1814-1840 BRITISH ASSOCIA TION A T GLASGO W 19 



The popular descriptive part must be kept for your 

 book. I have been thinking of a speculation with 

 Griffin in regard of your model and book, which I 

 think might be very advantageous to you ; of which, 

 when we meet.' We shall see immediately what came 

 of the * speculation ' here referred to. 



Ramsay was heartily welcomed at Glasgow into 

 the brotherhood of geologists. He formed there some 

 of the most lasting and influential friendships of his 

 life. It was there that he first came in contact with 

 De la Beche, under whom, though at that time un- 

 dreamt of by either of them, he was within a few 

 months to enter upon the career of a professional 

 geologist. It was there that he first met Murchison, 

 who was from the very first deeply impressed with 

 his capacity and geological ardour. It was there, too, 

 that he made acquaintance with Edward Forbes, and 

 began that intimacy which linked the two men together 

 by the closest ties of friendship in the prosecution of 

 scientific work. 



It was arranged that on the Saturday of the 

 Association week an excursion should be made to 

 Arran, and the young geologist who had explored the 

 island so well was invited by Lyell, who was President 

 of Section C (Geology), to read his communication the 

 day before, in order that those who intended to take part 

 in the excursion might be put in possession of the neces- 

 sary information. The excursionists divided themselves 

 into two parties, one proceeding direct by steamer, 

 the other by railway to Ardrossan, and thence by 

 steamer to Arran. Ramsay was to conduct the 

 party united at Brodick, and give them a general 

 exposition of Arran geology. But he had worked 

 hard in making all the preliminary preparations, and 



