He
studied the six Latin and two Greek books prescribed; he did some
Latin composition unaided; brushed up his mathematics; and learnt
something of the history of Greece and Rome. In October, after
five months of hard work, he underwent an examination for the
scholarship, and obtained it; beating his opponent by
twenty-eight marks in a thousand. He then went up to the Scotch
University and passed all the examinations for his ordinary M.A.
degree in two years and a half. On his first arrival at the
University he found that he could not sleep; but he wearily yet
victoriously plodded on; took a prize in Greek, then the first
prize in philosophy, the second prize in logic, the medal in
English literature, and a few other prizes.
"He had 40L. when he first arrived in Scotland; and he carried
away with him a similar sum to Germany, whither he went to study
for honours in philosophy. He returned home with little in his
pocket, borrowing money to go to Scotland, where he sat for
honours and for the scholarship. He got his first honours, and
what was more important at the time, money to go on with. He now
lives on the scholarship which he took at that time; is an
assistant professor; and, in a fortnight, will begin a course of
lectures for ladies in connection with his university. Writing
to me a few days ago,[13] he says, 'My health, broken down with
my last struggle, is quite restored, and I live with the hope of
working on.
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