| RefNo | MS/257/3/252 |
| AltRefNo | Sa.997 |
| Previous numbers | ES3/61/997 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from John Phillips, St Mary's Lodge, York to Edward Sabine |
| Date | 20 July 1853 |
| Description | Phillips praises [Roderick Impey] Murchison as a geologist and describes meeting him 29 years ago. Refers to Murchison’s respect and value for [Phillips] Uncle [William] Smith. Phillips describes his father’s ‘lower pedigree’ as a ‘Welsh landowner’, his parents death when he was a child and coming in to the care of his uncle William Smith. Phillips remarks it was William Smith who sparked an interest in him a ‘taste for geology and palaeontology’. Describes drawing William Smith’s fossils, colouring his maps as a boy, and preparing for a career as an engineer. Phillips ‘abandoned’ his plans to become an engineer in 1824 choosing to pursue science. Refers to producing the Geology of Yorkshire in 1829. Includes a list of Phillips works with dates. Phillips refers to his ‘practice as a Lecturer in geology’ and his work regarding a geological survey. Includes a photograph of the moon [see MS/257/3/260] and discussion regarding the telescope and declination. Refers to their Parliamentary Committee. Phillips thanks Sabine for his table of the ‘results of the moon’s influence on the horizontal needle’. |
| Extent | 19p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedRecord | MS/257/3/260 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7560 | Phillips; John (1800 - 1874) | 1800 - 1874 |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |