io6 PROFESSORSHIP OF GEOLOGY CHAP, iv 



of which he was to achieve one of the great successes 

 of his career. He probably never spent three happier 

 weeks than these. The beauty of the scenery entranced 

 him, he became more familiar with his worthy chief, 

 and what he always counted a great additional pleasure, 

 he passed the time in cultivated and agreeable female 

 society. On the first day, as they were driving over 

 to Llanberis, which was to be their chief headquarters, 

 he notes : * To my great surprise and delight, Sir 

 Henry proposed that I should occupy the same 

 quarters with them have a bedroom, and all mess 

 together. Wasn t I satisfied ? The thing was so 

 unusual, no one having ever penetrated before into 

 the sanctum of the family. A few reminiscences of 

 the tour may be quoted. 



* i^th July. After breakfast we all started for the 

 top of Snowdon, the girls walking by the road, and 

 Sir Henry and I cutting a parallel section of the Bar- 

 mouth sandstones, etc., on the neighbouring ridge, 

 and every now and then coming within sight and 

 hailing them. By and by we joined them. It was 

 a glorious day. First, all the country was partially 

 enveloped in white fog, which, clearing off here and 

 there, showed peeps of the country, as if set in a 

 superhuman frame. By and by it all rolled away, 

 and from Cader Idris and Plynlimmon to the Long- 

 mynd all was clear and distinct. Confound the 

 Cockney tourists, though, that one meets a-top, and 

 confound the huts and coffee-pots, visitors books and 

 guides. 



15^. We all started after breakfast for the lake, 

 and got into our landlord s boat, Sir Henry and I 

 pulling, and the ladies laughing and chatting in the 

 stern-sheets. I never enjoyed a day more all my life. 



