210 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN SCOTLAND CHAP, vn 



could never enter upon it, because there were no 

 proper maps, not enough to continue the work upon 

 if we had commenced it. Now let us see if there are 

 the needful maps, and a fair prospect of not being 

 compelled to break the work off if commenced. You 

 have been sent in your official capacity to examine and 

 report to me on this matter, so that it may be seen 

 how far it may be expedient to commence the Survey 

 of Scotland next year, your report and other needful 

 inquiries enabling those who will have to decide on the 

 subject to obtain a correct view of it. 



In accordance with these instructions, Ramsay 

 went to Scotland in that year, and spent the month 

 of August there making the necessary inquiries, and 

 at the same time visiting some of his relatives and old 

 friends. He found that in the central part of Scotland, 

 where upon the coal-bearing formations and among 

 the great industrial districts it was desirable to begin, 

 the Ordnance maps were exceedingly backward, but 

 that there was a prospect of obtaining unfinished 

 proofs of them in the course of next year. It was 

 subsequently arranged that he himself should go north 

 and begin the geological survey in the summer or 

 autumn of 1854. His letters during this brief expedi 

 tion north of the Tweed show how impossible it was 

 to escape from the pressure of official work. Sir 

 Henry was getting old and less able than he had been 

 to keep himself in touch with the field-work, though 

 to the last he continued his tours of inspection, and 

 even in the summer of 1854 was down in County Cork 

 exploring with Jukes the coast-line about Bearhaven. 

 But it was essential for the progress of the service 

 that Ramsay should constantly keep himself in com 

 munication with his men. Thus he dragged at each 



