John Ruskin | Autograph letter signed, to Roderick Murchison, 2 October 1866

John Ruskin

Autograph letter signed, to Roderick Murchison

at the request of Thomas Carlyle, entreating Murchison’s presence at the meeting of the Eyre Defence (“it is of quite cardinal importance that those of highest name and influence on the Committee should be personally present now”), 1 page, 8vo, Denmark Hill, 2 October 1866, inexpertly mounted, blank area torn away from lower left margin

The Eyre Defence was a committee organised by Thomas Carlyle on behalf of the Governor of Jamaica , Edward Eyre, who had subdued an uprising there in 1865, killing many locals in the process. On his return to Britain in 1866 he was accused of murder by a group of known as the Jamaica committee, including Charles Darwin, J.S. Mill, Thomas Huxley and Herbert Spencer. Eyre was supported by another group led by Carlyle and supported by Charles Kingsley, Charles Dickens and Ruskin.

Roderick Murchison (1972-1871) was a foremost geologist of the time and president of the British Geological Survey.