[DAVIDSON, James (1792–1841) – attrib.]

Extensive scientific manuscript titled ‘Natural History’

[Aberdeen], 1815/16

Notebook in marbled boards with a leather spine, 180 x 114; paginated in manuscript 1–170, followed by 2 leaves

Very good condition: binding worn, especially the marbled boards; corners worn; internally very good

An exceptional scientific notebook covering astronomy, meteorology, physics, chemistry and more, compiled circa 1815.

Based on analysis of the content, and circumstantial evidence (see below), we believe this to be a précis of lectures given by James Davidson (1792–1841), Professor of Natural History at Aberdeen (Marischal College) from 1811 until his death.

Although highly cosmopolitan, the manuscript skews towards the results of the Scottish Enlightenment: Alexander Wilson, Joseph Black, John Leslie and James Hutton are all cited, and there is discussion of rainfall on the west and east coasts of Scotland, and mining at Preston Island. Some of the insights are remarkable for the time: there is an extended discussion of the possibility of climate change over long periods of time, caused by human activity (specifically agriculture); accounts of the discovery of strontium (isolated in 1808 by Humphrey Davy), the isolation of morphine (1805/6), and Luke Howard’s classification of clouds (1802). The speed of light is given as 200,000 miles per second, consistent with the most advanced estimates at that date. There is a substantial discussion of recent geological writing, in particular comparing the Huttonian and Wernerian theories. The work is also illustrated with very fine miniature diagrams and depictions of instruments.

The volume is inscribed in pencil ‘D. Cornwell/Cornwall’, and is accompanied by two miscellaneous volumes with the same provenance. This is almost certainly the David Cornwall who studied at the University of Aberdeen in the 1820s. From internal evidence the manuscript can be dated quite accurately to 1815/16, and as this predates Cornwall’s time at Aberdeen we propose that he acquired the volume after arriving at the university. The volume appears to be a careful record of lectures, and the Professor of Natural History (note the title of the volume, ‘Natural History’) at Marischal in these years was James Davidson; hence we attribute the content to him.

Although offering a comprehensive coverage of the sciences, the volume was originally one of at least two; the final leaf states End of Vol. I.