so PETER GUTHRIE TAIT 



physical science. The nature of the course may be inferred from the 

 contents of his book The Properties of Matter ; but no written page could 

 teach like the living voice of the master. 



After the first few weeks the systematic lectures on the properties 

 of matter were given during not more than three hours each week, Tuesdays 

 and Thursdays being devoted to elementary dynamics. These were supple- 

 mented by some tutorial lectures by the assistant. The properties of 

 matter having been disposed of, the subjects of heat, sound, light and 

 electricity were taken up in turn, the amount of time given to each varying 

 with different years. With the exception of heat Tail's lecture notes on 

 these branches were not prepared with the same affectionate care as had 

 been bestowed upon those dealing with the properties of matter. He had 

 a few systematic notes on geometrical optics but none on physical optics or 

 electricity. Indeed, as time went on, the properties of matter, like the 

 Arab's Camel, encroached more and more on the limited time of the session. 

 This was inevitable. Tait was always adding to his notes either new facts 

 or new illustrations, and he never dropped any part out. His experiments 

 hardly ever failed. They were chosen because they were instructive and 

 elucidated the physical principle under discussion not merely because they 

 were beautiful or sensationally striking. 



To the intelligent student who had worked through the earlier part of the 

 course namely, dynamics and properties of matter the comparatively meagre 

 treatment of physical optics and electricity was not perhaps of great con- 

 sequence. He had been guided along a highway from which all parts of 

 the great domain could be sighted and some information gained of each 

 secluded region. He had been taught how to look and how to appreciate 

 the view. He had been warned that the senses alone were untrustworthy 

 guides ; that he must illuminate the dark places with the light of reason, 

 with the search light of a scientific imagination. To those of us who came 

 with some knowledge of physical science, Tail's whole method was a reve- 

 lation. But the great majority of those students who knew nothing of 

 natural philosophy till they came under the fascination of his lectures were 

 hardly in a position to appreciate the majestic beauty of the whole presentation. 

 In addition to the task of digesting the lectures the students were expected 

 to do some extra reading on which they were specially examined. The junior 

 division, that is, nearly the whole class, read Herschel's Astronomy; and 

 the senior division, consisting of a few enthusiasts who were strong enough 



