264 SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY 



but the feeling against it was so strong that the idea had 

 to be abandoned, and instead of the soldiers being enrolled 

 in the armies of the Czar, a large indemnity, payable 

 over three years, had to be guaranteed. In 1907 two of 

 these annual payments had been made and the third 

 was nearly due. In the meantime, however, a change, 

 not only of government, but of the entire constitution, 

 had taken place, and there was a strong feeling that 

 the new parliament might repudiate the previous agree- 

 ment and refuse the third payment. In this case 

 Helsingfors would be bombarded by Sweaborg. The 

 Ramsays were in Finland in the latter part of August 

 and parliament was to meet early in September, but 

 though matters were so critical that a pretext had been 

 made to delay the opening of the schools till after the 

 debate on the question, nothing was made of the serious- 

 ness of the matter so that the visit should not be clouded 

 by the overhanging possible tragedy. In those days of 

 peace, the thought of the bombardment of the town 

 they were living in and the sight of the damage done the 

 previous year at the time of the Sweaborg mutiny, 

 seemed to the Ramsays like stepping into the midst 

 of " old, unhappy, far-ofi things " of bygone centuries. 

 Now, alas, such things are no longer strange and 

 wonderful ! 



Only one night was spent away from Helsingfors. 

 This was at Tammerfors, an industrial centre where 

 Mr. Walter Ramsay had his home. Andreas and some 

 of the younger members of the family and, for part of 



