i8 4 9 ROYAL INSTITUTION 159 



As before, we may take a few extracts from his 

 diary of these winter months. The Geological Society 

 continued to offer its fortnightly meeting as a rallying- 

 point for the geologists in London. The Friday 

 evening discourses of the Royal Institution, and the 

 receptions of its genial Secretary thereafter, formed 

 additional favourite gathering places. On the ist 

 March Murchison gave the discourse, and Ramsay 

 records that this veteran geologist ' was quite nervous 

 in the early part of his lecture, hesitating and leaving 

 his sentences unfinished. But as he warmed he 

 improved, and by and by got on very well.' A week 

 later Edward Forbes occupied the same position, and 

 his appearance is thus chronicled in the diary : ' The 

 place was just about full. Forbes never appeared to 

 such advantage. He lectured in first-rate style, coolly 

 and boldly. The subject was " The Distribution of 

 Fresh - water Fishes and Plants," w r hich he treated 

 certainly in a most masterly manner, showing that it 

 depended on recent geological revolutions.' The next 

 Friday is thus recorded : ' Royal Institution at night. 

 The Astronomer- Royal lectured to a crowded audience, 

 Prince Albert in the chair. Airy forgot himself, and 

 lectured an hour and three-quarters ! The Prince fell 

 asleep.' The following Friday it was Ramsay's own 

 turn to undergo the ordeal of addressing this critical 

 and sometimes somnolent assembly. His account of 

 the evening is as follows : ' I had half an hour's quiet- 

 ness in the little private room behind the theatre. At 

 nine I was introduced, the Duke of Northumberland 

 in the chair, the French Ambassador on his right, Mr. 

 Hamilton on his left, and in the front row were Lord 

 Overstone, Sir John and Lady Herschel, Wheatstone, 

 Faraday, Murchison, etc. etc. It was literally a 



