i.] PARENTAGE AND BOYHOOD. 11 



latent taste for natural science; but with James it could 

 not long remain a latent taste, it soon became a passion, 

 though no one suspected how strong. The village 

 schoolmaster, although amply endowed for his then 

 position, was no genius ; so, when the brothers had 

 gone through their English education, and were suffi- 

 ciently advanced in Latin, they were transferred to the 

 College of Edinburgh ; and it may be imagined with 

 what zest the lectures of Professors Leslie, Jamieson, 

 and Hope would be listened to. But other classes 

 besides these had to be attended. James was designed 

 for the Bar as a profession, and in deference to his 

 father's wishes he applied himself to it accordingly ; 

 went through the usual routine of study, and in due time 

 passed as advocate. But his heart was not there, and he 

 contrived all the while to promote his favourite studies 

 at the same time with indefatigable diligence, though 

 always * under the rose/ For in those days law was 

 considered so dry a study, and so often prescribed merely 

 as the most eligible mode of securing an independence, 

 that parents looked with jealousy on any tastes that 

 might prove too attractive, either in art or science, and 

 so interfere with the chance of success in a profession 

 generally acknowledged to be a hard struggle at best. A 

 simple incident may be mentioned in illustration, related 

 many years after by an attached old servant, who 

 happened to be in the nursery when Sir William came 

 in, and asked all his children what he should bring 

 them from London. The youngest instantly replied : 

 ' Bring me a telescope, Papa.' ' Ah, Jemmy/ was the reply, 

 ' you'll never make salt to your porridge/ ' But he has 

 made salt to his porridge ' was the triumphant comment, 

 for he was the pride and darling of the whole household. 

 He had therefore to labour M gainst every discourage- 

 ment and di.si'lvantairi' in liis own in-ld of study, and 

 must have worked douMc tides to secure time for both 

 fits, since the proficiency in uia! In-mat irs, which In- 

 considered so important, must have been entirely the 

 It of self-education. 



