58 THE ORDNANCE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHAP, n 



great things at C. C. [Craig's Court], and have the fullest faith in Sir 

 Henry. 



As to news here, there isn't much stirring yet. It may be divided 

 into Scientific, Literary, and Philosophical 



1. Scientific. Mantell is giving a course of geological lectures 

 at the London Institution. A curious book called the Vestiges of 

 Creation, containing many speculations on Geology and Natural 

 History, said to be written by Sir Richard Vivian, is making great 

 stir in town. A first-rate synopsis and analysis of the Trilobites has 

 just come to hand from Germany with exquisite plates. It is written 

 by the great entomologist Burmeister. 



2. Literary. Punch is published as usual every week. Two 

 new plays have just come out, and the theatres are worth going to. 



3. Philosophical. Lankester, Day, Francis, Henry, etc. etc., and 

 myself have succeeded in establishing a monthly meeting and feed 

 of Red Lions at the 'Cheshire Cheese' in Fleet Street [see p. 62]. We 



look forward to your roaring in our company. Clara , the pretty 



dancer, ran away with somebody the beginning of last week, and 

 came back at the end of it. Amen ! Ever, dear Ramsay, 



EDWARD FORBES A. 



Ramsay and Forbes in the early part of this 

 year (1844) had been sounded as to the feasibility 

 of bringing out, with the sanction and co-operation 

 of W. D. Conybeare, 1 a new edition of the classic 

 Outlines of the Geology of England and Wales, by 

 Conybeare and W. Phillips, of which the original 

 edition appeared in 1822. Conybeare himself had 

 made some progress with the task, but he seems 

 to have found the labour beyond the strength of 

 his advancing years, and through the intermediary 

 of De la Beche, entered into negotiations with the 

 two younger authors. These proposals took at last 

 definite shape in a formal legal agreement, dated 

 8th April 1844, between Conybeare, Forbes, Ram- 

 say, and Messrs. Longmans and Co., publishers. 



1 William Daniel Conybeare, born 1787, died 1857, author of some im- 

 portant geological memoirs, but best known for the Geology of England and 

 Wales, referred to above. This work was properly the second and much enlarged 

 edition of a volume by W. Phillips, which was published in 1818. It did not 

 include an account of the older Palaeozoic rocks. 



