110 Henry Riddell on 



Andrews then was sent to Glasgow to study Chemistry undfer 

 Dr. Thomas Thomson, who had established there the first school 

 of Practical Chemistry in Great Britain. In Glasgow Andrews 

 worked hard, and received at the end of the session certificates of 

 diligence and ability in both Chemistry and Natural Philosophy. 

 It was this year that was published his first scientific paper, 

 from a boy of fifteen, in the Phil. Magazine, the subject being 

 certain peculiarities of the blow-pipe flame. 



He did not seem satisfied with his outlook at Glasgow and 

 it was later arranged that next year he should go to Paris to try 

 entering one of the laboratories there, to get a wider view of his 

 favourite study. It was in this year, 1830, that appeared his 

 first paper on a truly Chemical Subject, "The Separation of 

 Baryta or Strontia when in Union with Lime," a paper which 

 gave promise of the care for detail and accuracy which was always 

 characteristic of his work. In the Autumn of 1830 Andrews 

 sailed from Dublin for Bordeaux with some letters of introduction, 

 intending to make a somewhat extended tour before reaching 

 Paris, where he had determined to study. It was a bold step 

 for a boy not yet seventeen. France was just emerging from the 

 revolution which had placed Louis Phillippe on the throne as a 

 constitutional Monarch, and the eff'ects were so feared that 

 travellers were few, there being only twelve on the boat in which 

 he sailed. By a singular piece of good fortune his diary of this 

 trip has survived the ninety years, and you will forgive me, I 

 hope, if I quote some passages to show the power of thought and 

 expression rare in a boy so young. He describes his journey up 

 the river to Bordeaux — "On leaving Poliac (where the Customs 

 Officers had boarded the ship), the banks of the river present a 

 lively and picturesque appearance. Vines, with occasional meadows 

 are the only crops cultivated. Approaching Bordeaux the view 

 gains in richness and variety. Country villas surrounded by 

 clusters of trees appear, and on passing the mound, the shipping 

 and the town burst suddenly into view. The appearance of the 

 town is rather engaging. It is built of a coarse siliceous sandstone 



