50 SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY 



which he took up this particular piece of work. It was while 

 blowing the bulbs used in this research, I believe, that he first 

 became aware of the value of the asset he possessed for physical 

 work in his skill as a glass-blower. He had learned the art at 

 Tubingen, although it was only in his later researches that his 

 marvellous manipulative power was fully developed. 



In the ' seventies ' physical chemistry had hardly attained the 

 dignity of a distinct branch of the science, and there were no 

 separate lectureships or professorships on the subject in this 

 country. Specialisation had been pushed a little further in 

 Germany, and I remember attending a course of physical chemis- 

 try by Wiedemann in Leipzig in 1877, but the scope of his lectures 

 was quite elementary. 



When he turned to physical work Ramsay became aware of 

 the defects of his mathematical equipment and would gladly 

 have remedied them had that then been possible. He did 

 arrange with one of the young University mathematicians for 

 coaching in the calculus, but the coach was not sufficiently keen 

 for a man of Ramsay's ardent temperament and the arrangement 

 fortunately, I cannot help thinking, because Ramsay could 

 not have gained sufficient proficiency in the higher mathematics 

 to be of real use to him without the sacrifice of much time was 

 soon abandoned and he continued to devote himself entirely to 

 experimental work. 



After he had been assistant for several years he became a 

 candidate for such chairs and lectureships as fell vacant, but met 

 at first with little support. He was much discouraged by repeated 

 failures, and I remember we discussed seriously a project for 

 starting together in business as chemical manufacturers. We 

 both had connections in that line and were not unfavourably 

 placed for such a venture. But fortunately before our plans 

 had matured, the Chair of Chemistry in University College, 

 Bristol, fell vacant by the removal of Dr. Letts to Belfast and 

 Ramsay was appointed his successor. He was greatly assisted 



