ASSOCIATION WITH PROFESSOR ANDREWS 13 



already published important work on the same subject. Tait gave efficient 

 aid, more particularly in the calculations involved, and in the construction of 

 much of the apparatus used. He proved such an apt pupil in the art of glass 

 blowing that ere long Andrews gave that part of the manipulation over to 

 his eager and energetic companion. Tait used to speak with intense 

 admiration of the extreme care and patience with which Andrews carried 

 out all his researches. Each difficulty or discrepancy as it arose had to be 

 disposed of before progress could be reported and the investigation advanced 

 a stage. At times indeed the patient care of the skilled experimenter must 

 have chafed somewhat the brilliant young mathematician ever eager to 

 get to the heart of things ; but no amount of argument or theorising on 

 Tait's part could move the master from the steady tenor of his way. Years 

 after when Andrews in his failing health visited Edinburgh Physical 

 Laboratory to inspect a set of his own apparatus for the liquefaction of 

 gases it was at once a privilege and an inspiration to witness the deep 

 affection and admiration with which Tait regarded his whilom colleague. 



In his letter to Mrs Andrews immediately after the death of her husband, 

 Tait expresses his feelings and regard in these words : 



"It does not become me to speak of the irreparable loss which you and your 

 family have suffered. But it may bring some consolation to you to be assured that 

 there are many, in many lands, whose sympathies are sincerely with you ; and who 

 lament, with you, the loss of a great man and a good man. 



" For my own part, I feel that I cannot adequately express my obligation to him 

 whether as instructor or example. I have always regarded it as one of the most 

 important determining factors in my own life (private as well as scientific) and one 

 for which I cannot be sufficiently thankful, that my appointment to the Queen's 

 College at the age of 23 brought me for six years into almost daily association with 

 such a friend." 



Hamilton's first book, Lectures on Quaternions, was published in 1853. 

 We learn from the inscription on the title page of Tait's copy that he bought 

 it the same year while still a resident at Peterhouse. As he explained in the 

 preface to his own Treatise (ist edition, 1867) Tait was attracted to the 

 study of quaternions by the promise of usefulness in physical applications. 

 Yet in Hamilton's Lectures very few pages indeed touch upon dynamical 

 problems. Tait used to tell how his faith in the new calculus was put to a severe 

 test as he read through these remarkable so-called lectures of Hamilton. 

 Lecture after Lecture he carefully perused, wearied though he was with 

 Hamilton's extraordinary prolixity in laying strong and deep the foundations 



