22 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE. [1828-30. 



At this period of his short college course he was 

 in the habit of versifying, writing rhymes to his com- 

 panions, or penning sonnets to his pretty partners 

 at dances, and he had always many pretty partners, 

 being quite what is termed " a lady's man." Later 

 on we hear of his escorting his sisters and elder 

 cousins, and also daughters of friends, to school in 

 France, a responsibility which rested very agreeably 

 on his shoulders. His poetry consisted chiefly of Odes 

 in blank verse on Nature's varying and changing 

 moods, of which he was the watchful observer. Al- 

 though never a talkative lad, he was eminently soci- 

 able, his father and mother were both hospitable, and 

 in all the exuberance of his young life he enjoyed 

 to a degree the evening parties and gatherings of 

 relatives and friends. 



Yet underlying all his delightful buoyancy of spirits 

 there was that intense earnestness that determination 

 to interpret for himself the records of the rocks. He 

 was preparing for that work, the obstacles to which 

 at one period seemed overwhelming, but to which he 

 was steadfast throughout life, and which held his heart 

 to the very end. 



It is evident that while at University College every 

 subject was neglected for the sake of chemistry and 

 natural philosophy. It is evident, too, that he took 

 the direction of his studies into his own hands : Latin 

 and Greek were set aside ; mathematics also were 

 neglected, though most unwillingly. On leaving col- 

 lege he worked at mathematics with a private tutor, 

 but never ceased to regret that he had not attended 

 the college course. In the intervals between lectures 

 he frequented the British Museum : he also found time 



