LECTURE ON "FORCE" 253 



sense of the word has no real objective existence but is a mere space-variation 

 of energy. The lecture abounded in illustrations from all sides of human 

 experience and was severely critical on laxity of thought and of expression 

 on the part, not only of journalists essaying to speak of scientific things, but 

 even of recognised writers of scientific books. The lecture was published in 

 Nature and subsequently reprinted as an appendix to the second edition 

 of Recent Advances in Physical Science. It appears as No. xxxvu in the 

 Scientific Papers. The raciest and most critical passages were, however, 

 omitted. In these Tait let himself go to the intense amusement of many 

 of his audience and to the horror of some who did not quite appreciate the 

 form Tait's humour occasionally assumed. Lord Brougham and Professor 

 Tyndall, though not explicitly named, were singled out as having been guilty 

 of carelessness of diction in the expression of scientific truth ; and the audience 

 were startled when Tait capped his exposure of the recent President of the 

 British Association by the question, "Are these thy gods, Oh Israel ?" 



Tait used to tell how he early noticed in the audience one alert listener 

 who seemed almost to anticipate the points, so quickly did he respond to the 

 humour and sarcasm of the lecturer. His expectant and eager expression was 

 a delightful inspiration to Tait. 



The real fun of the lecture is well shown forth in the humorous verses 

 which Maxwell sent to Tait a few days later, with the heading " For 

 P. G. Tait but not for Ebony" meaning Black-woods Magazine. The 

 following version is taken from the original draft, which was pasted into 

 Tait's Scrap Book. 



REPORT OF TAIT'S LECTURE ON FORCE: B. A. 1876. 



Ye British Asses, who expect to hear 



Ever some new thing, 

 I've nothing new to tell, but what, I fear, 



May be a true thing, 

 For Tait comes with his plummet and his line 



Quick to detect your 

 Old bosh new dressed, in what you call a fine 



Popular lecture. 



Whence comes that most peculiar smattering 



Heard in our section ? 

 Pure nonsense, to a scientific swing 



Drilled to perfection ? 



