160 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. VI. 



beings, will still be a great mystery, of which the beginning 

 and the end are all that can be known to us while the 

 intermediate parts are perpetually filled up. 



So now pray excuse me if I think that the more grovel- 

 ling and materialistic sciences of matter are not to be 

 despised in comparison with the lofty studies of Minds and 

 Spirits. Our own and our neighbours' minds are known but 

 very imperfectly, and no new facts will be found till we 

 come in contact with some minds other than human to 

 elicit them by counterposition. But of this more anon. 



FKOM HIS FATHER. 



Glenlair, 3d Now. 1851. 



How do you like and how do you profit by Hopkins' 

 mode of driving ? He should get one more pupil, and drive 

 16 in hand like Batty or Cook. 



Glenlair, 18th Novr. 1851. 



t 



You seem to have great gaieties with College Parties 

 with Scientific Dons. Do you take notes of Stokes' experi- 

 ments on the bands of the Spectrum ? Will they be suitable 

 for repetition in the garret of the old House ? * 



The clearing away a bank of weeds was a sly trick of 

 the Trinity 4-oar, and I think Peterhouse and Sidney justi- 

 fied in protesting. 2 What tribunal is there to settle such 

 matters ? 



I copied from your letters plan and section and 

 elevation of the Baskets for single stick, and committed the 

 same to the Davie. 3 



In the spring of 1852 he got rooms in college 



1 See above, p. 118, 1. 2. 



2 According to the " contemporary Cantab," Peterhouse and Sidney 

 really won the race, in spite of the removal of the bank of weeds. 

 The reason why Trinity got the cups was that the pistol of P. and 

 S.'s umpire missed fire. 3 David M'Vinnie, see above, p. 39. 



