i85S DEATH OF DE LA BECHE 227 



staff, and his kindly word of inquiry and encourage- 

 ment for the attendants and cleaners. ' Well, Mr. 

 , are you happy ? ' he would ask of some new- 

 comer, as he was wheeled across the Museum floor to 

 his own room facing Piccadilly. He appeared for the 

 last time on Wednesday, the nth April. It was 

 his intention to be back on the following Saturday, 

 but he became rapidly worse next day, and died on 

 the morning of Friday, the 1 3th. 



From the allusions which have been made in the 

 foregoing chapters some more or less adequate picture 

 may be formed of the character and work of this 

 remarkable man. His scientific achievements placed 

 him in the very front rank of English geologists. His 

 kindliness of heart and gleefulness of spirit endeared 

 him to all who came into close contact with him. The 

 very failings which have been already indicated did 

 not alienate the affectionate regard of his associates. 

 Even Ramsay, who perhaps suffered more than any 

 one else from these failings, loved him to the last, and 

 mourned for him as for one of the most leal-hearted 

 friends he had ever had. 



It is not necessary or desirable for the purposes of 

 this biography to enter into the details of the appoint- 

 ment of a successor to De la Beche in the Geological 

 Survey and the establishment at Jermyn Street. It is 

 enough to say that Ramsay soon saw that the hopes 

 he had cherished for so many years were doomed to 

 utter disappointment. He found, moreover, that 

 vigorous efforts were being made in favour of a most 

 estimable man of good family, but possessing only a 

 very slender acquaintance with geology. As there 

 seemed some possibility that these efforts might be 

 successful, and that the Survey, Museum, and School 



