof. Shepard’s care. Overpowered with letters, & calls, & other trifles, till I am almost mad with eternal teazing about nothing. Wrote to Prof. Henry of Smithsonian Institution, Washington; & to Mr Hamlin of the Illinois. & to some scores of other personal strangers!—

14. Called at the British Museum; went to the west end of the Crystal Palace to see if the coal sections were still there; found all right; shall recommend the New Crystal Palace to purchase them. 16. Monday. Drove to Richmond to see Miss Broadhurst who had left, so walked to the terrace with Mr. Morris whom I brought from Kensington, and enjoyed the beautiful scene beneath our feet. Mr. Morris returned & took tea with me. 17. As I crossed Vauxhall bridge in my way to Clapham was hailed by Mr Gassiott, from whom I learnt a balloon was to be sent up at

three by a committee of the Brit. Assoc, of Science, to conduct some experiments on Atmospheric electricity &c. Got back to the gardens by three; Green, the old veteran was in charge of his monster balloon & two young men ready with instruments &c to ascend with him: met Airy, Wheatstone, Sabine, Babbage, Gassiott, Dr Miller, Prof. Graham, Col Sykes, & other scientific men. At a little before four, the balloon was let free & went up very gracefully, taking a north-westerly direction: they were to ascend to an altitude of 20 thousand feet, & be up till dusk. The weather, though stormy in the morning was very fine. In the evening a

violent thunder storm. On Monday letter from New Zealand announcing my election as honorary member of the N.Z. Scientific Society: dated April 4th. 18. Mr Scott Russell, & Mr Fuller of the Crystal Palace called to consult me as to the Geological Court—Wrote a letter to the Annals of Nat. Hist, [a copy of this letter is tipped into the volume] 19. Went with Mr Woodhouse to Regent Street, to a diaromatic [sic] lecture on Australia: some of the painting was very good: the lecture itself very bad. 20. Wrote to Reginald & sent him two Australian books. Sent Ellen Maria Bible, Shells, &c —& Petrifactions. Mr. Thompson, Secty. Nat. Hist. Dept, of the New Crystal Palace called, & I found that the plan intended to be carried out as to Geology, was merely to have models of extinct animals, which were hereafter to be distributed over the building. I therefore declined the superintendance of such a scheme.

22. Sunday. Called on Mr Gassiott. 26. Thursday. Hard at work every night till two or three in the morning, at the fossil botany!—ln the afternoon went to Vauxhall Gardens & saw another ascent in Green’s balloon, by Mr Welsh, & another person from the Kew Observatory. Met Mr Babbage, Bowman, J. G. Gray, Gassiott & other scientific friends: the ascent very fine, a beautiful clear sky. Mr. Lee brought all my lignographs. 27. Went at eleven by boat to Gravesend; arrived at Roshville Gardens soon after two: strolled about till five: boat dangerously crowded: a lovely day & moonlight evening: got home by nine. 28. Saturday. Mr Woodhouse came, and arranged as to his trip to Ireland. 29. In the evening walked to Chelsea Pier, & by boat to Hungerford, & walked home. 30. Called on Mr Woodhouse with letters for him. To Clapham. Up till three with my hard task!

31. Took the Mss & 68 Woodblocks to Mr Bohn; the entire illustrations of fossil botany. —Very ill from fatigue, & want of fresh air & repose; but I must toil on! September. 2. Thursday. Left at One oClock from the Waterloo Station for Gosport: arrived there at five. Took steamer for Ryde, reached the pier soon after six oClock; went to Mrs Maltby at Glanville Lodge, Monckton Street. A lovely day and evening. Went to bed at ten oClock. 3. Friday. Walked to Victoria Arcade, called on Mr Barrow, accompanied him to the room of the Scientific Institution. Took an

hour’s drive with Mrs Maltby left my card at St Clare, Col. Harcourt’s —At three Mr Barrow called in his one-horse fourwheel chaise; to Bonchurch to call on Mr Saxby at Bellevue House. A hurricane had swept over the Island about a fortnight since, accompanied with a deluge of rain, & heavy storms, and vegetation suffered severely. Many of the trees were literally stript bare, & the foliage of the greater part was killed, & hung dead & rusty-brown as if burnt up: but new buds were already bursting forth as if in spring: the injury appears therefore to have been mechanical not electrical. Mr Saxby’s fossils were all sent to Cambridge. Mr Barrow called for me at seven, & we returned through Ventnor, over the downs, by Appuldurcombe, & Newchurch to Ryde, reaching my cottage at nine. A most lovely day, & evening bright “with all her stars”. Very tired: to bed at ten.

Saturday. 4. Went to Folkstone’s & bought some fossils. Left by steamer for Gosport at one; home by six oClock safe & tolerably well. Found all right. Mr Lee called; paid his bill £39.10- for the nine wood-cuts for the Medals. Sunday. sth. To Clapham. Answered all letters &c 6th. Letter from Reginald, Augt. 17. in reply to mine ofjuly 30. and from Prof. Silliman of August 20th Attended Med. Socty . 7th. Called on Mr Bohn & Geological Society. The Editor of the Annals of Natural History has not inserted my reply to the Quarterly Reviewer: it is hopeless to expect fair-play from any of the proprietors of our monthly periodicals; the mercenary creatures are afraid of offending any one connected with a public institution lest they should lose patronage. A more dastardly affair than this cannot be: they allow me to be attacked by an anonymous writer, and then refuse to insert my reply. Lyell was right in affirming that it would be useless for him to reply to the attack made on him in the Quarterly, for his defence would either be garbled, or not inserted. 9. Thursday. Hard at work on my Medals.

12. Sunday. In the afternoon to Kew & back by boat, to get a little fresh-air. On Friday Ellen Maria dined with me & left at ten. 13. Letter from Dr. B. Silliman Junior. Muddling on as usual. 15. Wednesday. Went to the Treasury & obtained the Queen’s warrant for my annuity: took it to the audit office to be entered; at Somerset House yesterday, & got it back to day. The Duke of Wellington died yesterday, announced in this morning’s Times. 16. Thursday. Another week; and though constantly at home & unremittingly employed have done but little in any thing. In truth I am used up. Went by steamer to Woolwich, walked round the

town, and returned by the five oClock boat. Very cold & cheerless. — 20th. Started by IIV2 train for Wadhurst; thence by a cab to Mr Newington’s, Ticehurst: spent two hours with poor Joshua, whom I found in a very sad state. Left at five: waited till !4 to seven at the dreary station for the up train; reached London by % past nine, & home before ten. It had been raining heavily in London during the whole day: we had no rain in the country; but it was damp & chilly. No news from Reginald. 22. Wednesday. Took 40 blocks to Mr Bohn for Medals. Called at the British Museum: saw some splendid butterflies from Madagascar; & New Zealand insects. Called on M Dinkel. Letter from Mr Lea of Philadelphia from Wisbaden. Called at Canterbury rooms.

23. Thursday. To Clapham, & to London. Purchased papers &c for Walter & Joshua. Box for Walter to go tomorrow. 24. Friday. Letter from Walter dated Port Chalmers April 10th (above five months) by India mail! He was then well. Just in time to reply by the box I am to send by the Minerva. Wrote to Regi. Contains 2 prints colord of Crystal Palace. Port. Duke of Wellington; hammers [?], V2 ream paper, Envelopes, brushes. — &c. —Went by steamer as far as Hammersmith bridge & back before dinner. 25. Sent box for Walter to Stayner to go by the Minerva: contains V2 ream of paper &c. 26. At home almost all day. 27. Letter from Prof. Silliman. Paper from Reginald. Box of dendrites (mistaken for fuci) from a Miss Hodgson of Ulverstone. Called at the Museum of Practical Geology.

Sept. 28. To Clapham. To Norwood Cemetery on Saturday with Miss Foster; a beautiful afternoon. Letter from Mr Gassiott requesting me to deliver the opening lecture of the Clapham Athenaeum as usual. Wrote to Miss Hodgson of Ulverstone, Lancashire. Wrote to Walter via Sydney. 29. To Lewes by the nine oClock train; did not arrive there till twelve. Went to Mr Potter in the Cliffe to look over some newly discovered chalk fossils: some exquisite fishes &c — Took coffee with my old friend Grover; to Brighton by two Clock train, to visit my patient Mrs Maltby in King’s Road. Went to Mr. Henry Catt’s house with Mr Potter and looked over his splendid chalk fossils. Took tea with Mrs Maltby, and left by BoClock train; reached London by V2 past nine & home by ten. 30. Thursday. Letter from Reginald of Sep. 10th. Looked over my

will; know not how to arrange for the best, now that both my boys are so distant. Octr. 1. Called at the British Museum; saw Mr Woodward. Sent Household Narrative to Reginald. Parcel to Joshua. Took my will to Miss Foster. 2. Saturday. To Clapham: to the City: called on Mr Clay; he was unable to go on with the Medals because Mr Bohn had not sent him the paper! this is too bad: Mr Bohn has used up the paper for “Uncle Tom”, perfectly reckless of the injury to me. In the evening Mr Woodhouse came to dinner & recounted his adventures in Ireland. Brought me home a Deer’s Head from Killarney.

3. Sunday. At home all day very unwell. Wrote and remonstrated with Mr Bohn. Received last night a beautiful volume on the Mastadon from Dr Warren of Boston, 4. Miss Chapereau arrived on a visit. 5. Letter from Reginald: in the evening went with Miss C. to the Polytechnic: some 500 persons present: the usual Diving Bell, Dissolving Views, Lecture on preserved meat &c. Looked out some 30 vols of books for the West London Med. Society. My Landlord called, and agreed to reduce my rent to £l5O. instead of £l6O per Ann.

9. Saturday. Went to the Zoological Gardens with Miss Chapereau. Saw the newly imported animal the Checiopotamus, and two Chimpanzees. In the evening Mr Woodhouse called. Received a Polypterus from my friend Prof. Williamson of Manchester; sent it to Mr Bartlett to be stuffed. Suffering from face & neckache. 10. Sunday. Mr Morris called in the evening. 11. Monday. Miss Chapereau left. Wrote to Prof. Silliman. Parcel of elegantly bound books from Mrs Silliman. 13. Called on Mr Tomes. M W. & Dinkel called in the evening. Two nights of neuralgia. Suffering too from Dyspepsia. 15. Friday. In the evening presided at the first meeting of the Session of the West London Medical Society, and read an introductory address. A full meeting; passed off very well. 16. Busy correcting proofs; my printer now proceeding as much too fast as previously too slow. M Woodhouse in ye evening. 20. Wednesday. Rev. B. Powell of Newick called. Went into the City. Called on Mr Clay with proofs & revises: Went to the Bank & received dividend. 21. Letter from Walter. Dunedin, Otago, May Ist 1852. He had received my letters of Sept. Octr. Novr. (three) and December 1851, and boxes with Art Union Catalogue, Brit. Mus. book, &c. Ellen Maria called; gave her pair of bronze chandeliers. Called at the

Treasury and obtained the first quarter’s pension, amounting to £24.4.5. after deducting income tax & stamps: reduced still farther to £2l, for the fee of £4. stamp of warrant! 22. Friday. Wrote to Reginald. Went to Euston Square. 23. Saturday. A man killed by the bite of a Cobra in the Zoological Gardens, from pulling the snake about. 25. Letters from Reginald and Dr. Benjamin Silliman Jr. Reginald resolves not to go to Australia; perhaps the most judicious course. 27. Called at the Treasury and got back the Queen’s warrant. Went to Somerset House; to Mr Dinkel; called with Mr Morris on poor Mr G. Sowerby: a decripid & parylitic [sic] old man! and I remember my first interview with him at his father’s, when he was a laughing hearty youth; life is a sad enigma

28. Called with Mary on my sister Jemima: she was from home! 29. To the City. Sold out £IOO 3% stock for £lO3. Called on the printer. To Clapham. Very good for nothing. 30. Saturday To Clapham. Suffering again sadly 31. Walked to the Athenaeum & back with great difficulty: a beautiful day. November Ist. Sent copy of Brit. Mus. to Dr. Warren of Boston through Mr Stevens. Sent Ellen Maria table cloths. November 1. [sic] Hard at work on my terrible task. 8. [sic] To the Council of Geological Society: first of the season. November 3. Wednesday. Too ill to attend the meeting in the evening.

5. Friday. Attended Mrs Kemble of Stockwell at eight this morning: this must be last affair!—went in the day again to Clapham: so ill that I could not attend the meeting of the West London Medical Society. 6. Saturday. Received from Sir Woodbine Parish a copy of his new work on Buenos Ayres. 7. Sunday. To Clapham as usual; still very ill: neuralgia flying from one limb to another, and great irritation of the abdominal viscera. 8. Monday. Letter from Reginald of Oct. 13th in reply to mine of Sept. 24th. [Gideon Mantell died two days later, on 10 November 1852]

REFERENCES 1 Illustrated London News, 4 December 1852, 501. 2 Sidney Spokes, Gideon Algernon Mantell, Surgeon and Geologist (London, 1927). 3 op.cit. 4 E. Cecil Curwen, The Journal of Gideon Mantell Surgeon and Geologist covering the years 1818-1852 (London, 1940). 5 T. G. Vallance, Gideon Mantell (1790-1852); a Focus for the Study of the History of Geology at the Turnbull Library. Paper delivered at the History of Science in New Zealand Conference, Wellington, 1983. 6 Reginald Mantell, Journal, 6 January 1853 (MS, ATL). 7 Ibid, 1 February 1853. 8 Ibid, 18 March 1853. 9 Illustrated London News, 4 December 1852, 501.