gonometry, and
he had reason to suspect that Mr. B--was entirely ignorant of that
subject, he thought it worth while to put him to the test by asking
him a few questions upon it, but the circle-squarer, with commendable
prudence, declined to discuss anything not Euclidean. Mr. Dodgson then
wrote to him, "taking leave of the subject, until he should be willing
to enlarge his field of knowledge to the elements of Algebraical
Geometry." Mr. B--replied, with unmixed contempt, "Algebraical
Geometry is all moon-shine." _He_ preferred "weighing cardboard"
as a means of ascertaining exact truth in mathematical research.
Finally he suggested that Mr. Dodgson might care to join in a
prize-competition to be got up among the followers of Euclid, and as
he apparently wished him to understand that he (Mr. B--) did not think
much of his chances of getting a prize, Mr. Dodgson considered that
the psychological moment for putting an end to the correspondence had
arrived.

Meanwhile he was beginning to feel his regular College duties a
terrible clog upon his literary work. The Studentship which he held
was not meant to tie him down to lectures and examinations. Such work
was very well for a younger man; he could best serve "the House" by
his literary fame.

_July_ 14_th._--Came to a more definite decision
than I have ever yet done--that it is about time to resign
the Mathematical Lectureship. My chief motive for holding on
has been to provide money for others (for myself, I have
been many years able to retire), but even the L300 a year I
shall thus lose I may fairly hope to make by the additional
time I shall have for book-writing. I think of asking the
G.B. (Governing Body) next term to appoint my successor, so
that I may retire at the end of the year, when I shall be
close on fifty years old, and shall have held the
Lectureship for exactly 26 years. (I had the Honourmen for
the last two terms of 1855, but was not full Lecturer till
Hilary, 1856.)

_Oct_. 18_th_.--I have just taken an important
step in life, by sending to the Dean a proposal to resign
the Mathematical Lectureship at the end of this year. I
shall now have my whole time at my own disposal, and, if God
gives me life and continued health and strength, may hope,
before my powers fail, to do some worthy work in
writing--partly in the cause of mathematical education,
partly in the cause