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time. So, again, in laying the foundation of his Calculus of Quater- 

 nions, we see him labouring to secure its stability by the most careful 

 regard to the primary conceptions of time and space. Students of his 

 lectures on Quaternions have sometimes complained that he has claimed 

 from them too much attention to the metaphysics of the subject, and 

 has stopped them in their career of building up, in order that they 

 might contemplate afresh the plan of the structure. But this was in 

 accordance with his views regarding the ascending scale of the subjects 

 of human thought. To religion he gave the highest place, and this 

 not as a formality; for his was a deeply reverential spirit. He assigned 

 the next to metaphysics. To them he subordinated mathematics and 

 poetry, and assigned the lowest place to physics and general literature. 

 His studies in the department of metaphysics were extensive. After a 

 thoughtful examination of Berkeley's writings, he professed himself a 

 disciple of that philosopher, "with most cordial and delighted submis- 

 sion;" not, indeed, assenting to every separate argument, but embracing 

 his grand results ; and in this attachment to Berkeley's theory we have 

 reason to know that he was confirmed by his converse with Faraday, 

 who, in his own region of investigation, had been led to the conclusion 

 that forces, rather than material particles, were the ultimate objects of 

 physical inquiry. His acquaintance with the German language enabled 

 him to master the works of Kant. In the reasonings of that philosopher 

 he was the more ready to concur, as his own previous inquiries had 

 already conducted him to several of Kant's views respecting the in- 

 tuitions of time and space. 



The literary attainments of Hamilton were of a high order. At an 

 early period of his life he gave surprising proofs of his power in ac- 

 quiring languages ; and though in after years he made but little display 

 of these acquisitions, there can be no doubt but that his familiar 

 acquaintance with the great Classic writers, and the ease with which 

 he could read works written in the Continental languages, contributed 

 to the culture of his taste and the force of his imagination, as well as 

 to the facility with which he prosecuted studies of a professional kind. 

 In the literary part of his Collegiate course he was not less eminent 

 than in his scientific studies. He was a successful competitor on two 

 occasions for the Yice- Chancellor's Prizes, proposed for the authors 

 of English poems ; and his examiners placed on record a judgment 

 indicating their sense of his extraordinary proficiency in the Greek 

 language, as well as a similar attestation of his remarkable at- 

 tainments, for an undergraduate, in astronomical science. He conti- 

 nued all through his life the devotion to literature of which he 

 gave these early proofs.. He read widely, . with an intense enjoy- 

 ment of all that was excellent, and with the discrimination of a prac- 

 tised critic. "With many of the distinguished authors of his time he 

 was on terms of friendship : Miss Edgeworth, Mrs. Hemans, "Words- 

 worth, Southey, and Coleridge were his friends and correspondents. 

 With such tastes and associations, it was not to be wondered at if he, 

 from time to time, gave vent to his poetic feelings in verse. These 



