176 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. VI. 



at Trinity can recall some kindness or some act of his which 

 has left an ineffaceable impression of his goodness on the 

 memory for " good " Maxwell was, in the best sense of the 

 word. 



Mr. Lawson adds the following extract from his 

 diary : 



Under date January 1. 1854 (Sunday evening), after 

 saying I had been at tea at a friend's rooms, and naming 

 the men who were there, of whom Maxwell was one, there 

 is this note : 



"Maxwell, as usual, showing himself acquainted with 

 every subject upon which the conversation turned. I never 

 met a man like him. I do believe there is not a single sub- 

 ject on which he cannot talk, and talk well too, displaying 

 always the most curious and out-of-the-way information." 



The great contests of January came at last, with 

 the result that Maxwell was Second Wrangler, Eouth 

 of Peterhouse being the Senior, and that Kouth and 

 Maxwell were declared equal as Smith's Prizemen. 



A reminiscence of Professor T. S. Baynes which 

 has reference to this time is interesting in connection 

 with other signs of something exceptional in Maxwell's 

 physical state during the previous year : 



He said that on entering the Senate-house for the first 

 paper he felt his mind almost blank ; but by and by his 

 mental vision became preternaturally clear. And, on going 

 out again, he was dizzy and staggering, and was some time 

 in coming to himself. 



LETTERS, 1852-53. 

 To LEWIS CAMPBELL, Esq. 



8 King's Parade, 10th Feb. 1852. 

 I was at Isaac Taylor's to-night. His father has come to 



