1792

Thomas Beddoes to Joseph Black, 14 June 1792

Dear Sir

I shall be extremely glad, when you have a few moments’ leisure, to tell me what you & D^r Hutton think of that opinion which I have proposed respecting the affinity between granite & basaltes. I can prove it much more satisfactorily to my hearers, than I have done in the Phil. Trans. where I have rested it solely upon the observations of others. I sh^d be much obliged to you if you w^d procure for me half a dozen specimens of Pentland hill rock – It is, if I remember <rightly>, of a flesh-colour. What does D^r Hutton call it? I think I have made a little discovery respecting this species of rock; Taylor, if you will order him, will collect <me> for me a few of its various appearances, & <I wish> especially for such as exhibit any tendency towards chrystallization, where there are chrystalline specks as in porphyritic basaltes.

I have an immense number of geological observations made in various parts of England, which indeed are but applications of D^r Hutton’s theory to particular appearances. His principles are as fertile of application, as the principle of gravity – & I see not why their application to the minutiae of the mineral kingdom sh^d not be interesting. I sh^d be very glad to send you & D^r Hutton specimens illustrative of the papers I may from time to time publish if they w^d be acceptable; & I sh^d be glad of any duplicates illustrative of the philosophy of fossils, which may fall into your hands. Can you or D^r Hutton spare me a piece of fossil wood, where the injected matter suddenly ceases, as described in his paper? Can you spare me a piece of adamantine spar? The zircon of Mr Werner?

The specimens from Pentland hills need not be large – Perhaps among the variety of your acquaintance who are quitting Edinburgh at this season, you may meet with a person who w^d convey the specimens as far as town London, & forward them from thence – I hope to have the pleasure xxxx of sending you another paper on iron very soon – What w^d you think of the discovery of a current or currents of erupted matter in England, & of the mouths from which they issued? You w^d probably think such a discovery curious, though not surprising. It is actually made; & though I cannot claim the merit of it, it was made by a person whom I stimulated to observe about a particular spot – You w^d probably desire to see the erupted ss. They shall be very much at your service: I hope to have an acc^t of all the appearances ready to be printed in the next part of our Phil. Trans.

I am Dear Sir

With great respect & esteem

Your very obed^t ser^t

Tho^s Beddoes

Oxford
June 14^th
1792

Address: To / D^r Black / Professor Chemistry / Edinburgh
Endorsement: D^r Beddoes 14 June 1792
Postmark: 15 / xx // OXFORD
MS: Edinburgh University Library Gen 873.111.241-42