1 845 LEOPOLD VON BUCH 73 



after the middle of April took again to the field. He 

 first joined H. W. Bristow in the Ludlow and New 

 Radnor district, 'turning Old Red Sandstone into 

 Silurian ' during the day, and spending the evenings 

 right merrily with musical friends. 



The great Leopold von Buch, one of the oddest 

 and ablest of the German geologists of his day, came 

 to London early this summer. On the 27th May 

 Ramsay notes : ' Adjourned to Dr. Fitton's, where 

 were all the big-wigs of science to meet Von Buch.' 

 A few weeks later he accompanied the German 

 philosopher to Cambridge to attend the meeting of the 

 British Association, which was held there in June of 

 this year. Of this journey down from London he 

 afterwards wrote : ' At Murchison's request I took 

 Von Buch to Cambridge on the outside of the mail- 

 coach from the head of the Hay market. His luggage 

 always consisted only of a small baize bag, which held 

 a clean shirt and clean silk stockings. He wore knee- 

 breeches and shoes.' 1 



At this meeting Ramsay read a paper before 

 Section C ' On the Denudation of South Wales and 

 the adjacent Counties.' His jotting in reference to 

 this event runs thus : ' Read my paper, or rather 

 spoke it. Felt no difficulty. Much discussion. 

 Dined with the Reds. Evening meeting in our hall ' 

 [Jesus College]. Edward Forbes formed one of the 

 merry party that was lodged in the College. 



It was past the middle of July before he had 

 resumed his field-work in Cardiganshire, working 

 along the coast and into the interior from Aberporth, 

 Aberaeron, Aberystwith, and other stations. This was 

 to be a season of hard work in the field, clearing off 



1 Life of Sir R. I. Murchison, vol. ii. p. 76, footnote. 



