Of this Scarborough thought well enough to ask the lad to have one constructed in brass at his expense. I find in Birch’s _History of the Royal Society_, vol. i., under date December 9, 1663: “Dr. Wren’s description of his weather-clock consisting of two wings that may be added to a pendulum clock was read.” The engraving published by Birch shows a far simpler arrangement than that of the drawing among the heirloom MSS. The printed _Parentalia_ gives a description of a device more complicated than Birch’s description of Wren’s communication of 1663, and refers to a circular thermometer designed to correct the error caused by the weight of liquid. This does not appear in the drawing; the thermometer is of the ordinary air type. The printed _Parentalia_ refers to Robert Hooke’s improvements on Wren’s design, but they only partly appear in the drawing, which would seem to show an intermediate development between Wren’s original device and Hooke’s latest achievements. The thing itself is of no importance now, but is worth remembering, as showing not only the early blossoming of Wren’s scientific achievement, but also his patience and persistence in developing an idea over a period of years. All this was a good prelude to his life at Oxford, which began when he was young to be an undergraduate, by our standards, but older than we have been led to believe. CHAPTER II OXFORD CAREER AND EARLY INVENTIONS The question as to when Wren started his University career presents considerable difficulties, but it is worth exploring, because his youth at Oxford had an enduring effect on the development of the man. _Parentalia_ is explicit: “In the year 1646 and Fourteenth of his Age, Mr. Wren was admitted a Gentleman-Commoner at Wadham College ... where he soon attracted the Friendship and esteem of the two most celebrated Virtuosi and Mathematicians of their Time, Dr. John Wilkins, Warden of Wadham, and Dr. Seth Ward....” This date is confirmed by the Lansdowne Chronology MS., prepared by Wren’s son, and initialed by Sir Christopher himself two years before his death. The MS. states: “1646. _Admissus in Collegio de Wodham._”