1841 EARLY JOURNAL 17 



away without knowing it and let me remember this 

 that it is better to read a little and thoroughly, than 

 cram a crude undigested mass into my head, though it be 

 great in quantity. 



(This is about the only resolution I have ever stuck 

 to 1845.) 



[Well do I remember how in that little narrow surgery 

 I used to work morning after morning and evening after 

 evening at that insufferably dry and profitless book, 

 Hume's History, how I worked against hope through the 

 series of thefts, robberies, and throat -cutting in those 

 three first volumes, and how at length I gave up the 

 task in utter disgust and despair. 



Mackintosh's History, on the other hand, I remember 

 reading with great pleasure, and also Guizot's Civilisation 

 in Europe; the scientific theoretical form of the latter 

 especially pleased me, but the want of sufficient know- 

 ledge to test his conclusions was a great drawback. 1845 ] 



There follow notes of work done in successive 

 weeks June 20 to August 9, and September 27 to 

 October 4. History, German, Mathematics, Physics, 

 Physiology ; makes an electro-magnet ; reads Guizot's 

 History of Civilisation in Europe, on which he remarks 

 "an excellent work very tough reading, though." 



At the beginning of October, under "Miscel- 

 laneous," "Became acquainted with constitution of 

 French Chambre des de'pute's and their parties." 



It was his practice to note any sayings that struck 

 him : 



Truths : " I hate all people who want to found sects. 

 It is not error but sects- it is not error but sectarian 

 error, nay, and even sectarian truth, which causes the 

 unhappiness of mankind." Lessing. 



VOL. I C 



