CHAP. X.] ABERDEEN. 307 



and after the formulae have been gone through, the patient 

 has just as much responsibility as before, and feels it too. 

 But it is a sad thing for any one to lose sight of their work, 

 and to have to seek some conventional, arbitrary treadmill- 

 occupation prescribed by sanitary jailors. . . . 



With respect to the class, I send you the paper they did 

 last week. Five floored it approximately, two first-rate. I 

 got half-a-dozen correct answers to questions on the effects of 

 mixtures of ice and steam in various proportions, and on the 

 effect of heating and cooling on the thrust of iron beams 

 (numerical). From the higher class I have essay on Vision 

 (construction of eye, spectacles, stereoscopes, etc.) So the 

 work done is equivalent to the work spent. 



To REV. LEWIS CAMPBELL. 



Aberdeen, 15th March 1858. 



When we had done with the eclipse to-day, the next 

 calculation was about the conjunction. The rough approxi- 

 mations bring it out early in June. . . 



The first part of May I will be busy at home. The 

 second part I may go to Cambridge, to London, to Brighton, 

 as may be devised. After which we concentrate our two 

 selves at Aberdeen by the principle of concerted tactics. 

 This done, we steal a march, and throw our forces into the 

 happy valley, which we shall occupy without fear, and we 

 only wait your signals to be ready to welcome reinforce- 

 ments from Brighton. . . . Good night. Your affectionate 

 friend - J. C. MAXWELL. 



N.B. We are going to do optical experiments together 

 in summer. I am getting two prisms, and our eyes are so 

 good as to see the spot on the sun to-day without a telescope. 



To PKOF. J. C. MAXWELL FROM PEOF. FOEBES. 



Edinburgh, 16th March 1858. 



I was much obliged to you for your letter, and the 

 announcement of your marriage, which I have not the smallest 



