190 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. VI. 



To LEWIS CAMPBELL, Esq. 



Trin. Coll, 14th July 1853. 



You wrote just in time for your letter to reach rne as I 

 reached Cambridge. After examination I went to visit the 

 Kev. C. B. Tayler (uncle to a Tayler whom I think you have 

 seen under the name of Freshman, etc., and author of many 

 tracts and other didactic works). We had little expedites, 

 and walks, and things parochial and educational, and domes- 

 ticity. I intended to return on the 18th June, but on the 

 17th I felt unwell, and took measures accordingly to be 

 well again i.e. went to bed, and made up my mind to 

 recover. But it lasted more than a fortnight, during which 

 time I was taken care of beyond expectation (not that I did 

 not expect much before). When I was perfectly useless, 

 and could not sit up without fainting, Mr. Tayler did every- 

 thing for me in such a way that I had no fear of giving 

 trouble. So did Mrs. Tayler; and the two nephews did all 

 they could. So they kept me in great happiness all the 

 time, and detained me till I was able to walk about, and 

 got back strength. I returned on the 4th July. 



The consequence of all this is that I cerrespond with 

 Mr. Tayler, and have entered into bonds with the nephews, 

 of all of whom more hereafter. Since I came here I have 

 been attending Hop., but with his approval did not begin 

 full swing. I am getting on, though, and the work is not 

 grinding on the prepared brain. 



I have been reading Villette by Currer Bell alias Miss 

 Bronte. I think the authoress of Jane Eyre has not ceased 

 to think and acquire principles since that work left her 

 hands. 



It is autobiographic in form. The ego is a personage 

 of great self-knowledge and self-restraint, strength of prin- 

 ciple and courage when roused, otherwise preferring the 

 station of an onlooker. 



Then there is an excellent prying, upright, Jesuitical, 

 and successful French school directress ; a fiery, finical, phy- 

 siognomic professor, priestridden, but taking his own way in 

 benevolence as in other things, etc. etc. 



