When he had studied geology in his second year at Edinburgh he had found it dull, but from Easter to August 1831 he learned a great deal with Adam Sedgwick and developed a strong interest during their geological field trip.
Cando estudara xeoloxía no seu segundo ano en Edimburgo parecéralle aburrida, pero desde a Pascua a agosto de 1831 aprendeu moito con Adam Sedgwick e desenvolveu un forte interese durante a súa viaxe de campo xeolóxica.