THE TROFESSOK AND HIS CLASS. 245 



" In the course of lectures which I attended, he began by treat- 

 ing of the desire of knowledge ; the feeling of admiration ; sympa- 

 thy; desire of society; emulation; envy; anger; revenge; self; 

 self-esteem ; the love of fame or glory, and the love of power. 



" The most memorable points in these lectures were : (1.) a highly 

 wrought description of Envy, founded on Spenser's picture of 

 Lucifera riding in the gorgeous chariot of Pride, and preceded by 

 six Passions (the fifth of which is Envy) riding each on an appro- 

 priate animal ; (2.) a very minute and purely metaphysical analysis 

 of the idea of Self; and, (3.) a highly poetical illustration of the 

 workings of the Love of Power. This last display I can never 

 forget ; and sure am I that no one present can ever forget it either. 

 It appeared to have been a lecture whose place in the course and 

 powerful eloquence were previously not unknown to fame. For 

 when I went to the class-room at the usual hour on the last day of 

 November, I found it already overcrowded with an audience, com- 

 prising many strangers of note and several professors, all in a high 

 state of expectation. Conspicuous in the centre of the front bench 

 was the new Professor of Logic, Sir William Hamilton, eager with 

 anticipation as the others. At length the door of the retiring-room 

 was thrown open, and with even firmer step and longer stride, and 

 more heroic gait than usual, the Professor, with his flowing gown 

 and streaming locks, advanced to the desk and began the lecture. 

 After a hasty recapitulation of the subjects discussed in previous 

 lectures, he proceeded somewhat thus ; I can give but the feeblest 

 sketch of the lecture : — 



" ' Towards the close of yesterday's lecture we came to the con- 

 sideration of another active principle, " The Love of Power," and 

 we remarked on the frequent corruption and melancholy degrada- 

 tion of genius through an inordinate love of power. The origin 

 of this love of power is found in the feeling of pleasure which uni- 

 formly, and in a proportionably greater or less degree, attends the 

 consciousness of possessing power. Even in lower creation we see 

 this feeling of pleasure shown. The eagle evidently enjoys a deep 

 sensation of pleasure as he cuts his unmarked path through the 

 storm-tossed clouds. The horse also, when in the fulness of his 

 strength he hastens o'er the course, outstripping all his rivals, is a 

 supremely happy as well as an exquisitely beautiful animal. The 

 child too attains a never-failing source of pleasure on his first con- 



