Showing 6905 results

Mary Anning is exceedingly sorry she has not been able to answer Dr. Buckland's letter sooner, the reason for not having done so was because I had found a part of a very large skeleton, and was in hope it might turn out fine but am sorry to say it has not. In regard to the Ichthyosaurus Dr. Buckland has heard of it is now in the possession of Miss Philpot, it is a small animal laying on its back and you would almost fancy that it was in the very act of voiding its [albian gronum?] for it lays at the bottom of the stomach and touching the bones of the pelvis, this little animal is a most illustrative specimen laying in nearly perfect order, and it illustrated a geological fact as the upper part of the body was on one side of a fault and the posterior part on the other and the divided parts matched exactly, the fault was about eight inches.

I have another part of a skeleton very beautiful by me with a bezore very plain but much flattened, it is remarkable that this creature is covered by scales like our small fish, its sternum very fine, no paddles but altogether a remarkable pretty thing price four pound. I have also another with the head and back very good with the bezoar in its stomach but not so clear as the one above described, price £4. I believe I venture to say that two out of three has more or less of it.

Cpt [Morings] beautiful little skeleton is not very good you can only see its form as he will not pick it for fear of injuring the animal, he would dispose of that if he could get £50 for it. I have never seene but three specimens of the plesiosaurus at all connected, and do not think that either of them had any sing of it. I think the small ichthyosaurus that Geographical Society purchased of me had the bezoar if you should go to town you can examine it.

Respectful Remembrance to Mrs Buckland and kiss your dear lovely baby

Your obliged humble Servant

Mary Anning

Dr. Buckland
[?] [?]
Christ Church
Oxford

Sir
Having collected a basket full of Coprolites and Sepias, the large Sepia I hope you will think illustrative - nearly the whole of the Coprolites came from the Coprolite or fish ledge there is two of these ledges about eight feet apart. I have no doubt myself but that they were dropped quietly were we now find them and that the Ichthyosaurus fed on scaly fish you will find two together to prove this in some measure. I have also sent two fragments of the first [chamber?] of the Ammonite with that black [undescribed?] substance, it positively is not any portion of the shell do not go calling me a fool remember the Tortise footsteeps. Sir have you observed in the Sepias a substance resembling Coprolite besides the sack or ink bag - In thinking over Miss Philpot's collection I reccolected two little rings which we could not make out at the time I found them. It is very probably that they may be the sepia rings. Miss P has kindly given me one of them for you. Mr de la Beche and myself a few days back went down to search the Red Marle we found a pretty vegetable and fish scales in it as black as those found in lias. How is Mrs Buckland and the two dear boys. I trust by this time you have welcomed a little stranger I hope it is a girl like her mother and you need not wish for anything better on Earth, please to present my best respects to Mrs. B. Should you wish for any more Cops. or Sepia please to write word

Your obliged humble Servant
Mary Anning

Addressed to Dr. Buckland
Christ Church
Oxford

I fear Dr. Buckland will think that I have forgotten to send the fish but I have been far from well or should have sent it sooner. The Ammonite with its parasites and the wood ditto. I hope Dr. B will accept as a small token of my sense of Dr. B's kind present of the pictures I have already sold saving the [?] of shells are also parasites having entirely displaced the ammonite which always the case with this species of ammonite I fear there is nothing new in the coprolites - trusting that Mrs Buckland and the dear children are quite well.

I remain respectfully your gratefully and obliged humble Servt.

Mary Anning

Note on outside says 'Miss Mitford's Autograph'

Inked Note
Grandfather's Epitaph
by Dr. Whately
Arch of Dublin

Harold Bompas Esqre
121 Westbourne Terrace
W.2

EPITAPH
on Dr. Buckland

Mourn Ammonites mourn, o'er his funeral urn
Whose neck ye will grace no more
Gneiss, Granite and Slate, he settled your date
And this ye must now deplore

Weep caverns weep with infiltering drip
Your recesses he'll cease to explore;
For Mineral veins and Organic remains
No stratum again will he bore

His wit shone like Chrystal, his knowledge profound
From Gravel to Granite descended,
No Trap could deceive him, no Slip could confound
or Specimen true or pretended

He know the Birth-Rock of each pebble so round
and how far its Tour had extended

His Eloquence flowed like the Deluge retiring
Which Mastodon carcases floated
To a subject obscure he gave charms so inspiring
Young and old on Geology doated
He stood forth like an Outlier his hearers admiring
With pencil each anecdote noted

Where shall we our great Professor inter
That in peace may rest his Bones
If we hew him a rocky Sepulchre
He'll rise and break the Stones
And examine each Stratum that lies around
For he's quite in his Element underground

If with Mattock and Spade his body we lay
in the common Alluvial soil
He'll start up and snatch those Tools away
Of his own geological Toil
In a Stratum so young the Professor distains
That imbedded should be his Organic Remains

Then exposed to the drip of some [case?] hardening Spring
His Carcase let Stalactite cover
and to Oxford the petrified Sage we will bring
When he is incrusted all over

There mid Mammoths and Crocodiles high on a Shelf
Let him stand as a Monument raised to Himself

(on Dr. Buckland LLD
reader in Geology Oxford)

Fold of paper on which is written
the very Revd.
the Dean of Westminster

Signed [Clinton?]

11, Park Road

My dear Mamma

I am very glad that Selina and Sophia are so much pleased give my love to Aunts and Uncle, Grandpapa and Grandmama. We are all very happy in the evening Charles's book come from the binder and it does not at all look like the old one. We are going to send the book of China.

I remain your affect[ionat]e Son

G.C. Bompass

My dear Child

Thank God you are back safely so far! I want you very much. I dare not go out visiting and you and [Bipy?] must go to the new married Ladies in Oxford for me. You must take my place. I can well think you have worn out all your clothes that you are in rags. It is so awkward to be without money that I send £10 to refit a little. It is horribly cold here and my eye threatens again. Caroline is all but deaf entirely - this is very sad she certainly is more deaf in cold weather. The [?] Charles are coming for the commemoration they are delighted at the idea. We will discuss the Bazaar matter [?] as it will be I think I should like you to help Mrs [Tiddeman?] for Mrs Liddell is to take a part and I suspect that makes the Oxford Ladies [?] it down. Mrs T has made me some beautiful things I hear. I hope Frank's Lay studentship is safe I have my misgivings about it. Be sure you bring the rest of the Bazaar things if they are not sent before.

[On the reverse of the letter is written 'Old Letters M.B.B.]

Dear Buckland

I am sorry I cannot meet your German as I have others beside Mrs Holmes to breakfast with me.

Yours ever

[PBD?]

Tallyrand
In mind oblique, in form misshapen How many storms he stirred [?] [?]

Here lies Tallyrand
The subtle and grand
And when he died
The Devil cried

Ah Tallyrand
give us a hand