Reference code: GB-0033-ADD 834
Title: Additional Manuscripts 834: Rev. Charles Thomas Whitley Correspondence
Dates of creation: 1832-1850
Extent: 24 items
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Origination: Rev. Charles Thomas Whitley (1808-1895)
Language:
English
Charles Thomas Whitley (henceforth C.T.W.) was one of the founder members of staff of the University of Durham. The son of John Whitley of Liverpool, he was educated at Shrewsbury School and St. John's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A.
(Senior Wrangler) in 1830, and was elected a fellow of St. John's in 1831. In 1833 he was appointed Reader in natural philosophy and mathematics in the new University of Durham, a post which he retained until 1855. He filled a number of other
university offices for various periods during these years - Librarian, Proctor, Tutor and later Vice-Master of University College. He was ordained in 1836 and in 1849 became an honorary canon of Durham. In 1854 he was appointed Vicar of Bedlington,
Northumberland. From 1864-1872 he was President of the College of Medicine and Surgery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Several of these letters (3, 5, 16) shed light on Whitley's own scientific interests and his friendships with leading figures in the contemporary scientific world, among them Charles Darwin, William Whewell, J.S. Henslow, Professor of mineralogy
and botany at Cambridge, and William Hopkins, the geologist and mathematician. No. 20, from Thomas Sopwith the Newcastle mining engineer, illustrates Whitley's interest in developing the teaching of science in the University. Nos 18 and 23 concern
plans for alterations to Durham Castle. No. 14 is from the sculptor, John Gibson, and no. 15 from A.D. Bache, the American educationalist and physicist. The remaining letters are mainly about personal matters.
The letters were purchased from Winifred A. Myers (Autographs) Ltd, London, in 1971.
Add.MSS.834Add.MSS.834/1 21 January 1832
Letter from [Rev.] T[homas] Gisborne (Rev. Thomas Gisborne (1758-1846), author, Prebendary of Durham 1823-1846. (
Venn,
DNB)), Yoxall Lodge, to Rev. James Gisborne (Rev. James Gisborne (died 1875), son of the above (
Venn)), concerning professorships in the new
University of Durham, and C.T.W.'s interest in obtaining one of them.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/1 Add.MSS.834/2 7 November 1833
Letter from Dr. W.S. Gilly (Rev. William Stephen Gilly (1789-1855), author, Prebendary of Durham 1862-1855, (
Venn,
DNB)), Norham, to C.T.W., The College, Durham, wishing him success in his candidature for the professorship at Durham University left vacant by the death of [John] Carr [first
Professor of Mathematics in the University].
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/2 Add.MSS.834/3 10 November 1833
Letter from J.S. Henslow (Rev. John Stevens Henslow (1796-1861) Professor of mineralogy and of botany at Cambridge, friend and tutor of Darwin. (
Venn,
DNB)), Cambridge, to C.T.W., Durham University, recommending J.W. Barnes (Joseph Watkins Barnes, Fellow of Trinity College Cambridge. (
Venn)) for the
post of head master of Durham School, and mentioning that he has received 4 casks of natural history specimens from [Charles] Darwin. (Henslow recommended Darwin as naturalist for the voyage of the Beagle, and during the five years of the voyage
took charge of the specimens Darwin sent home. (
DNB)).
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/3 Add.MSS. 834/4. 2 June 1834
Letter from William Turner, Newcastle, to C.T.W., College, Durham, regretting that, because of a change in family circumstances, Mr. Naters of Sandyford will not be able to offer Mr. Nevins the post of tutor to his son.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/4 Add.MSS. 834/5. 13 October 1834
Letter from W[illiam] Hopkins (William Hopkins F.R.S. (1793-1866), mathematician and geologist. (
Venn,
DNB), Cambridge, to C.T.W., the College, Durham, about the problems of measuring terrestrial temperatures in mine shafts, and the possibility of conducting experiments for this
purpose in a shaft near Durham.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/5 Add.MSS. 834/6. [29? May 1835]
Letter of thanks from S.M. Dunham (reading of initials doubtful), Lanchester ? Lodge, to C.T.W., North Bailey, Durham - “It is to me exceedingly gratifying to witness the zeal which in this part of the country animates
every librarian in favour of literature”. Postmarked 29 May 1835 and endorsed 30 May 1835.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/6 Add.MSS. 834/7. 20 June 1835
Letter from W[illiam Van Mildert] Bishop of Durham, Harrogate, to C.T.W., College, Durham, about documents to be produced in connection with Whitley's forthcoming ordination.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/7 Add.MSS. 834/8. 29 October 1835
Letter from Fanny C. Herbert, Whickham Rectory, to her cousin Miss Mary Anne Philpott, Pedmore Rectory, Stourbridge, Worcs, concerning family news, including a report that “Alex” has passed his examination at
Durham University.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/8 Add.MSS. 834/10. 21 August 1836
Letter from Dr. [T.F.] Dibdin (Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1776-1847), bibliographer, (
DNB)), Rectory, Gateshead, to C.T.W., College, Durham, about subscriptions to and illustrations for his [Dibdin's] “Tour” [ie his book
A bibliographical,
antiquarian and picturesque tour of the northern counties of England and Scotland 2v., 1838].
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/10 Add.MSS. 834/11. 2 October 1837
Letter from the Bishop of Chester [J.B. Summer] (John Bird Summer (1780-1862) Prebendary of Durham 1820-1848, Bishop of Chester 1828-1848, Archbishop of Canterbury 1848-1862. (
DNB)), Levins to [C.T.W.], agreeing to perform his marriage ceremony.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/11 Add.MSS. 834/12. 20 August 1837
Letter from Lord Erskine (David Montagu Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine (1777-1855), British envoy at Munich 1828-1843 (
GEC)) to C.T.W., Garmisch pres de Partenkirchen, arranging for C.T.W. to visit him in Munich.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/12 Add.MSS. 834/13. 28 May 1838
Letter from Robert Lowe (Robert Lowe, Viscount Sherbrooke (1811-1892), Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, 1835-1836. Lowe's application for the chair at Glasgow was unsuccessful. He subsequently became a lawyer and politician. (
DNB)), St. Aldate's, Oxford, to C.T.W., Durham College, congratulating him on his marriage, and asking if he will supply a testimonial in support of Lowe's application for the chair of Greek at Glasgow.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/13 Add.MSS. 834/14. 19 July 1838
Letter from John Gibson (John Gibson (1790-1866), sculptor. (R. Gunnis,
Dictionary of British sculptors, 1660-1851, London, [1953]), Rome, to C.T.W., Castle Eden, informing him that the block of Carrara marble for the statue Gibson is to execute of the late Bishop Van Mildert (to be placed
in Durham Cathedral) has arrived, and requesting part payment.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/14 Add.MSS. 834/15. 4 September 1838
Letter of thanks from A.D. Bache (Alexander Dallas Bache (1806-1867), American physicist and educationalist. Bache became the first president of Girard College in 1836, and was then sent abroad for 2 years to study educational institutions. (
Dictionary of American Biography, ed. A. Johnson, v.1, London, 1928)), London, to C.T.W., Castle Eden, including a forwarding address for “any memoirs which you may be so good as to send to
me”.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/15 Add.MSS. 834/16. 7 September 1838
Letter from W[illiam] Whewell (William Whewell (1794-1866) Professor of mineralogy and of moral philosophy at Cambridge. (
Venn,
DNB)), Cambridge, to C.T.W., Castle Eden, Stockton, about the possibility of C.T.W.'s repeating Dolwall's experiment for determining the density of the earth.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/16 Add.MSS. 834/17. 25 July 1840
Letter from Lord Dungannon (Arthur Hill-Trevor, 3rd Viscount Dungannon (1798-1862), M.P. for Durham 1831-1832, 1835-1841, 1843. (
GEC)), to [C.T.W.], looking forward to seeing him and his wife, and inviting C.T.W. to preach in the local parish church. Rubber-stamped Canon Whitley, Bedl[ington], Northumberland. (Whitley did not become an honorary
canon of Durham until 1844, nor Vicar of Bedlington until 1854).
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/17 Add.MSS. 834/18. 28 June 1841
Letter from Anthony Salvin (1799-1881, architect, (
DNB)), 32 Som[erse]t St, to [C.T.W.], about plans for alterations to the keep [of Durham Castle]. Rubber-stamped Canon Whitley, Bedlington, Northumberland.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/18 Add.MSS. 834/19. 4 November 1842
Letter from Travers Twiss (Sir Travers Twiss (1809-1897), Professor of political economy and of civil law at Oxford. (
DNB)), Univ[ersity] Coll[ege] [Oxford], to C.T.W., commenting on the failure of two examination candidates.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/19 Add.MSS. 834/20. 7 November 1842
Letter from Thomas Sopwith (1803-1879, mining engineer. (
DNB)), Newcastle on Tyne, to C.T.W., inviting him, Rev. E. Massie and Rev. T. Chevallier (Massie was at this time Junior Proctor of Durham University; Chevallier was Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy. (J.T.
Fowler,
Durham University, London, 1904)), to dinner - “It will afford me great gratification if I can contribute even in the smallest degree to further any objects entertained by yourself and
others with reference to the studies in Durham University”.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/20 Add.MSS. 834/21. 10 November 1842
Letter from Dr. [Henry] Holland (Sir Henry Holland Bart (1788-1873), physician. (
DNB)), 28 ? St, to C.T.W., Durham College, Durham, about his intention to send his eldest son (Henry Thurston Holland, Viscount Knutsford (1825-1914), the politician), to Durham [University] as a preliminary to his
going later to Cambridge. Holland won the Bishop of Durham's prize for Latin verse composition in 1843, but his stay at Durham was brief; he was admitted a pensioner at Trinity College, Cambridge in May 1843 - (
Venn,
DNB,
Durham University Calendar , 1844).
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/21 Add.MSS. 834/22. 21 December 1842
Letter from Earl Grey (Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (1764-1845). (
DNB)), Howick, to C.T.W., arranging the date for a visit by C.T.W. and his wife.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/22 Add.MSS. 834/23. 27 June [1847?]
Letter from G.S. Faber (George Stanley Faber (1773-1854), theological controversialist, prominent Evangelical, Master of Sherburn Hospital. (
DNB)), Sherburn House, to [C.T.W.] about the enlargement of the hall [of Durham Castle].
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/23 Add.MSS. 834/24. 15 June 1850
Letter from G. Taylor, Seaton Carew, to C.T.W., regretting that he and his son will be unable to be present “for receiving the honour so graciously intended” for his son.
2f.
Digitised material for Letter - Add.MSS.834/24
