Impressions from a Lost World: The Discovery of Dinosaur Footprints

Benjamin Silliman's Letter to Edward Hitchcock, August 6, 1835

zoomable artifact image here

Benjamin Silliman promises Edward Hitchcock to publish Hitchcock's writing on the "turkey tracks" first, but asks Hitchcock to give some credit to James Deane for discovering the tracks. He goes on to discuss the works of Ami Boué, Henry Samuel Boase, and his opinions of "F___". "F." was George William Featherstonhaugh (pronounced, in true English fashion, "Fanshaw"), an Englishman who emigrated to America and ensconced himself as the first official geologist to the United States government, much to the irritation of American geologists. Silliman ends his letter with a request for how he might obtain or make an electromagnet. 

Creator:
Benjamin Silliman
Date:
August 6, 1835
Courtesy of:
Edward and Orra White Hitchcock Papers, Amherst College Archives and Special Collections, Amherst College Library