| Description | Murchison autobiographical journals: Commencement of scientific life, 1825-1826. [Page references refer to page numbers written in journal.]
First few unnumbered pages contain summary/contents of journal. Describes how he began acquiring scientific knowledge (p1-3); mentions making the acquaintance of scientists, geologists and other learned and famous men and women of the time, many at the residence of Miss Lydia White (p1-6, 12); describes becoming part of the Geological Society and his activities with them, eg meetings, lessons, dinners (p6-9, 15-16, 35-37); mentions geological lessons with others eg Webster, Fitton (p9-10); first field work (p12); visit to Oxford and lessons from Buckland (p13-15); elected FRS (p17-18); dinners with Davy and Wollaston (p18); staying at Nursted House nr. Petersfield (Hants) and studying all the Wealden formations (p19); detailed description of geological tour with wife along the south coast and surrounding areas (p20-32), inc. Isle of Wight (p21-24), Swanage (p24-25), meeting Mary Anning (p27, 29), Devon and Cornwall (p27-29), Somerset (p30-31), Bristol and Bath (p31-32); meeting and bringing to public notice William Lonsdale (p31-34); visiting Etheldred Benett (p34-35); detailed description of field trip with wife in summer 1826 to compare coal fields in Yorkshire and Brora, Scotland (p38-80), inc. the journey to York (p38-40), meeting Harcourt and Phillips (p40-41), meeting and walking the Yorkshire coast with William Smith (p41-44), rowdy political meeting at Newcastle and Morpeth (p44-47) [p48-49 blank], Edinburgh with Jameson (p50-51), Isle of Arran (p51-53), Inner Hebrides and west coast of Scotland (p53-58), Fort William to the Kyle of Lochalsh (p59-61), Skye (p61-69), Ross-shire to Caithness and back (p70-76), the east coast of Scotland (p76-80). |