116 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. V. 



notes and such like till 9.35, then I go to Coll., and I 

 always go one way and cross streets at the same places ; 

 then at 10 comes Kelland. He is telling us about 

 arithmetic and how the common rules are the best. At 11 

 there is Forbes, who has now finished introduction and 

 properties of bodies, and is beginning Mechanics in earnest. 

 Then at 12, if it is fine, I perambulate the Meadows; if 

 not, I go to the Library and do references. At 1 go to Logic. 

 Sir W. reads the first \ of his lecture, and commits the rest 

 to his man, but reserves to himself the right of making 

 remarks. To-day was examination day, and there was no 

 lecture. At 2 I go home and receive interim aliment, and 

 do the needful in the way of business. Then I extend 

 notes, and read text-books, which are Kelland's Algebra and 

 Potter's Mechanics. The latter is very trigonometrical, but 

 not deep ; and the Trig, is not needed. I intend to read a 

 few Greek and Latin beside. What books are you doing ? 

 ... In Logic we sit in seats lettered according to name, 

 and Sir W. takes and puts his hand into a jam pig x full of 

 metal letters (very classical), and pulls one out and examines 

 the bench of the letter. The Logic lectures are far the 

 most solid and take most notes. 



Before I left home I found out a prop for Tait (P. G.) ; 

 but he will not do it. It is " to find the algebraical equa- 

 tion to a curve which is to be placed with its axis vertical, 

 and a heavy body is to be put on any part of the curve, 

 as on an inclined plane, and the horizontal component of 

 the force, by which it is actuated, is to vary as the n th power 

 of the perpendicular upon the axis." 



To THE SAME. 



Glenlair, 26th April 1848. 



... On Saturday, the natural philosophers ran up 

 Arthur's Seat with the barometer. The Professor set it 

 up at the top- and let us pant at it till it ran down with 

 drops. He did not set it straight, and made the hill grow 

 fifty feet ; but we got it down again. 



1 i.e. Jar. 



