CHAP. IX.] ABERDEEN CANDIDATURE. 251 



would apply for the situation, so I want to know what your 

 notion or plan may be. For my own part, I think the 

 sooner I get into regular work the better, and that the best 

 way of getting into such work is to profess one's readiness 

 by applying for it. 



The appointment lies with the Crown that is, the Lord 

 Advocate and Home Secretary. I suppose the correct thing 

 to do is to send certificates of merit, signed by swells, to one 

 or other of these officers. 



I am going to ask about the method of the thing here, 

 and Thacker has promised to get me the College Testi- 

 monials. If you see any one in Edinburgh that understands 

 the sort of thing, could you pick up the outline of the process ? 



In all ordinary affairs political distinctions are supposed 

 to weigh a great deal in Scotland. The English notion is 

 that in pure and even in mixed mathematics politics are of 

 little use, however much a knowledge of these sciences may 

 promote the study of politics. As to Theology, I am not 

 aware that the mathematicians, as a body, are guilty of any 

 heresies, however some of them may have erred. But these 

 are too mysterious subjects to furnish matter for calculation, 

 so I may tell you that the reflecting stereoscope was finished 

 yesterday, and looks well, and that I got a Devil made at 

 the same time, which I play at the Gymnasium for relaxa- 

 tion and breathing time. 



Forbes also suggests my joining the Eoyal Society. 



Trin. Coll, 20th Feb. /56. 



As far as writing (Testimonials) goes, there is a good 

 deal, and if you believe the Testimonials you would think 

 the Government had in their hands the triumph or downfall 

 of education generally, according as they elected one or not. 



However, wisdom is of many kinds, and I do not know 

 which dwells with wise counsellors most, whether scientific, 

 practical, political, or ecclesiastical. I hear there are 

 candidates of all kinds relying on the predominance of one 

 or other of these kinds of wisdom in the constitution of the 

 Government. 



