22 
Hamilton’s college career was a most bril- 
liant one. During no small portiog of his lei- 
sure, he was at work developing the germs of 
the above-named investigation, which, in the 
spring of 1827, was presented to the Royal 
Trish academy, having been expanded into ‘ A 
theory of systems of rays.’ The first part 
was published the following year in the fifteenth 
volume of the academy’s transactions. His 
collegiate course had not been completed, when, 
less than twenty-two years of age, he was unan- 
imously elected Andrews professor of astronomy 
in the University of Dublin, and royal astrono- 
mer of Ireland, — an extraordinary preference 
for an undergraduate, who had for competitors 
men of high standing and eminence in two uni- 
versities. His appointment under these cir- 
cumstances involved another exceptional event : 
by the donor’s direction, the professor of as- 
tronomy is one of the examiners for Bishop 
Law’s prize, which is yearly bestowed upon 
the best answerer in the higher mathematics 
among candidates of junior bachelor standing. 
The new occupant of the chair of astronomy 
was, within a few days of his appointment, 
called upon to take his part in the examina- 
tion ; an undergraduate thus officially examining 
graduates in the highest branches of mathe- 
matics. 
In the following autumn, Hamilton met the 
poet Wordsworth. ‘Their correspondence of 
years, in terms of close intimacy, is very fully 
given by Mr. Graves, and forms the richest 
extra-scientific contribution to this biography. 
We may appropriately allude, in this connec- 
tion, to Hamilton’s poems, with which a very 
considerable fraction of this large volume is 
filled. Wordsworth criticised these effusions 
very freely, and not a few of them are certainly 
unworthy of Hamilton’s better moments. The 
subjects chosen for versification, however, show 
an instinctive correctness in the choice of ob- 
jects and impressions, which, treated by a 
poet, would be poetry, but, as dealt with 
by Hamilton, are in general merely healthy 
ideas plainly and unpoetically expressed in 
rhyme or verse. Another friendship of Ham- 
ilton’s we should not omit to mention, — 
that of the philosopher Coleridge, whom he 
met in London shortly before the former’s 
- death. Their spirited metaphysical corre- 
spondence is a very agreeable feature of the 
present work. 
To the wisdom of the same board of electors 
which, without doubt, saved Hamilton to sci- 
ence from the church (for he had at one time 
serious intention of entering that body, and 
was more than once offered ordination) , are due 
SCIENCE. 
[Vou. IIL, No. f oe 
sels Nae 
the thanks of mathematicians perpetually for 
their prompt recognition of the true sphere of 
his intellectual activity. The duties of his uni- 
versity chair, as director of the observatory, 
were in large part uncongenial to him, and his 
brief career as a practical astronomer was not 
a successful one. His tastes being almost en- 
tirely in the direction of mathematical research, 
it was ultimately fortunate, that, from the com- 
mencement of his practice as an observer, his 
vigor of constitution was seriously impaired. 
Near the close of 1830 he writes to Sir John 
Herschel, ‘‘ I cannot say much for my dili- 
gence in observing, but perbaps may have a 
better account to give of this department after 
some time; though among other temptations 
to indolence, I have that of always suffering in 
health when I attempt night work in the tran- 
sit-room.’’ He had constant cold in the head 
and chest, and was much of his time confined 
to the house. The proposal was soon made 
that he should change the professorship of as- 
tronomy for that of mathematics ; and consult- 
ing with his friend, the late Dr. Robinson of 
Armagh, the latter replied. — 
‘‘Your course appears to me so clear that there 
can be no hesitation. As a mathematician you will 
probably have no equal in Britain, as an astronomer 
some superiors; for you certainly have not the practi- 
cal enthusiasm which is essential to make one sustain 
the uniform progress of observing. Iwas well aware © 
that you are not very fond of observing; but you 
know you have that in common with Encke (who 
hates it), Airy, and Pond (now never observing).” 
In November, 1831, the university board 
passed a resolution which more than doubled 
Hamilton’s salary, and completely defined 
his future relations to the university; giving 
him entire liberty to pursue, as a first ob- 
ject, his mathematical researches, and thus 
assuming the responsibility of his continuing 
as a mathematician rather than an astrono- 
mer. 7 
Hamilton’s friends were not. slow to do them- 
selves the honor of proposing his membership 
of scientific bodies. Through Sir John Her- 
schel he became a member of the Royal astro- 
nomical society at the age of twenty-two ; three 
years later he was introduced to the British as- 
sociation for the advancement of science ; Lub- 
bock was ready to insure his election to the 
Royal society (of which, however, he never be- 
came a fellow) ; and in a letter, in 1832, to his 
intimate companion, Aubrey de Vere, he says, 
(p. 610), ‘* A hand has lately been stretched 
forth to me across the Atlantic; a diploma 
having been sent, with great pomp of broad- 
seal, and so forth, to tell me that I have been 
‘vay? 
