PREFACE 



AT the time of his death in 1901 Professor P. G. Tait had just finished 

 editing the Second Volume of his Collected Scientific Papers. The 

 series is now completed by this Memorial Volume whose preparation I 

 undertook at the request of Mrs Tait, who kindly placed a great deal of 

 material at my disposal, and who, together with the other members of the 

 family, has been closely in touch with the work as it proceeded. 



Professor Crum Brown, the late Professor's brother-in-law and colleague 

 for over 30 years, closely associated himself with the work. His knowledge 

 and judgement were always at my service. 



Lord Kelvin at the outset afforded me much useful information generally 

 about events of an early date, especially certain facts connected with the 

 preparation of "The Treatise on Natural Philosophy," a work unfortunately 

 never completed. 



The proofs have been read by Dr A. W. Ward, Master of Peterhouse, 

 and Mr J. D. Hamilton Dickson, Fellow and Tutor of Peterhouse, to 

 both of whom I am deeply indebted for many valuable criticisms and 

 suggestions ; and for similar helpful services my sincere thanks are also 

 due to Professor J. G. MacGregor and Professor W. Peddie. 



The interest expressed by others among Professor Tail's friends and 

 students has greatly encouraged me in my work. Their reminiscences of 

 the Natural Philosophy Class Room or Laboratory, and their memory of 

 the stimulating character of the teaching, will be found reflected in the 

 pages which follow. 



In arranging the material I have been influenced largely by one considera- 

 tion the convenience of the reader. The opening chapter, including the 

 description of Professor Tait on holiday in St Andrews, for which I am 

 indebted to Mr J. L. Low, gives simply the main facts of the Life. The 

 various aspects of the Scientific Work are taken up, in more or less detail, 

 in the succeeding chapters. 



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