Sheepstead
Jul 26
1826
To the Revd
Professor Buckland
Post Office
Tobermorey
Mull
Scotland
My dear Sir
Thank you for your last kind letter, I am very glad to hear your voyage proceeds so [propiciously?] and that you have had such pleasant companions - it was very provoking to miss of the Giant's Causeway, but I hope a fair voyage to Staffa may compensate in some measure for your disappointment, I congratulate you on your satisfactory visit to Arran I have no doubt your researches will throw much light on those perplexing trap rocks, though Dr Shuttleworth may say what he please of Isap being understood by most Professors its history appears to me very little known by any of them. Dr McCullochs account of Arran is not at all intelligible - I should think the S.E of Sky will prove very interesting is it not there that a Isap Dyke converts some of the Lias into Marble as on the C. of [Ireland?] I wish I had any entertaining matter to communicate to you but I have only everyday occurrences to detail - My dear father is returned from his journeys in high health and, I trust he will continue to be free from gout - I have not heard from Miss Ayling and I begin to be astonished at her silence, but I am known so wonderfully patient under the influence of my watchword "[?] tranquille" that I seldom permit myself to fidgit, tho' Nature certainly did not make me a stoic. I hope you will meet with no greater dangers than occur from the [?] [?] and that your Trap hunting will not lead you into unnecessary risks, if I don't hear from you at no very distant intervals, I shall fancy in spite of "[?] tranquille" that you have tumbled over a Gneiss Precipice, or that a huge [?] has swallowed you or a thousand other terrible disasters. Your last letter was an unexpected pleasure to me, for I did not think to hear quite so soon - I hope I may often have such agreeable surprises. I have found a rare and very pretty shell in the Coppice and my Collection of fresh-water shells comes on very well it is surprising how much thicker a shell becomes when the animal dies in it and it is gradually dried up by the sun and air - I find that the animals inhabiting the shells contain, apparently dispersed over their bodies very minute grains of lime and very pure Carbonate I should imagine, from their [efficasing] so violently with acids. In some the larger grains of lime are as large as a small pin's head will [?] [torn paper] this account for the Shell becoming nearly [Paper missing] twice as thick under the circumstances I have mentioned and I think this may be the reason why many fossil shells which appear to have been originally very fragile are still so well preserved. I have had a present of two tame Plovers and a Curlew. Alas! I found my pretty Curlew lying dead yesterday morning - he was so tame as to eat from my hand and was very handsome with the brightest eyes I ever saw. John Hughes and his wife are staying here Mrs H is a particularly nice woman, very clever and intelligent you would like her very much - I am profitting by Mr Hughes' instructions in sketching and I mean to surprise you by my performances in that way. Mrs [Wraughton?] has just sent me a large ugly Yucca to paint for her - I do not like the employment at all - you had some difficulty in getting your Church [?] when you were here last - if you want any person now, there is a Mr Thomas of [Painbeck?] a gentlemanlike small man who dined here the other day and who I believe is unemployed. I hope a letter from you is now on the road if not pray write when you can that you may return in good health and safely is the constant prayer of
Yrs ever most Truly
M.M.