72 TH K LIFE OF JAMES D. ^FORBES. [CHAP. 



' Mr. Airy took me over to the Observatory, where 

 he lives. Saw a very pretty polarizing apparatus on a 

 moderate scale. The only considerable instrument is the 

 transit a fine ten-feet, and perhaps the best worked 

 instrument in Britain. Airy is a wonderful man. His 

 observations hitherto published have all been made with 

 this single instrument, and contain a great mass of good 

 matter, all beautifully reduced. He had the kindness to 

 present me with the three volumes of his observations 

 now published. 



'Dined with Mr. Ramsay at Jesus College ; very plea- 

 sant party, including Peacock, Whewell, Henslow, and 

 Bowstead. Delighted with Whewell. 



'Professor Whewell sent me his paper on mathematics 

 applied to Ricardo's political economy, which I employed 

 myself a good deal in reading. Breakfasted with Mr. 

 Ramsay. Saw Jesus College Chapel ; pretty Gothic. 

 Tomb with 1263 on it in Arabic numerals. Whewell 

 doubts its genuineness. 



' Sedgwick called on me, and I went with him to 

 morning prayers in Trinity Chapel, being Whit Sunday. 

 Heard Mr. Blunt preach before the University in St. 

 Mary's Church. Dined in Trinity Hall, which was in 

 greater style than usual, being a Feast day. Several 

 strangers : James Hall and I went to Trinity Chapel in 

 the evening. Delighted with the service and the appear- 

 ance of the chapel, which was well filled with surpliced 

 students, and the music excellent. Effect truly grand ; 

 would on no account have missed spending a Sunday here. 

 Took tea with Sedgwick, in company with Whewell, 

 Romilly, Hon. - - Grey (Premier's son), and Mr. Sheep- 

 shanks, a distinguished man and an eminent member of 

 the Astronomical Society. Charmed more than ever 

 with Whewell. His notions of the prosecution of science 

 liberal, on the scale of his vast attainments. 



'May 23rd. Breakfasted at Prof. Sedgwick's, with 

 James Hall, Mr. Thorp, a junior Fellow of Trinity, with 

 whom I only became acquainted on Sunday; and spent half 

 an hour with Mr. Whewell in his rooms, and saw some of 





