134 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. V. 



fectly trained to produce "paying" work than did Clerk 

 Maxwell. But by sheer strength of intellect, though with 

 the very minimum of knowledge how to use it to advantage 

 under the conditions of the Examination, he obtained the 

 position of Second Wrangler, and was bracketed equal with 

 the Senior Wrangler in the higher ordeal of the Smith's 

 Prizes. His name appears in the Cambridge Calendar as 

 Maxwell of Trinity, but he was originally entered at Peter- 

 house, and kept his first term there, in that small but most 

 ancient foundation which has of late furnished Scotland with 

 the majority of the professors of mathematics and natural 

 philosophy, in her four universities. 



To the books mentioned by Professor Tait in his 

 footnote should be added Poisson's Mechanics, which 

 was taken out from the Advocates' Library 6th March 

 1848, and carried off into the country. A copy of 

 Fourier's Theorie de la Chaleur was ordered through 

 Maclachlan, 6th April 1849, for 25s. 



LETTERS, APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 1850. 

 To LEWIS CAMPBELL, Esq. 



Glenlair, 26ih April 1850. 



As I ought to tell you of our departure from Edinburgh 

 and arrival here, so I ought to tell you of many other 

 things besides. Of things pertaining to myself there are 

 these: The tutor of Peterhouse has booked me, and I am 

 booked for Peterhouse, but will need a little more booking 

 before I can write Algebra like a book. 



I suppose I must go through Wrigley's problems and 

 Paley's Evidences in the same sort of way, and be able to 

 translate when required Eurip. Iph. in Aulid. In the 

 meantime I have my usual superfluity of plans. 



1. Classics Eurip. !</>. ev AiA. for Cambridge. (I hope 

 no Latin or Greek verses except for honours.) Greek 



