130 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. V. 



of periodical shooting stars, and to prepare a list of the pheno- 

 mena to be observed on the 9th August and 13th November. 

 The Society's barometer is to be taken up Arthur's Seat at 

 the end of the session, when Forbes goes up, and All students 

 are invited to attend, so that the existence of the Society 

 may be recognised. 



I have notions of reading the whole of Corpus Juris and 

 Pandects in no time at all ; but these are getting somewhat 

 dim, as the Cambridge scheme has been howked up from 

 its repose in the regions of abortions, and is as far forward 

 as an inspection of the Cambridge Calendar and a communi- 

 cation with Cantabs. 



Mr. Bob is choosing his college. I rejected for him all 

 but Peter's, Caius, or Trinity Hall, the last being, though 

 legal, not in favour, or lazy, or something. Caius is popu- 

 lous, and is society to itself. Peter's is select, and knows 

 the University. Please give me some notions on these 

 things, both for Bob and me. I postpone my answer to 

 you about the Gorham business till another time, when also 

 I shall have read "Waterland on Regeneration, which is with 

 Mrs. Morrieson, and some Pusey books I know. In the 

 meantime I admire the Judgement as a composition of great 

 art and ingenuity. 



What cross influences had delayed his entrance at 

 Cambridge may be guessed at, but cannot be clearly 

 known. Mr. Clerk Maxwell was always slow in mak- 

 ing up his mind, and the habit of inertia had grown 

 upon him. There had been a lingering expectation, 

 to which James alludes in the preceding letter, that 

 he would follow his father's profession, and become a 

 member of the Scottish Bar. And although he himself 

 felt, as he told me at the time, that it was " another 

 kind of laws" he was called upon to study, the 

 practical result of this conviction was slow in assert 



