30 COMMENCEMENT OF WORK. 



before breakfast, ascended Helvellyn from Wyburn ; much 

 snow ; played at snow-balling on the summit." " June 

 nth. — (Keswick) James and I rowed to the end of 

 Derwent- Water and back before breakfast." "June 12th. — 

 A rowing race ; we beat two of the best rowers in the 

 district ; in the afternoon ascended Skiddaw." 



Joule had now a room in his father's house at Broom 

 Hill, for a laboratory, where he had already, though all 

 unconscious, commenced the research which was to end so 

 successfully, while the elder brother was occupied as his 

 father's political agent. The brothers, however, still con- 

 tinued their companionship, riding their ponies, calling on 

 Dalton, who always seemed pleased to see them and invited 

 them to tea. In 1839 they commenced taking private lessons 

 in chemistry from John Davies, and later in the year attended 

 Mr. Davies' lectures given to the medical students ; and in 

 the summer of that year they are amusing themselves at 

 York ; rowing on the Ouse. In 1840 James made experi- 

 ments on a lame cart-horse with galvanism. They escort 

 Dalton round their father's brewery; June nth and 13th 

 were at Matlock New Bath; and at Malvern October 15th 

 ascending the highest hill before breakfast. In 1841 James 

 was very busy with his experiments ; they accompanied 

 Peter Clare, secretary of the Literary and Philosophical 

 Society, to see Sturgeon fly an electric kite ; they also 

 attended some of the meetings of the Society. 



At this time it appears that several of the leading 

 members of the Society were on terms of social intimacy 

 at Broom Hill, as there is an entry May 3rd, 1842, "John 

 Davies, J. H.Ransome,and W. Sturgeon to dinner at father's." 

 On the 19th the family were at Windermere, where the 

 brothers sound all over the lake and find the greatest 



