36 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL 



When tlio lists wore published, Houth of Peter- 

 hotiso was senior, Maxwell second. The examination 

 for tho Smith's Pri/es followed in a few duys, and 

 then Routh and Maxwell were declared equal. 



In a letter to Miss fay * of .January Ittth, whilo 

 waiting for tho three days' list, ho writes : 



"All my corresj)o:idents have been writing to me, which is 

 kiuci, and hive not been writing questions, which is kinder. 

 So I answer you now, while 1 urn slacking speed to get up 

 steam, leaving Lewis and Stewart, etc., till next week, when I 

 will give an account of the ./> </<M/X. There are a good many 

 up here at present, and we get on very jolly on the whole; but 

 some are not well, and some are going to bo plucked or 

 gul plied, as the case may be, and others are reading so hard 

 that they are invisible. I go to-morrow to breakfast with 

 shaky men, and after food I am to go and hear the list read 

 out, and whether they are through, and bring them word. 

 When the honour list comes out the pull men act as messengers. 

 Bob Campbell comes in occasionally of an evening now, to 

 discuss matters and vary sports. During examination I havo 

 had men at night working with gutta-percha, m ignet*, etc. 

 It is much better than reading novels or talking after ?>k 

 hours' hard writing." 



His father, on hearing tho news, wrote from 

 Edinburgh : 



" I heartily congratulate you on your place in the list. I 

 suppose it is higher than the speculators would have guessed, 

 and quite as high as Hopkins reckoned on. I wish you success 

 ia the Smith's Prizes ; be sure to write me the result. I will 

 see Mrs. Morrieson, and I think T will call on Dr. Gloag to 

 congratulate him. He has at least three pupils gaining 

 honours." 



His friends in Edinburgh were greatly pleased, 



Life of J. C. Maxwell," p. 195. 



