304 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY REORGANISED CHAP, ix 



besides Skipton in Craven, where, as you very well 

 know, ''there's never a haven." 



These inspection tours brought him into the midst 

 of delightful scenery, interesting geology, varied histo- 

 rical associations, and pleasant society a combination 

 of attractions that never failed to show him at his best. 

 Professor Hughes, who now holds the Woodwardian 

 Chair at Cambridge, was then one of the staff with 

 whom the Director had many excursions, and who has 

 kindly supplied me with the following recollections of 

 his chief. Speaking of the evenings after the day's 

 tramp was over, he says : * Ramsay always threw him- 

 self heartily into whatever game or amusement of any 

 kind was going on, and thus got an insight into the 

 life of his men, and helped to make things pleasant 

 for them with their neighbours. So agreeable a com- 

 panion at a dinner-party, and so considerate and 

 obliging a guest at an hotel, was always welcome, and 

 every one asked when he was coming back, and tried 

 to arrange little plans to make his stay pleasant. He 

 loved a game of cards or billiards, which he played to 

 win, not with the bored expression of one who did it 

 just because he was asked to, or merely to kill time. 

 He was very fond of chorus-singing, taking the bass 

 with a good deal of skill and great earnestness. Even 

 when there was no entertainment going on he was 

 generally very lively all the evening.' 



LONDON, 26th October 1870. 



MY DEAR GEIKIE I have been away since July, 

 and only came home on Monday last. I have had an 

 awful battering on the Yorkshire hills of late in 

 thunder, lightning, and in rain (Williams). . . . 

 I am very well, and have been, barring an eye, 



