io8 PROFESSORSHIP OF GEOLOGY CHAP, iv 



was to retire and spend his closing years, and where, 

 at last, he was to be laid at rest for ever. The party 

 drove to Beaumaris in an open barouche. The diary 

 records how they waited half an hour to see ' that 

 glorious work, the Menai Bridge. Its beauty, sim- 

 plicity, and grandeur are wonderful. Dined at the 

 Bulkley Arms, Beaumaris, and after dinner removed to 

 our new lodgings in Menai Place, which are very nice, 

 and have a splendid view across the straits.' 



This happy time came to an end on the 6th August, 

 when the De la Beche party left by steamer for Liver- 

 pool, and Ramsay, still lame, made his way by carriage 

 to join Selwyn at Ffestiniog. With the help of a pony, 

 he was able to accompany Selwyn, Playfair, Jukes, and 

 Gibbs over a good deal of ground, and discuss with 

 them some of the problems that had been met with 

 in the course of the mapping. But as the sprain con- 

 tinued to give a good deal of trouble, he at last went 

 over to Dolaucothi, and remained six weeks there, to 

 rest and work at the preparation of his lectures for 

 University College. Forbes joined him, and the two 

 friends had long consultations over the general plan 

 of these lectures. Thus, under date the 25th August, 

 Ramsay records : ' Arranged with Forbes a plan of 

 my introductory lecture. By his advice I simplified 

 and condensed my plan, but I much fear it will be 

 more than I can well do to make a good job of it, con- 

 sidering the little time I shall have in London to pre- 

 pare a good philosophical account of how folks arrived 

 at their geological conclusions from the time of Strabo 

 down to our own date.' 



The month of September, and nearly all October, 

 were spent in taking Forbes over some of the sections 

 that best showed the characters and relations of the 



