4 SIE WILLIAM RAMSAY 



The next year he attended the British Association 

 meeting in Dublin and communicated two papers, " A 

 Summary of Investigations on the Pyridine Series " and 

 on " Some of the Derivatives of Furfurol," beside 

 showing Victor Meyer's apparatus for taking vapour 

 densities of substances with high boiling points. 



In a letter to his friend Dobbie he remarks : " By 

 the way the British Ass. is going to Bray this 

 year." 



This letter was written from Wales, where apparently 

 he had been staying with his uncle's family, " dolce- 

 farnienteing in a delightful manner. Lawn-tennis, bath- 

 ing, mild (and harmless) spooning, hill-climbing, etc. 

 (Etc. being all the other vices practised at a place border- 

 ing on hills and sea), have been the sole aim and object 

 of existence since I came to Wales." 



In 1879 the promotion for which he had so long been 

 hoping came at last. He was appointed Professor in 

 University College, Bristol, and took up his new work 

 early in the new year. The following extract from a 

 letter speaks for itself : 



" UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, BRISTOL. 



12th March, 1880. 

 MY DEAR DOBBIE, 



This letter must be written en Jingle. Arrived 

 safe Monday night fair lodgings change with Marsden when 

 he goes next Monday like the place Lab. in confusion but 

 good Fifteen students in Lab. 40 at lectures Nicol lecturing 

 till end of term Marsden nice fellow going to Germany at 



