MY DEAR FATHER—On Saturday last we went to the Marine VillA(1); it had a very strong Marine scent, but I suppose it is all the better for that. I found out where shellfish breed; they breed in sea fyke; there were muscles, Cocles, and Oysters no bigger than these O O O O fastened to the fyke by filaments. Nell and Frolic were immersed in the serene bosom of Neptune,
from which with still quivering limbs they came out, but with very different filings; but Nell exited the compAssioN Of Meddum,(2)   and was carried by her. I have fLitted up to the little garret. What like is the new taDPole ? and how is Maggy getting on with fmmm;(3)  how much more is to be done concerning O fye, says the pie. John's house is not finished yeT, I suppose. There have been letters from Uncle Robert, dated Gibber Altar, but I have not seen or heard what is in them FarTHEr than that he was to be at Suez on Monday last. Lizzy says that when you come back it would not bE displeasing to her if you would bring a bawl of gray worsted, which 1Ast word I suppose means woolen thread. I have cast three seals of Lead from the life, or rather from the death; one of a cockle and two of muscles, one of which is, or rather will be, on this

letter. If you want to know more look along from the beginning of the letter to the mark for the red and blue letters in order.

How are all the bodies and beasts, Praecipue, Nanny, Maggy, Fanny, Bobby, Toby, and Marco.—Your obt. servt.,
 

  MY DEAR FATHER—On Wednesday I went to the Virginian minstrels, in which some of the songs were sung, the first line accompanied with clappers, the second on a tambourine, the third on a banjo, like this, . . . played like a guitar very quickly, and the fourth on the fiddle, and the chorus by all together. There were guesses in abundance; and there was an imitation of a steam onion, and other things which you will find in the bill. On Saturday, having got the play for verses on Laocoon, I went with Cha. H. John stone so far, and then went to the murrain vile till Mrs. McKenzie, Ninny, and  went to visit Cramond. where I played with the boies till high water; and the minister's young brother and the too boies and I doukit in C (big sea as kunh calls it), and then dried ourselves after the manner of Auncient Greeks; we had also the luxury of a pail of water to wash our feet in. 

How is a' abut the house now our Gudeman's at home? How are herbs, shrubs, and trees doing?—cows, sheep, mares, dogs,and folk? and how did Nannie like bonny Carlisle? Mrs. Robt. Cay was at the church on Sunday. I have made a tetra mhedron, a dodeca hedron, and 2 more hedrons that I don't know the wright names for. How do doos and Geraniums come on.—Your most obt. servt. 

     JAS. ALEX. MCMERKWEEE. 
     1 2 5 12 7 4 13 3 6 11 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 

DEAR FATHER—Excuse me on account of being so long of writing, because of my being totally employed about preparations of verses, English and Latin. I made four lines of Latin one week, for which I got the play from ten; but I am not going to try for the prize, as when I lithp in numberth it ith but a lithp, for the numberth do not come even with the help of Gradus; but I am making English ones on the apparition of Creusa to Æneas in the end of the second book. Besides this, I am preparing the biography, and have been making a list of the kings of Israel and Judah. I have been going to Cramond and playing with the

boys every Saturday; they went to Rayhills on the ninth. Dooking grown fine and warm now. 

O father! can it be that souls sublime   return to visit our terrestrial clime?

                                               Your obt. servt. and son to you, 

                                                                                               JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. 

I have been wavering about 14 for a good while in the Latin.