96 ENGLISH MEN OF SCIENCE, [CHAP. 



professional engagements, bufr more often from 

 myself." 



40. "Considerable power in earlier days of en- 

 during mental fatigue and of taking up without 

 difficulty a considerable range of subjects. Ex- 

 ample : I was for a little while, set. seventeen to 

 twenty, employed in teaching, and I contrived in 

 my scanty intervals of leisure to read a very large 

 quantity of Greek and Latin, and to become, 

 without any external assistance, a very fair 

 mathematician [my correspondent occupies a high 

 official position, in which considerable mathe- 

 matical knowledge is essential]. I learnt also 

 Italian at this time." 



41. "I should say considerable, judging by the 

 number of things I have been able to learn and 

 to do since adult age." 



42. "I think considerable, in mind. Have 

 commonly had it said of me that it was wonderful 

 how I got through so much work. 



Father Was well known as a hard-worker. 

 Mother A great reader ; taught herself Greek 



