82 MEMOIR OF FLEEMING JENKIN 



and generalisations, contrasting the dramatic art 

 and national character of England, Germany, Italy, 

 and France. If he were dull, he would write stories 

 and poems. ' I have written,' he says at thirteen, 

 ' a very long story in heroic measure, 800 lines, and 

 another Scotch story and innumerable bits of 

 poetry ' ; and at the same age he had not only a 

 keen feeling for scenery, but could do something 

 with his pen to call it up. I feel I do always less 

 than justice to the delightful memory of Captain 

 Jenkin ; but with a lad of this character, cutting 

 the teeth of his intelligence, he was sure to fall into 

 the background. 

 Paris. The family removed in 1847 to Paris, where 



Revolution Flecming was put to school under one Deluc. There 

 ° ^ ^ ' he learned French, and (if the captain is right) 

 first began to show a taste for mathematics. But 

 a far more important teacher than Deluc was at 

 hand ; the year 1848, so momentous for Europe, 

 was momentous also for Fleeming's character. The 

 family politics were Liberal ; Mrs. Jenkin, generous 

 before all things, was sure to be upon the side of 

 exiles ; and in the house of a Paris friend of hers, 

 Mrs. Turner — ^already known to fame as Shelley's 

 Cornelia de Boinville — ^Fleeming saw and heard 

 such men as Manin, Gioberti, and the Ruffinis. He 

 was thus prepared to sympathise with revolution ; 

 and when the hour came, and he found himself in 

 the midst of stirring and influential events, the 



