74 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL 



Maxwell was shortly to edit, as well as tho generosity 

 of tho Chancellor. 



In their letter of thanks to the Duke of Devonshire 

 the University .write : 



"Undo vero conventius poterat illis artibus 

 succurri quam e tua doino qiue in ipsis jam pridem 

 inclaruerat Notum est Henricurn Cavendish quern 

 secutus est Couloinbius priinum ita doeuisse, qiue sit 

 vis electrica ut cam muneronun modulis illustraret ; 

 adhibitis rationibus quas hodic veras csse constat." 

 And they suggest the nair.o as suitable for the 

 building. To this the Chancellor replied, after re- 

 ferring to the work of Henry Cavendish : " Quod 

 pono in ofticina ipsfi nuncupandu noinon ejus coin- 

 nxemorare dignati sitis, id grato animo accepi." 



The building had cost far more than the original 

 estimate, but tho Chancellor's generosity was not 

 limited, and on July 21st, 1874, he wrote to tho Yicc- 

 Chancellor : 



"It is my wish to provide all instruments for tho 

 Cavendish Laboratory which Professor Maxwell mav 

 consider to be immediately required,- cither iu his 

 lectures or otherwise." 



Maxwell prepared a list, but explained while doing 

 it that time and thought were necessary to secure tho 

 best form of instruments ; and ho continues, writing to 

 tho Vice-Chancellor : " I think the Duke fully under- 

 stood from what I said to him that to furnish tho 

 Laboratory will be a matter of several years' duration, 

 I shall consider myself, however," he says, "at liberty 

 to contribute to the Laboratory any instruments 

 which I have had constructed in former years, and 



