

v.J PROFESSORIAL LIFE. 103 



Most authors treat of the arch as if it were circular. 

 My recollection leads me to think that it is oval, as I 

 i< member that I intended to determine its mathematical 

 figure by offsets from a vertical line. The place where 

 I should wish it particularly examined is where it 

 ; 4 ]<; irs at the Arch of Janus, not far from the Forum. 

 Its indubitable antiquity Pliny says it existed 800 years 

 before his time gives it a very high interest merely 

 antiquarian ; but my present inquiries are rather con- 

 nected with the history of the Arch as founded on 

 scientific principles, and it would be difficult to find in 

 any age or country a more striking work of its kind than 

 the massive triple arch of the Cloaca Maxima/ 



Of the rest of the summer of 1833, the following short 

 entries in a diary of retrospect are the only record : 



' In May and June I went to London and Paris. Very 

 kindly received in Paris, more so than even in June at 

 Cambridge. Meeting of British Association. Worked 

 hard during summer and autumn writing lectures at 

 Greenhill. Elected to Athenaeum Club by Committee, 

 July 5th. My brother Charles married at Blair Va-dock 

 on Gareloch. He then went to live at Hermanstone, 

 and for some years I paid him many pleasant visits 

 re. In September to Fettercairn. Back by St. 

 Andrew's, and visited Dr. Jackson there/ 



This was probably the first time he had seen St. 

 Andrew's. Dr. Jackson here mentioned was at that time 

 the not undistinguished Professor of Natural Philosophy 

 in that University. 



the college session 1833-34 opened at the be- 

 of November, F>H><,s made his first appearance 

 as a 1'rofessor. As is usual on such occasions in our 

 Scottish universities, he had to deliver an inaugural 

 ire. Such lectures, as they are supposed to strik< 

 key-note of the n \\ Professor's course, are occasions 

 of no little interest to academic persons, and of some 

 anxi.-ty to a yum;: Professor. As he succcnls in 

 the audience or not, men an- apt to draw 



