1850 THOMAS OLDHAM 169 



India. 1 As a preliminary step he arranged to be 

 married, and asked Ramsay to support him on the 

 wedding day as groomsman. So the Welsh work 

 was laid aside for a week, and Ramsay for the first 

 time went to Ireland. He says of his reception at 

 the house of the bridegroom that he was formally 

 introduced to the family, including Mr. Neptune 

 Oldham, a big Newfoundland dog, who was sitting 

 on a chair at table, finally shaking hands with the 

 dog, who presented me with his paw in the most 

 courteous manner. We all got at home with each other 

 at once. One after another of his colleagues was 

 thus quitting the ranks of bachelorhood, and he could 

 not help heaving a sigh now and then, and wondering 

 if his own time were ever to come. Writing to 

 Oldham a day or two after the marriage, these feelings 

 escaped in verse : 



Thomas hath found what he desired, 



The maid his heart did fix on ; 

 He by an angel was inspired 



When he popped to Miss Dixon. 



Another bachelor hath passed, 



And I, for lack of gold, boys, 

 Ah, woe is me ! am falling fast 



Into the vale of old, boys. 



Oh, many a sheep s eye have I thrown, 



Have cast full many a lamb s eye, 

 But never yet have chanced on one 



That cared to take a Rams-eye. 



Would that the gods might yet be kind, 



Nor longer try their tricks on ; 

 Then haply even I might find 



Just something like Miss Dixon. 



1 On his resignation he was succeeded by J. B. Jukes, who, having joined 

 the service in 1846, was transferred from the English Survey, and became Director 

 of the Geological Survey of Ireland in 1850, retaining that post till his death 

 in 1869. 



