phy to Roman law, and transfigured one of the driest of subjects
into all sorts of beautiful things without knowing or caring much about
details.' He was also able to 'sniff at Bentham' for his ignorance in
this direction. 'I rebelled against Maine for many years,' says
Fitzjames, 'till at last I came to recognise, not only his wonderful
gifts, but the fact that at bottom he and I agreed fundamentally, though
it cost us both a good deal of trouble to find it out.' I quote this
because it bears upon my brother's later development of opinion. For
the present, the personal remark is more relevant. Maine, says
Fitzjames, 'was perfectly charming to me at college, as he is now. He
was most kind, friendly, and unassuming; and, though I was a freshman
and he a young don,[56] and he was twenty-six when I was twenty--one of
the greatest differences of age and rank which can exist between two
people having so much in common--we were always really and effectually
equal. We have been the closest of friends all through life.' I think,
indeed, that Maine's influence upon my brother was only second to that
of my father.

Maine brought Fitzjames into the apostles in his first term.[57] Maine,
says my brother, 'was a specially shining apostle, and in all
discussions not only took by far the first and best part, but did it so
well and unpretentiously, and in a strain so much above what the rest of
us could reach, that it was a great piece of education to hear him.'
Other members of the little society, which generally included only five
or six--the name 'apostles' referring to the limit of possible
numbers--were E. H. Stanley (afterwards Lord Derby), who left in March
1848, Vernon Harcourt (now Sir William), H. W. Watson, Julian Fane,[58]
and the present Canon Holland. Old members--Monckton Milnes, James
Spedding, Henry Fitzmaurice Hallam, and W. H. Thompson (the
tutor)--occasionally attended meetings. The late Professor Hort and the
great physicist, Clerk Maxwell, joined about the time of my brother's
departure. He records one statement of Maxwell's which has, I suspect,
been modified in transmission. The old logicians, said Maxwell,
recognised four forms of syllogism. Hamilton had raised the number to 7,
but he had himself discovered 135. This, however, mattered little, as
the great majority could not be expressed in human language, and even if
expressed were not susceptible of any meaning.

This specimen would give a very inaccurate no