CHAP. IX.] ABERDEEN. 263 



TO C. J. MONRO, Esq. 



Glenlair, 14th October 1856. 



. . . During September I had Lushington, Maclennan, 

 and two cousins " Cay" here. Now I am writing a solemn 

 address or manifesto to the Natural Philosophers of the 

 North, 1 which I am afraid I must reinforce with coffee and 

 anchovies, and a roaring hot fire and spread coat-tails to 

 make it all natural. By the way, I have proved that if there 

 be nine coefficients of magnetic induction, perpetual motion 

 will set in, and a small crystalline sphere will inevitably 

 destroy the universe by increasing all velocities till the fric- 

 tion brings all nature into a state of incandescence, or as 

 H would say, Terrestrial all in Chaos shall exhibit efflor- 

 escence. 



To Miss CAY. 



129 Union Street, Aberdeen, 

 27th February 1857. 



You are right about my being two letters in debt to 

 you. I proceed to " post you up " to the most recent epoch. 

 The weather is mild and sunny, but the winter has been 

 severe. The planets Jupiter and Venus have been neigh- 

 bours ; Saturn, Mars, and Mercury also visible. 



To descend to particulars. I find everything going on 

 very smoothly. I never passed an equal time with less 

 trouble. I have plenty of work but no vexation as yet. 

 In fact, I am beginning to fear that I must get into some 

 scrape just to put an end to my complacency. 



I will begin with the College. We are having public 

 meetings and caucuses (that is, the students are) for the 

 election of Lord Eector. Lord Stanley won't come. Lord 

 Elgin is doubtful. They seem to prefer Elgin to Layard. 

 We are to have a commission consisting of Col. Mure, Cosmo 

 Innes, and Stirling of Keir. 



To-morrow I hold my second general examination on 

 the subject we have done. I hope that my men of science 



1 His Inaugural Lecture at Aberdeen. 



