AND MODERN PHYSICS. 83 



given by Professor Campbell, and in it Maxwell 

 points out that the latter part of the article " Atom " 

 in the Encyclopaedia is intended to meet Mr. Munro's 

 criticism. 



In 1874 the British Association met at Belfast, 

 under the presidency of Tyndall. Maxwell was pre- 

 sent, and published afterwards in Blackwood's May<t- 

 zinc an amusing paraphrase of the president's address. 

 This, with some other verses written at about the 

 same time, may bo quoted hero. Professor Campbell 

 has collected a number of verses written by Maxwell 

 at various times, which illustrate in an admirable 

 manner both the gravo and the gay side of his 

 character. 



BRITISH . ASSOCIATION, 1874. 



of the PrenidfnCt Addrtn. 



Ix the very beginnings of scienco, Iho parsons, who managed things 



then, 

 Be-in- handy with hammer and chisel, made gods in tho likeness of 



men; 



Till commerce arose, and at length some men of exceptional power 

 Supplanted both demons and gods by tho atoms, which last to this 



hour. 

 Yet they did not abolish tho gods, but they sent them well out of the 



way, 



With the rarest of nectar to drink, and bluu tk-lds of nothing to sway. 

 lYoai nothing comes nothing, they told us naught happens by 



thiecc, but by fate ; 



There in nothing but atoms and void, all else is mere whims out of date ! 

 Then why should u man curry favour with beings who cannot exist, 

 To compass some petty promotion in nebulous kingdoms of mist ? 

 JJut not by tho rays of tho sun, nor tho glittering shafts of tho day, 

 Must tho fear of tho gods bo dinpcllod, but by words, and their 



wonderful play. 

 F 2 



