vi PREFACE 



which ultimately resulted in obtaining pecuniary assist- 

 ance for university colleges from the Government. 



To Lord Rayleigh the writer desires to express his 

 best thanks, for kindly consenting to read the MS. of 

 that part of Chapter V. which relates to the discovery 

 of argon, and for notes thereon, which have been 

 embodied in the text. 



Mr. W. G. Ramsay has taken the trouble to compile 

 the chronological list of honours conferred on his father, 

 which will be found at the end of the book. 



The long series of letters addressed by William Ram- 

 say to his cousin, Miss Ramsay, the eldest daughter of 

 his uncle, the late Sir Andrew C. Ramsay, has afforded 

 much insight into his character and the intimate rela- 

 tions subsisting in the family. 



Among other friends who have supplied information, 

 or have allowed the use of letters, are the following : 

 Mr. James Rafter, the Registrar of the University of 

 Bristol ; Professor E. C. C. Baly, F.R.S., of Liverpool 

 University ; Professor J. Norman Collie, F.R.S., Pro- 

 fessor F. G. Donnan, F.R.S., and Professor W. P. Ker, 

 of University College, London ; the Provost of Univer- 

 sity College (Sir T. Gregory Foster) ; Mr. Otto Hehner, 

 Dr. George M'Gowan, Miss F. Mac Vicar, Mrs. M'Nicol, 

 Mr. M. M. Pattison Muir ; Professor Alfred Marshall, of 

 Cambridge ; Professor Lloyd Morgan, F.R.S., of Bristol ; 

 Sir Henry A. Miers, F.R.S., Principal of the University, 

 Manchester ; Mr. B. J. Padshah ; Lieut.-Colonel A. 

 Smithells, F.R.S., of Leeds ; Professor F. Soddy, F.R.S,, 

 of Aberdeen University ; Mrs. John Baird Smith, Mr. 



