98 MEMOIR OF AUGUSTUS DE MORGAN. 



1838. The bland " hush ! " with which he would suppress a sug- 

 gestion which was simply stupid, and the almost grotesque 

 surprise he would feign when a man betrayed that, instead 

 of the classification by logical principles, he was thinking 

 of the old unmeaning classification by rule in the common 

 school-books, were exceedingly humorous, and gave a life 

 to the classes beyond the mere scope of their intellectual 

 interests. I think all my fellow-pupils would agree that 

 never was there a more curious mixture of interests than 

 the prepared discussions of principle in his lectures, and 

 the Johnsonian force and sometimes fun of his part in the 

 short dialogues with his pupils which occurred from time 

 to time.' 



A pupil who came rather later than those mentioned, 

 and in whose success his teacher greatly rejoiced, was Mr. 

 Robert Bellamy Clifton, now Professor of Physical Science 

 in Oxford. My husband early perceived talents in Mr. 

 Clifton which had been ignored by former tea.chers, and 

 the result justified his advice and predictions. Professor 

 Clifton continued a valued friend through Mr. De Morgan's 

 life, and gave me much kind assistance with the library, 

 &c., after his death, 



Mr. Sedley The work in the Mathematical lecture room, and the 



recoHec- Prof essor's manner of doing it, are also well described by 



tions> his pupil and friend, Mr. Sedley Taylor of Trinity College, 



Cambridge one who, like him self, held conscience to be 



above all things, and gave up his position as a clergyman 



of the Church of England because he could not assent 



with his whole heart to her doctrine. The following is 



extracted from Mr. Taylor's notice of his old teacher in the 



Cambridge University Reporter : 



'As Professor of Pure Mathematics at University 

 College, London, De Morgan regularly delivered four 

 courses of lectures, each of three hours a week, and last- 

 ing throughout the academical year. He thus lectured 

 two hours every day to his College classes, besides giving 

 a course addressed to schoolmasters in the evening during 



