In July, 1849, he writes[12]:—
“I have set up the machine for showing the rings in crystals, which I planned during your visit last year. It answers very well. I also made some experiments on compressed jellies in illustration of my props. on that subject. The principal one was this:—The jelly is poured while hot into the annular space contained between a paper cylinder and a cork; then, when cold, the cork is twisted round and the jelly exposed to polarised light, when a transverse cross, x, not +, appears, with rings as the inverse square of the radius, all which is fully verified. Hip! etc. Q.E.D.”
And again on March 22nd, 1850:—
“At Practical Mechanics I have been turning Devils of sorts. For private studies I have been reading Young’s ‘Lectures,’ Willis’s ‘Principles of Mechanism,’ Moseley’s ‘Engineering and Mechanics,’ Dixon on ‘Heat,’ and Moigno’s ‘Répertoire d’Optique.’ This last is a very complete analysis of all that has been done in the optical way from Fresnel to the end of 1849, and there is another volume a-coming which will complete the work. There is in it, besides common optics, all about the other things which accompany light, as heat, chemical action, photographic rays, action on vegetables, etc.
“My notions are rather few, as I do not entertain them just now. I have a notion for the torsion of wires and rods, not to be made till the vacation; of experiments on the action of compression on glass, jelly, etc., numerically done up; of papers for the Physico-Mathematical Society (which is to revive in earnest next session!); on the relations of optical and mechanical constants, their desirableness, etc.; and suspension bridges, and catenaries, and elastic curves. Alex. Campbell, Agnew, and I are appointed to read up the subject of periodical shooting stars, and to prepare a list of the phenomena to be observed on the 9th August and 13th November. The society’s barometer is to be taken up Arthur’s Seat at the end of the session, when Forbes goes up, and All students are invited to attend, so that the existence of the society may be recognised.”
It was at last settled that he was to go up to Cambridge. Tait had been at Peterhouse for two years, while Allan Stewart had joined him there in 1849, and after much discussion it was arranged that Maxwell should enter at the same college.
Of this period of his life Tait writes as follows:—
“The winter of 1847 found us together in the classes of Forbes and Kelland, where he highly distinguished himself. With the former he was a particular favourite, being admitted to the free use of the class apparatus for original experiments. He lingered here behind most of his former associates, having spent three years at the University of Edinburgh, working (without any assistance or supervision) with physical and chemical apparatus, and devouring all sorts of scientific works in the library. During this period he wrote two valuable papers, which are published in our ‘Transactions,’ on ‘The Theory of Rolling Curves’ and on ‘The Equilibrium of Elastic Solids.’ Thus he brought to Cambridge, in the autumn of 1850, a mass of knowledge which was really immense for so young a man, but in a state of disorder appalling to his methodical private tutor. Though that tutor was William Hopkins, the pupil to a great extent took his own way, and it may safely be said that no high wrangler of recent years ever entered the Senate House more imperfectly trained to produce ‘paying’ work than did Clerk Maxwell. But by sheer strength of intellect, though with the very minimum of knowledge how to use it to advantage under the conditions of the examination, he obtained the position of Second Wrangler, and was bracketed equal with the Senior Wrangler in the higher ordeal of the Smith’s Prizes. His name appears in the Cambridge ‘Calendar’ as Maxwell of Trinity, but he was originally entered at Peterhouse, and kept his first term there, in that small but most ancient foundation which has of late furnished Scotland with the majority of the professors of mathematics and natural philosophy in her four universities.”
While W. D. Niven, in his preface to Maxwell’s collected works (p. xii.), says:—
“It may readily be supposed that his preparatory training for the Cambridge course was far removed from the ordinary type. There had indeed for some time been practically no restraint upon his plan of study, and his mind had been allowed to follow its natural bent towards science, though not to an extent so absorbing as to withdraw him from other pursuits. Though he was not a sportsman—indeed, sport so-called was always repugnant to him—he was yet exceedingly fond of a country life. He was a good horseman and a good swimmer. Whence, however, he derived his chief enjoyment may be gathered from the account which Mr. Campbell gives of the zest with which he quoted on one occasion the lines of Burns which describe the poet finding inspiration while wandering along the banks of a stream in the free indulgence of his fancies. Maxwell was not only a lover of poetry, but himself a poet, as the fine pieces gathered together by Mr. Campbell abundantly testify. He saw, however, that his true calling was science, and never regarded these poetical efforts as other than mere pastime. Devotion to science, already stimulated by successful endeavour; a tendency to ponder over philosophical problems; and an attachment to English literature, particularly to English poetry—these tastes, implanted in a mind of singular strength and purity, may be said to have been the endowments with which young Maxwell began his Cambridge career. Besides this, his scientific reading, as we may gather from his papers to the Royal Society of Edinburgh referred to above, was already extensive and varied. He brought with him, says Professor Tait, a mass of knowledge which was really immense for so young a man, but in a state of disorder appalling to his methodical private tutor.”