26 PARENTAGE AND YOUTH CHAP, i 



to North America, though he ultimately went to 

 Russia instead. The young geologist who had 

 done such excellent work in Arran would, he thought, 

 make an admirable companion and assistant in his 

 foreign expeditions ; and in the autumn he wrote to 

 propose such an employment to his young friend. 

 No letter appears to have survived from Ramsay 

 himself in reference to this sudden lifting of the clouds 

 that had darkened his path. But we get a glimpse 

 into the family circle in a letter written at the time by 

 his mother to his brother William. ' Dr. Nichol,' she 

 says, 'seems to think Andrew will have to go to 

 London about the beginning of February. Andrew 

 is in high spirits himself with the prospect. I hope 

 it may turn out as much for his good as he expects. 

 For my own part, I think there should be some 

 written agreement about money matters ; it is far 

 more agreeable to claim as a right than to get as a 

 favour, although the very travelling at Murchison's 

 expense is a matter of consequence, and you may 

 say although he were to get nothing he will see the 

 world. At the same time, as he cannot afford to be 

 without a salary, I hope it will be given.' 



After some delay all the preparations were made, 

 and Ramsay left home for his new career on Monday, 

 1 5th March 1841. A large band of his old friends 

 and associates assembled on the Broomielaw to see 

 him start, for he had arranged to take steamboat to 

 Liverpool, and pay a visit there on his way to London. 

 His journey and subsequent doings are best told in his 



own words : 



LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY (\^th March 1841). 



MY DEAREST MOTHER You have by this time 

 got over the first violence of your sorrow at parting 



