AND MODERN PHYSICS. 11 



contributed to the Edinburgh Medical and Philosoph- 

 ical Journal a paper entitled "Outlines of a Plan 

 for combining Machinery with the Manual Printing 

 Press." 



In 1826 John Clerk Maxwell married Miss Frances 

 Cay, of North Charlton, Northumberland. For the 

 first few years of their married life their home was in 

 Edinburgh. The old estate of Middlebie had been 

 greatly reduced in extent, and there was not a house 

 on it in which the laiird could live. However, soon 

 after his marriage, John Clerk Maxwell purchased the 

 adjoining property of Glcnlair and built a mansion- 

 house for himself and his wife. Mr. Maxwell super- 

 intended the building work. The actual working 

 plans for some further additions made in 1843 were 

 his handiwork. A garden was laid out and planted, 

 and a dreary stony waste was converted into a 

 pleasant home. For some years after he settled at 

 Glenlair the house in Edinburgh was retained by Mr. 

 Maxwell, and here, on June 13, 1831, was born his 

 only son, James Clerk Maxwell. A daughter, born 

 earlier, died in infancy. Glenlair, however, was his 

 parents' home, and nearly all the reminiscences we 

 have of his childhood are connected with it. The 

 laird devoted himself to his estates and to the educa- 

 tion of his son, taking, however, from time to time 

 his full share in such county business as fell to him. 

 Glenlair in 1830 was very much in the wilds ; the jour- 

 ney from Edinburgh occupied two days. "Carriages 

 in the modern sense were hardly known to the Vale of 

 Urr. A sort of double gig with a hood was the best 

 apology for a travelling coach, and the most active 



