CHAP. VI.] SCHOLAR OF TRINITY. 181 



and so forth, appearing all the while to say nothing, but 

 quietly feed on the wisdom of the undergrads., as they 

 enounced their opinions. 



FROM HIS FATHER. 



Glenlair, 10th April 1852. 



The Ordnance Surveyors are doing Contour Lines. 

 The line 250 feet above sea-level passes just in front of 

 the Bees. 1 



Glenlair, 25th April 1852. 



I ... congratulate you on your scholarship. You 

 write of entering on the duties, what are they ? and what 

 are the Privileges and Profits ? 



Glenlair, 12th May 1852. 



Is M'Millan the Publisher of the Cambridge and Dublin, 

 whereof William Thomson is editor ? Have you sent him 

 your prop, you were doing at Christmastime ? 



The gold-fever of Australian type prevails in these 

 parts. 



Glenlair, 19th May 1852. 

 [Prop, about resistance of sides and bottom of a meal-ark.] 



. . . The meal, which may be called a fluid as much as 

 a glacier. 2 



Query: Whether by putting bars beneath the bottom 

 at points removed from the middle of the joist, the pressure 

 would be more advantageously distributed ? 



Glenlair, 12th June 1852. 

 [Eve of James C. M.'s 21st birthday.] 



I trust you will be as discreet when major as you have 

 been while minor (Prov. x. 1). 



Eemember me to Tait. I am sorry I did not see him 

 in Edinburgh to wish him joy of his honours. 



1 In the garden at Glenlair. 2 See above, p. 80. 



