210 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. VII. 



till Easter term. My father's recovery is retarded by the 

 frosty weather, though we have got up an etherial mild- 

 ness here by means of a good fire and a towel hung up wet 

 at the other end of the room, together with an internal 

 exhibition of nitric ether. 



I wrote to Mackenzie about putting a respectable man 

 in my rooms as a stopper to Cat's Hall men, Manns and 

 Boy Joneses, but I have not heard of his success. I have 

 no time at present for anything except looking through 

 novels, etc., and finding passages which will not offend my 

 father to read to him. He strongly objects to new-fangled 

 books, and knows the old by heart. But he likes the Essays 

 in Intervals of Business, cause why, they have not too many 

 words. The frost here has lasted long, and I am beginning 

 to make use of it. I get an uncle to take my place in the 

 afternoon, and I rush off to Lochend or Duddingston. I 

 have not yet succeeded in skating on one foot for an inde- 

 finite time and getting up speed by rising and sinking at the 

 bends of the path ; but I attribute my failure to want of 

 faith, for I can get up speed for a single bend, only I always 

 slip at a certain critical turning. However, I have only 

 been 3 days, and I may do it yet. My plans are not 

 fixt, but I think it will be some while before my father is 

 on his pins again, and when he is I intend to look after him 

 still, but do a private streak of work, for I will soon be in a 

 too much bottled up condition of mathematics, from which 

 even mental collapse would be a relief. I have no intention 

 of doing a Newton or any elegant mathematics. I have a 

 few thoughts on top-spinning and sensation generally, and a 

 kind of dim outline of Cambridge palavers, tending to 

 shadow forth the influence of mathematical training on 

 opinion and speculation. 



I suppose when my father can move I will see him out of 

 this eastern clime and safe located in Gallovidian westnesses, 

 and so be up in Cam. before the beginning of next term. 



I should like to know how many kept baccalaurean 

 weeks go to each of these terms, and when they begin and 

 end. Overhaul the calendar, and when found make note of. 



