CHAP. I.] BIRTH AND PARENTAGE. 11 



An interesting trait is revealed to us by the Diary. 

 Minute as the entries are for day after day, things 

 which, if mentioned, might reflect unfavourably upon 

 others, are invariably omitted. They have come 

 down through other channels, but in this scrupulous 

 record they have left no trace. 



His otherwise happy life was crossed with one 

 deep, silent sorrow, but was crowned with one long 

 comfort in the life of his son. They were bound to- 

 gether by no ordinary ties, and were extremely like 

 in disposition, in simplicity, unworldliness, benevo- 

 lence, and kindness to every living thing. Those who 

 knew Maxwell best will be least apt to think irrelevant 

 this somewhat lengthy description of his father. 



The portrait of Mr. John Clerk Maxwell by 

 Watson Gordon is a faithful representation of a face 

 which returns more vividly than most others to the 

 eye of memory, but no portrait can restore " the busy 

 wrinkles round his eyes," or give back to them their 

 mild radiance 



" Gray eyes lit up 

 With summer lightnings of a soul 



So full of summer warmth, so glad, 

 So healthy, sound and clear and whole, 



His memory scarce can make me sad." 



He lived amidst solid realities, but his vision was 

 neither shallow nor contracted. And his sense of 

 things beyond, if inarticulate, was, in later life at least, 

 not the less serious and profound. Yet those who 

 shall compare this likeness with the study of James 

 Clerk Maxwell's head by Mrs. Blackburn, may at 



