Record

RefNoRSL/3/10
LevelItem
TitleLetter from James Calder, Maryland, to Sir Joseph Banks
Date10 January 1794
DescriptionSends notes of observations made on a visit to Niagara in 1789; sees evidence that the cataract is gaining continuously upward; if it could be determined at what annual rate the rock is worn away, the age of the world could be known; it is said locally that the wear is half a rod (2 3/4 yards) a year.

With accompanying note by Charles Lyell, 31 January 1856, stating that this remarkable letter proves that early visitors to Niagara were struck by the retrogression of the Falls.
Extent2 sides
FormatManuscript
AccessStatusOpen
AccessConditionsNo photocopying
Fellows associated with this archive
CodePersonNameDates
NA8116Banks; Sir; Joseph (1744 - 1820); naturalist1744 - 1820
NA8255Lyell; Sir; Charles (1797 - 1875)1797 - 1875
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