ing to the following arrangement. From 7 to 9 in the morning they are to read history; from 10 to 11 translate English into French; from 11 to 1 write English exercises, and improve themselves in adding and multiplying with facility and exactness; and from 6 till near 8 in the evening they are to be employed with Mr Cruickshanks in arithmetic, till such time as he thinks they are sufficiently qualified for bookkeeping. There is one thing I have had occasion to speak about more than once, and that is their extravagance in clothes and needless absurd expenses. You may therefore, if you think proper, say that nothing of that kind will be attended to without my approbation and consent. They have forgot their French very much, and we have been revising it. William, I see, is very anxious to become his own master, which has rendered it necessary for me to be excessively pointed and strict in everything I require of them all. He, in particular, is very much inclined to be idle, although more studious than at first. I have no doubt whatever that in a short time I shall have no reason for complaint on that head. I remain, most respectfully, dear madam, your most obedient servant, J. SOMMERS. Dr Sommers has recorded his final impressions of his young charge in the following letter, written in 1820, on occasion of Sir William's unsuccessful candidature for the Moral Philosophy Chair in the University of Edinburgh: "For some time during the early part of his life I was intrusted with the superintendence of his education, both before and after he commenced his academical career in the University of Glasgow; and it was during the time of his residence. with me that he began his first essays on subjects of philosophy, in which, even at that early period, I could not fail to discover striking marks of an acute and vigorous understanding. My expectation of his rising to future distinction in literary attainments was fully realised; and during the progress of his studies at the University, his efforts were frequently rewarded by his obtaining the first prizes in the philosophical classes at Glasgow. From my intimate knowledge of Sir William's studies at that period, as well as from my subsequently having had the best opportunities of attending to his progress in literary pursuits, it is doing him no more than justice to say, that I consider his talents and attainments to be of the highest order; and that for perseverance and depth of research into any subject that has occupied his mind, as well as for ingenuity of conception, I have perhaps never met with any one that equalled, and certainly have never known any one that excelled, him. "Respecting his moral and religious conduct, so far as I know, it has uniformly been such, even from his earliest years, as would do honour to the purest heart, and such as the most scrupulous could not fail to approve." In the winter of 1804-5 he again attended College. He appears now to have commenced a course of medical study; for to the profession of medicine he was probably destined by his friends, and to it he was himself obviously disposed. The taste, however, for philosophical studies, which was partially awakened at Glasgow, and afterwards greatly quickened at Oxford, finally prevailed over his medical predilections. During the session, besides studying mathematics under James Millar, he attended the class of chemistry under Dr Cleghorn, and set about experimenting for himself. In the summer of 1805 he commenced the study of botany and anatomy, attending the class of Botany. Part of this summer was spent at Midcalder. In 1805-6 he again attended College in Glasgow, continuing his medical studies, and attending, besides, the classes of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry. In the summer of 1806 we find him studying at the Infirmary, and attending the class of Botany. In 1804 we have the earliest indications of a taste for collecting books, which gained strength with his years, and issued in the bringing together of one of the most valuable and carefully selected private philosophical libraries in Britain. The books at first purchased by him were neces sarily a good deal connected with his medical studies. We find at the same time, however, the names of volumes of a more general interest, both philosophical and classical. As throwing light on his early tastes and studies, we give the names of the principal works purchased at this period. In 1804 we find the following:-Quintilian's Institutes, Stewart's Outlines of Moral Philosophy, the Encyclopædia Britannica, Monro on the Bones. In 1805 the taste and expenditure increase. We find him now possessing himself of Carnwath's Memoirs, Buchanan's History, Irish Heraldry, Udal's History of Mary of Scotland, Bacon's Novum Organum, Spottiswood's History, Millar on Fluxions, Euripides, Prints of Trajan's Pillar, Moore's Greek Grammar, Bergman's Chemical Essays, Haller's Physiology, Tourneroy's Chemistry, Duncan's Medical Cases and Lectures, Williams's Reports, Coke on Lyttleton, Lee's Botany, &c. In 1806 we find Plutarch's Lives, Aristophanes, Harrington's Works, Wharton's Works, Machiavelli's Works, Macpherson's Introduction to Scotland, Ruddiman's Grammar, Livy, Tacitus, &c. In the purchases of those years are to be included a set of mathematical instruments, a botanical case, an electric machine, and chemical apparatus and materials. The winter of 1806-7 was spent in Edinburgh, and devoted to the study of medicine. The following letters give an account of his habits and occupations at this period: MY DEAR MOther,— EDINBURGH, Saturday night [November 1806]. . After walking out to Midcalder, I stayed there till Monday night, when I came in to attend the classes next day. I spent my time very happily there, and, among other things, employed myself once a-day in swimming in the river. I have advised all the boys to continue the practice every day during the whole year. I am convinced if people plunged once a-day into the cold bath, colds and consumptions, and all other complaints of that nature, would be rare aves in terris. It is impossible to express the pleasure it gives you after coming out of the water; you feel a glow of heat warming you to the very bones, which is evinced by smoke and vapour arising from the surface of the body. It is If I was not so completely best to stay very short in the water. engaged in the forenoon, or if there were any water near me in Edinburgh, I should assuredly bathe every day, good, bad, or indifferent. Mr Bell and some of the boys of Midcalder are fully convinced of the utility of the custom, and are determined to persevere. The minister, too, was threatening to begin. I wholly forgot to remind you in my last letter of the care your duty calls on you to bestow on Vindex; dumb animals are not able to express their wants, and should therefore be more carefully attended to than human animals. I am afraid the sheet won't hold all I have to say, or I should give you a long string of advices on this subject.. I have been buying a good number of books, but chiefly the books I am immediately needing. From nine in the morning till three in the afternoon I have not a single moment to spare-out of one class into another. I keep a regular account of my expenses. I am hesitating whether to enter a member of the Royal Medical Society this year or not. I won't, I believe. They have a most elegant building belonging to it. I wish you would write me soon. I suppose you have been busy moving from your house. Send me my skates by the first opportunity. I am, dear mother, your affectionate son, W. S. HAMILTON. [EDINBURGH,] BANK STREET, Saturday [November 1806]. MY DEAR MOTHER,-I don't wish to be introduced to any more people this winter. I shall be pestered to death with invitations, &c., which cannot be done without loss of time. . . The books necessary for my studies cost me some money; for example, Fyfe's Compend of Anatomy, being a complete set of anatomical plates, cost me five guineas; and even here I save two guineas by taking a plain copy and colouring it myself-the price of the coloured copy being £7, 7s. You may depend on it I will be as little expense as possible. I wish you would give me a genteeler appellation on the back of your next letter. I shall now bid you farewell.-Your affectionate son, W. S. HAMILTON, Esq. Remember that. MY DEAR MOTHER,— EDINBURGH, Friday [20th December 1806]. I have had nothing to say to you this week past, and have been so busy that I have not been in bed before two or half-past it for these six weeks, and am up every morning by a quarter-past eight. -I am, &c., WM. STIRLING HAMILTON. EDINBURGH, Sunday [26th January 1807]. MY DEAR MOTHER,-I yesterday received the parcel and letter, and was very sorry to see Tom had had cynanche maligna so ill, though I very much doubt but it was cynanche tonsillaris, or common sore-throat, in which there is no danger, though some pain. The grounds on which my opinion rests are: 1st, That as he complained of much pain attending it, it looks like cynanche tonsillaris, or common swelled throat, in which there is no danger whatever; 2d, As from the frequent attacks he formerly had of this common swelled tonsils, he has induced a diathesis or proneness to repeated attacks of the same complaint. On these grounds there is some reason to think that his complaint was mistaken from not knowing his constitutional diathesis. However, so be it he has recovered, they may have it any way they like. Thank you for your lecture on books in your last; however, to ease your mind I must tell you that my purchases are chiefly confined to medical and classical books which I immediately want. I have bought most of them at a third or half of their shop price. Remember me to all my friends in Glasgow, and my love to Christy.* W. H. DEAR MOTHER, ... EDINBURGH, Thursday [January 1807]. intention or neglect you directed to me without any adjunct either EDINBURGH, Tuesday [April 1807]. MY DEAREST MOTHER,—I just now received your letter, and lose no time in answering it. I am much obliged to you for being so gentle with me, as I had just summoned up all my resolution to bear a hearty scold, which would have been the more ungrateful as I had given you some cause for it. I indeed confess that I find I have spent more money than I should, and would have been very * Miss Mackay, a cousin who lived for many years with his mother. |