“When I came here last Friday I found everyone talking about the new professorship, and hoping that you would come. Thomson, it seems, has definitely declined.... There is no one here in the least fit for the post. What is wanted by most who know anything about it is not so much a lecturer as a mathematician who has actual experience in experimenting, and who might direct the energies of the younger Fellows and bachelors into a proper channel. There must be many who would be willing to work under a competent man, and who, while learning themselves, would materially assist him.... I hope you may be induced to come; if not, I don’t know who it is to be. Do not trouble to answer me about this, as I believe others have written to you about it.” On the 15th of February, Maxwell wrote to Mr. Blore:-- “I had no intention of applying for the post when I got your letter, and I have none now, unless I come to see that I can do some good by it.” The letter continues:--“The class of Physical Investigations, which might be undertaken with the help of men of Cambridge education, and which would be creditable to the University, demand in general a considerable amount of dull labour, which may or may not be attractive to the pupils.” However, on the 24th of February, Mr. Blore wrote to the Electoral Roll:-- “I am authorised to give notice that Mr. John (_sic_) Clerk Maxwell, F.R.S., formerly Professor of Natural Philosophy at Aberdeen, and at King’s College, London, is a candidate for the professorship of Experimental Physics.” Maxwell was elected without opposition. Writing[36] to his wife from Cambridge, 20th March, 1871, he says:-- “There are two parties about the professorship. One wants popular lectures, and the other cares more for experimental work. I think there should be a gradation--popular lectures and rough experiments for the masses; real experiments for real students; and laborious experiments for first-rate men like Trotter and Stuart and Strutt.” While in a letter[37] from Glenlair to C. J. Munro, dated March 15th, 1871, he writes:--“The Experimental Physics at Cambridge is not built yet, but we are going to try. The desideratum is to set a Don and a Freshman to observe and register (say) the vibrations of a magnet together, or the Don to turn a watch and the Freshman to observe and govern him.” In October he delivered his Introductory Lecture. A few quotations will show the spirit in which he approached his task.