ESSAY-REVIEWS 



A GREAT COSPilOGONIST, by H. Spencer Jones, M.A., B.Sc. : on 

 Scientific Papers, by Sir George Howard Darwin, K.C.B., F.R.S. 

 Vol. V, Supplementary Volume containing Biographical Memoirs, by 

 Sir Francis Darwin and Prof. E. W. Brown, Lectures on Hill's Lunar 

 Theory, etc. Edited by F. J. M. Stratton, M.A., and J. Jackson, 

 M.A., B.Sc. [Pp. Ivi + 81.] (Cambridge: at the University Press, 

 19 16. Price 6s. net.) 



Sir George Howard Darwin was a striking example of a 

 man whose mathematical power developed slowly and late. 

 Although possessed of considerable innate mathematical 

 ability, he was long in realising this fact, and when he obtained 

 the high position of second wrangler in the Mathematical Tripos 

 at Cambridge he, himself, was probably more surprised than 

 were his friends. Lord Moulton, who was Senior Wrangler, in 

 the same examination, says that Darwin was expected to take 

 a high place, but did not at that time display any of that 

 colossal power of work and of taking infinite trouble which 

 characterised him afterwards. So little did he expect such 

 success that he stayed in bed on the morning the results were 

 read. The result produced the following characteristic letter 

 from his father : 



" Down, January 24 [1868]. 



" My dear Old Fellow, 



" I am so pleased. I congratulate you with all my 

 heart and soul. I always said from your early days that such 

 energy, perseverance, and talent as yours would be sure to 

 succeed ; but I never expected such brilliant success as this. 

 Again and again I congratulate you. But you have made my 

 hand tremble so I can hardly write. The telegram came here 

 at eleven. We have written W. and the boys. 



" God bless you, my dear old fellow — may your life so 

 continue. 



" Your affectionate father, 



" Ch. Darwin." 



After his tripos, Darwin's attentions were for a time diverted 

 from mathematics to study for the Bar, but after a few years 



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