1 87 1 DBA TH OF MURCHISON 3 1 1 



man to receive the Wollaston Fund for the year. . . . 

 The President and others hailed my proposition. 

 One objection raised was that Croll's researches 

 involved no personal expense. Prestwich and I 

 thought that of no importance ; but nevertheless if you 

 can tell me anything on that score I shall be doubly 

 armed 



And on the top of opportunity, 

 Quell the base scullion rogues, whose envy dull 

 Would squash the light of Genius, and instead 

 Display a dirty, spluttering, farthing dip, 

 And swear that 'tis the sun. 



So look alive, my pigeon, and help in this good 

 cause. ... I can do nothing till my third edition of 

 Physical Geology and Geography is in the press. I 

 am now at the last lecture of it. I will turn it into 

 chapters. It will be nearly twice as long as it was, 

 and so much modified (I hope improved) that it may 

 almost be said to be a new book. Ever sincerely, 



A. C. RAMSAY. 



Sir Roderick Murchison died on the 22nd October 

 1871, and the office of Director-General of the 

 Geological Survey once more became vacant. When 

 he accepted the appointment it was with the expressed 

 intention of holding it only for a short period. ' I 

 will tide you over a few years,' he said to Ramsay 

 at the outset. But he retained the position for six- 

 teen years and a half. Of his geological labours, and 

 more especially of his connection with the Geological 

 Survey, a full account has been given elsewhere. 1 

 These matters have therefore been only cursorily 

 referred to in the foregoing chapters. 



1 Life of Sir R. I. Murchison t 2 vols., 1875. 



