CHAP. VIII.] ESSAYS AT CAMBRIDGE. 235 



7. Language and Speculation. Autumn of 1855. (See 

 above, p. 2 1 8.) Is the Modern Vocabulary of the Eng- 

 lish Language the Effect or the Cause of its Speculative 

 State ? 



A series of observations on style, original but mry dis- 

 cursive, chiefly aimed at certain literary affectations which 

 were then beginning to creep in. 



"... The new form of the old thought must be dressed 

 out with words, and must attract attention by bringing for- 

 ward what should be kept in the background. No wonder 

 the poor fellow thinks his head is turned, when he is trying 

 to see over the collar of his coat. 



"... By all means let us have technical terms belong- 

 ing to every science and mystery practised by men, but let 

 us not have mere freemasonry or Ziph language by which 

 men of the same cult can secretly combine." 



8. Analogies. February 1856. Are there Eeal Analogies 

 in Nature ? 



This essay contains a serious exposition of Maxwell's 

 deliberate views on philosophical questions, and is therefore 

 given here entire, not omitting the playful opening para- 

 graph. 



" In the ancient and religious foundation of Peterhouse 

 there is observed this rule, that whoso makes a pun shall be 

 counted the author of it, but that whoso pretends to find it 

 out shall be counted the publisher of it, and that both shall 

 be fined. Now, as in a pun two truths lie hid under one 

 expression, so in an analogy one truth is discovered under 

 two expressions. Every question concerning analogies is 

 therefore the reciprocal of a question concerning puns, and 

 the solutions can be transposed by reciprocation. But since 

 we are still in doubt as to the legitimacy of reasoning by 

 analogy, and as reasoning even by paradox has been pro- 

 nounced less heinous than reasoning by puns, we must adopt 



