30 SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY 



During these years and throughout life he kept up a 

 correspondence with his cousin, Ella Ramsay (eldest 

 daughter of Professor Andrew Ramsay). In one of 

 these letters (4th September, 1869) he conveys an 

 invitation to his cousins to come to the wedding of hi& 

 Aunt Eliza. In the course of it he remarks : " I think 

 it is six years since we met last at Beaumaris. I have 

 no doubt we have both changed unspeakably." On 

 24th March, 1870, he writes as follows to his cousin : 



" I may as well tell you at once that I have become a dangerous 

 character. In fact, I have without putting off this mortal coil, 

 put on a mortal ugly uniform. In other words, as Dr. Young 

 says when he wants to make a very complicated phrase still 

 more complicated, I have joined the volunteers, and may be 

 seen any Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 to 9 p.m. right 

 facing, etc." 



In another letter, dated 21st June, 1870, he describes 

 the journey of the whole family and " my most intimate 

 friend Fyfe " to Shetland, calling at Kirkwall on the 

 way. Shooting, fishing, pony-riding and boating 

 occupied the boys, and W. R. reports to his cousin 

 that he has " got that book of Bach's, and can play most 

 of the pieces. They are extremely difficult. The Gigue 

 and the Gavotte and Musette are very pretty. I have 

 been going in for Mendelssohn's Songs without Words 

 and have learned four of them." 



On returning from this holiday Ramsay and his 

 mother heard of the war between France and Germany. 

 He had intended to go to Heidelberg to work under 



