1854-1855 LAST DAYS OF DE LA BECHE 225 



improved.' Nevertheless, the veteran stuck to his 

 post, presided over meetings of the teachers of the 

 school, had all the latest Survey maps submitted to 

 him, and took the keenest interest still in all the field- 

 work. He was specially pleased with the field-maps 

 on which Ramsay had traced the first beginnings of 

 the survey of Scotland, and expressed his approval 

 not only to him, but also to his colleagues. ' Ramsay 

 is advancing,' he said, 'and showing much official 

 aptitude.' Not only so, but he manifested much 

 interest in the Local Director's glacial work, of which 

 he had previously been inclined to make light. ' He 

 was delighted,' says Ramsay, ' with the Swiss and 

 Welsh moraine matter compared side by side, and 

 actually gave some obscure hints, as if I should be 

 obliged some day to be over a good deal in Ireland, 

 apparently meaning that I should by and by have the 

 charge of both Surveys.' 



De la Beche had often previously spoken to 

 Ramsay on the subject of the next Director-General. 

 In their more confidential moments he had assured 

 him that his * geological son ' should succeed him, and 

 that he had put that wish so definitely in writing that 

 he felt certain that the Government would follow his 

 advice. For years, therefore, Ramsay had come to 

 regard the reversion of the office as secured to him- 

 self. But during the year that preceded the time at 

 which we have now arrived various circumstances had 

 occurred to shake the confidence of his belief on this 

 matter. Sir Henry's failing powers, mental as well as 

 bodily, had led him to take, on more than one occa- 

 sion, a course which Ramsay, feeling strongly that it 

 would be detrimental to the best interests of the 

 service, opposed as firmly, though of course as 



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