CHAP. V.] OPENING MANHOOD 1847 TO 1850. 135 



Testament, Epistles, for my own behoof, and perhaps some of 

 Cicero De Officiis or something else for Latin. 



2. Mathematics Wrigley's Problems, and Trig, for Cam- 

 bridge; properties of the Ellipsoid and other solids for 

 practice with Spher. Trig. Nothing higher if I can help it. 



3. Nat. Phil. Simple mechanical problems to produce 

 that knack of solving problems which Prof. Forbes has 

 taught me to despise. Common Optics at length; and for 

 experimental philosophy, twisting and bending certain glass 

 and metal rods, making jellies, unannealed glass, and crystals, 

 and dissecting eyes and playing Devils. 



4. Metaphysics Kant's Kritik of Pure Reason in 

 German, read with a determination to make it agree with 

 Sir W. Hamilton. 



5. Moral Philosophy Metaphysical principles of moral 

 philosophy. Hobbes' Leviathan, with his moral philosophy, 

 to be read as the only man who has decided opinions and 

 avows them in a distinct way. To examine the first part of 

 the seventh chapter of Matthew in reference to the moral 

 principles which it supposes, and compare with other 

 passages. 



But I question if I shall be able to overtake all these 

 things, although those of different kinds may well be used 

 as alternate studies. 



I read in Edinburgh Wilson's Poems to see what he 

 used to be like, and how much he had improved since then. 

 Did you finish Festus ? l I had only two days to read it, 

 so that I skipped part of the long speech and a good deal of 

 the jollification, which I think the dullest part of the book. 



The opening makes one think that it is to be an imita- 

 tion of the book of Job, but you soon see that you have to 

 do with a dreamy mortal without a profession, but vain 

 withal, and a hero among women, a jolly companion of some 

 men, admired of students for talking of things which he 

 knows not, nor can know, having a so-called philosophy, an 

 intuitive science, and an underived religion, and with all 

 these not perfect, but needing more expanded views of the 



1 Festus, a poem by Philip James Bailey, 1849. 



