of Edinburgh, Session 1873 - 74 . 
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gave me a copy of ‘Newton’s Principia,’ which I read carefully; 
this was the foundation of my knowledge of the higher mathe- 
matics and dynamics and physics.” He read the Principia in 
the original Latin, and in after life recommended his pupils so 
to read this work of paramount authority and reputation ; “ for,” 
said he, “ modern science has added no new principle to the 
dynamics of Newton ; what it has done is to extend the applica- 
tion of dynamical principles to phenomena to which they had 
not been previously applied ; in fact, to the correlation of the 
physical sciences — or, in other words, what is denoted by the 
convertibility of energy.” Thus, at the early age of fourteen, had 
Rankine begun to discipline his mind and train his analytical 
powers on Newton’s model of unquestionable definition and exhaus- 
tive demonstration, characteristics of the many works on cognate 
subjects he was himself in after years to contribute for the educa- 
tion of engineers of every class, and for the advancement of physical 
science. For two years, from 1836 to 1838, Rankine was a student 
in the University of Edinburgh, and took the courses of Natural 
Philosophy, Chemistry, Natural History, and Botany. He continued 
for two sessions under Professor Forbes; and the first year gained the 
gold medal for “ An Essay on the Undulatory Theory of Light,” and 
the extra prize (gold medal) for “ An Essay on Methods in Physical 
Investigation.” At this period, too, he read much metaphysics, 
chiefly Aristotle, Locke, Hume, Stewart, Degerando. The whole 
tendency of his mind was to the digestion and assimilation of 
the highest human knowledge. But the res angusta domi demanded 
that he should take a profession ; and at this period none was 
more in vogue, or apparently more promising of abundant employ- 
ment, than that of a civil engineer. 
Rankine having for a short time assisted his father, who was 
superintendent of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, in 1838 
became a pupil of Mr M‘Neil (afterwards Sir John M‘Neil), whose 
practice in Ireland was varied and extensive. Accordingly, for 
four years Rankine was actively employed as a pupil on various 
surveys and schemes for river improvements, water works, and 
harbour works, and on the Dublin and Drogheda Railway. While 
on tins work, he contrived and practised a method of “ setting 
out curves ” by chaining and angles at the circumference, since 
