CHAP. VI.] SCHOLAR OF TRINITY. 173 



But this acute mathematician, so addicted even then to 

 original research, was among his friends simply the most 

 genial and amusing of companions, the propounder of many 

 a strange theory, the composer of not a few poetic jeux 

 d'esprits. 



Grave and hard-reading students shook their heads at 

 his discursive talk and reading, and hinted that this kind of 

 pursuits would never pay in the long run in the Mathe- 

 matical Tripos. 



I have sometimes watched his countenance in the 

 lecture-room. It was quite a study there was the look of 

 a bright intellect, an entire concentration on the subject, 

 and sometimes a slight smile on the fine expressive mouth, 

 as some point came out clearly before him, or some amusing 

 fancy flitted across his imagination. He used to profess a 

 dislike to reproducing speculations from books, or hearing 

 opinions quoted taken bodily from books. 



Yet he read a good deal in other lines of study than 

 natural philosophy. Sir Thomas Brown's Eeligio Medici 

 was one of his favourite books. Any such author, who 

 propounded his speculations in a quaint, original manner 

 was sure to be a favourite with him. 



But I particularly remember his attraction to Sir 

 Thomas Brown during the long vacation, when he was laid 

 up with severe illness (a brain fever) in my dear uncle's 

 house in June 1853. He came to stay at Otley, near 

 Ipswich, of which my uncle was the rector. For a few 

 days he was tolerably well, then suddenly fell ill, probably 

 through overwork for his third year college examination. 

 It was on his recovery from that illness that I seemed to 

 know him better than ever. It was then that my uncle's 

 conversation seemed to make such a deep impression on his 

 mind. He had always been a regular attendant at the 

 services of God's house, and a regular communicant in our 

 College Chapel. Also he had thought and read much on 

 religious subjects. But at this time (as it appears from his 

 own account of the matter) his religious views were greatly 

 deepened and strengthened. 



