CAVENDISH. 2T 



explanation of his leaving without a degree, various con- 

 jectures have been made. The reason advanced by some 

 that he feared the test of examination is scarcely consistent 

 with the circumstance of his profound scientific acquirements, 

 more especially in the mathematics, as evidenced in his future 

 career. Perhaps the extreme dislike which he manifested 

 throughout life at being the subject of public remark, even 

 in the way of commendation, may have influenced him ; or r 

 still more likely, the existence of certain religious scruples 

 scruples not accordant with the university tests, at that time 

 very stringently observed. Even in his early youth he had 

 been suspected of entertaining Unitarian doctrines ; and though 

 his religious opinions were veiled throughout life in extreme 

 mystery, there is reason to believe that the distinguished 

 subject of this memoir died as he had lived. 



Those who have traced his career through life, with all the 

 minuteness that his aversion to human society and his extreme 

 habits of retirement permit, assure us that from the day 

 of his baptism he never entered a place of worship of any 

 kind, and that, when he felt the hour of death to be ap- 

 proaching, he retired to his chamber, as already described, 

 commanding that no one might interrupt him. What the 

 matters were that to employ his own phrase ' he wished to 

 arrange* in this solemn hour, of course stand unrevealed. 

 The most probable supposition is, that he desired to pass 

 these last moments in silent contemplation. It is not satis- 

 factory to have to record such facts. How different would 

 have been his career, had his love of knowledge been chas- 

 tened and elevated by acquaintance with Him who of all 

 others is the object most worthy of being known ! Experi- 

 ence has shown, by many a bright example, that it is possible 

 to be a man of profound science, and yet to sit with humility 

 at the feet of the Saviour. 



It is not proposed in this short memoir to enter upon 

 the scientific discoveries of Cavendish ; these would cover too- 



