Obituary Notices. 
649 
brilliant band of nineteenth century men of science, there remain 
with ns now only Kelvin, Rayleigh, and Picard. 
After the Academic ceremonies of the Tercentenary were over, 
Cremona expressed a wish to see something of the scenery of 
Scotland, and a small excursion was planned to Crianlarich, Glen 
Falloch, and Loch Lomond. It was fine, and he elected to walk 
from Crianlarich to Ardlui. The glorious weather and the 
beauties of Glen Falloch acted on him like a charm. I tried to 
draw from him some account of his experience as a soldier of the 
Risorgimento, but of this, and indeed of his own work generally, 
he would say but little. On every other subject his conversation 
outflowed the mountain stream. It ranged from the abstrusest 
parts of modern mathematics to the smallest political, social, and 
educational details. His thirst for information regarding the ways 
in which we were dealing with the problems thrown up by poverty 
and ignorance ; our methods for evading the clash of science and 
religion, of church and state ; the pay and position of our professors 
and schoolmasters ; the ambitions and recreations of our youth, 
was such that I was often at a loss to satisfy it. The information 
given to him was amply repaid in kind. He spoke by the hour of 
the struggles of reconstructed Italy, and of his fears and hopes for 
her welfare. I learned the most interesting details of the life and 
education of his countrymen ; of the organisation of the Schools 
and Universities of Italy, and of the strong and weak points of her 
Government. Regarding the most difficult and delicate political 
questions he spoke with a frank sincerity, so wholly unalloyed with 
bitterness, so full of calm wisdom, that I was ashamed to confess to 
myself that I once had fancied that Great Britain had a monopoly 
of wise and tolerant statesmen. 
The impression left upon me, so strong that I shall never for- 
get it, was that I had been privileged during this walk to look 
closely into the mind of one of the best and wisest men of n_y 
time. Ever since that day I have cherished the liveliest interest in 
the fortunes of Italy, and held the brightest hopes for her future. 
How can it finally go ill with a country which breeds men like 
Cremona % 
PKOC. ROY. SOC. EDIN. — YOL. XXIV. 
42 
