1859. IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE. 469 



been counting my visits, and find that I have been four times 

 at the Department of Science and Art, four times at the Office 

 of Works, twice at the Council of Education, and once at the 

 Treasury, besides all the other doings. I was much knocked 

 about, but the weather was good, and the absence of lecture- 

 work saved me from suffering." 



Retiring to the country during the few weeks' interval between 

 the winter and summer sessions, he for the last time visited his 

 spring resort. Dr. Gladstone, to whom the following letter is 

 addressed, had shortly before been appointed as one of the Com- 

 missioners for the inspection of lighthouses : 



" BRIDGE OF ALLAN, April 20, 1859. 



" MY DEAE LIGHT, BUOYANT, AND BEACONAL ROYAL COMMIS- 

 SIONER, From the moment I set foot in Edinburgh on my 

 return, till three minutes past four o'clock, Greeenwich time, 

 yesterday, when the guard whistled, the bell rang, the engine 

 snorted, and the train ' for the North' started, I have not known 

 what the feeling of rest was. When one piece of work was 

 completed, instead of the trumpets playing ' See the Conquering 

 Hero comes,' the drum-major, or some other noisy fellow shouted 

 out, f Silence in the ranks.' Order of the Day, ' G. W. to be in 

 two places at once, to do three things at the same time, to have 

 as many hands as a Hindu god, and all his Sabbaths to be 

 merely Sundays.' Ey command. 



" In consequence of this order I have been showing the 

 Museum to the Duke of Argyle's family, whilst I was giving 

 evidence in a court of law on the nature of sea- water, and 

 examining the candidates for an agricultural diploma, and visit- 

 ing the glass-works with my class, and lecturing to the assembled 

 teachers of Glasgow, and studying calico printing with Mr. 

 Walter Crum, and writing certificates for my class, and adjudging 

 prizes, and reading a paper to the Royal Society of Edinburgh 

 on Cavendish, and paying away lots of money ; besides many 

 other things too numerous to mention. 



" In sober seriousness, I have seemed for the last three weeks 

 to hear a little imp constantly dinning in my ear ' what next? 

 and it was not one next, but a long line, the most of which I 

 have either disposed of finally, or at least chloroformed, and left 



