CHAP. IX.] DEATH OF HIS FATHER. 253 



properly the paper of which it is an abstract. It is four 

 weeks since I read it. I have done nothing in that way 

 this term, but am just beginning to feel the electrical state 

 come on again, and I hope to work it up well next term. 



To Miss CAY. 



Thursday Afternoon (3d April 1856.) 



DEAR AUNT My father died to-day at twelve o'clock. 

 He was sleepless and confused at night, but got up to break- 

 fast. He saw Sandy a few minutes, and spoke rationally, 

 then came into the drawing-room, and sat down on a chair 

 for a few minutes to rest, and gave a short cry and never 

 spoke again. We gave him ether for a little, but he could 

 not swallow it. There was no warning, and apparently no 

 pain. He expected it long, and described it so himself. 



Do you think Uncle Eobert could come and help a 

 little ? Tell Dr. Bell and other people. As it is, it is 

 better than if it had been when I was away. He would 

 not let me stay. I was to go to Cambridge on Friday. 

 Your aff. nephew, J. C. MAXWELL. 



To MRS. BLACKBURN of Killearn. 



Glenlair, Thursday. 



DEAR MRS. BLACKBURN My father died suddenly to-day 

 at 12 o'clock. He had been giving directions about the 

 garden, and he said he would sit down and rest a little as 

 usual. After a few minutes I asked him to lie down on the 

 sofa, and he did not seem inclined to do so, and then I got 

 him some ether, which had helped him before. 



Before he could take any he had a slight struggle, and 

 all was over. He hardly breathed afterwards. 



He used often to talk to me about this, which has come 

 at last, and he seemed fully to have made up his mind to it 

 and to be prepared for it. His nights have sometimes been 

 troubled, and last night I was with him the whole time try- 

 ing to get him into a comfortable sleep, which did not come 

 till light. 



