1846 CHRISTMAS AT HOME 95 



gratified him not a little, as it offered to him a wider 

 opening into the society of men of science and their 

 associates. He was asked to give a Friday evening 

 discourse at the Royal Institution, and on communi- 

 cating to De la Beche that he had accepted this offer, 

 he received from his chief the following characteristic 

 note in reply : 



[CONFIDENTIAL.] 



LONDON, 24^ November 1846. 



MY DEAR RAMSAY In the matter of an evening at the Royal 

 Institution you have, I think, decided well though I have by no 

 means the view of any great good to arise therefrom which some 

 folk have. The thing is over-rated. 



All appliances shall be at your command all aid that can be 

 given, and I have little doubt of your coming out of the matter in 

 good style. 



Take some good commanding subject. Continue to think me a 

 kind of daddy the more you do that the better I shall be pleased. 

 Ever sincerely, H. T. DE LA BECHE. 



All advancing famously. 



The field-work of this year was prolonged by 

 Ramsay until late in the season. About the middle of 

 December snow fell thickly over the Welsh hills, 

 making further field-work for the time impossible. 

 He accordingly took advantage of the opportunity to 

 spend Christmas and New Year at his old home in 

 the north. He announced his advent to his mother in 

 the following effusion : 



BALA, i2th December 1846. 

 MY DEAR MOTHER 



Plunge the poker in the fire, 



Stir the blaze ; 



Rouse it high, and rouse it higher, 

 Till your very eyes it daze, 



Brightly glowing, 

 And the puny candle's rays 



Pale are growing. 



