CO JAMES CLEKK MAXWELL 



CHAPTER V. 



CAMBRIDGE. PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS. 



DURING his retirement at Glenlair from 1865 to 1870 

 Maxwell was frequently at Cambridge. He examined 

 in the Mathematical Tripos in 1806 and 1807, and 

 again in 1800 and 1870. 



The regulations for the Tripos had been in force 

 practically unchanged since 184-8, and it was felt by 

 many that the range of subjects included was not 

 sufficiently extensive, and that changes were urgently 

 needed if Cambridge were to retain its position as the 

 centre of mathematical teaching. Natural Philosophy 

 was mentioned in the Schedule, but Natural Philosophy 

 included only Dynamics and Astronomy, Hydrostatics 

 and Physical Optics, with some simple Hydrodynamics 

 and Sound. 



The subjects of Heat, Electricity and Magnetism, 

 the Theory of Elastic Solids and Vibrations, Vortex- 

 Motion in Hydrodynamics, and much else, were 

 practically new since 1848. Stokes, Thomson-, and 

 Maxwell in England, and HelmttoUz in (lermany, hud 

 created them. 



Accordingly in June, 1808, a new plan of examina- 

 tions was sanctioned by the Senate to come into 

 force in January, 1873, and these various subjects 

 were explicitly included. 



Mr. Niven, who was one of those examined by 

 Maxwell in 1800, writes in the preface to the collected 

 works : 



