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dictionaries； he was to lament this circumstance； nor how much of
that later life he was to spend acquiring； with infinite toil； a
shadow of what he might then have got with ease and fully。 But if
his Genoese education was in this particular imperfect； he was
fortunate in the branches that more immediately touched on his
career。 The physical laboratory was the best mounted in Italy。
Bancalari； the professor of natural philosophy； was famous in his
day； by what seems even an odd coincidence； he went deeply into
electromagnetism； and it was principally in that subject that
Signor Flaminio； questioned in Latin and answering in Italian；
passed his Master of Arts degree with first…class honours。 That he
had secured the notice of his teachers； one circumstance
sufficiently proves。 A philosophical society was started under the
presidency of Mamiani； 'one of the examiners and one of the leaders
of the Moderate party'； and out of five promising students brought
forward by the professors to attend the sittings and present
essays； Signor Flaminio was one。 I cannot find that he ever read
an essay； and indeed I think his hands were otherwise too full。 He
found his fellow…students 'not such a bad set of chaps；' and
preferred the Piedmontese before the Genoese； but I suspect he
mixed not very freely with either。 Not only were his days filled
with university work； but his spare hours were fully dedicated to
the arts under the eye of a beloved task…mistress。 He worked hard
and well in the art school； where he obtained a silver medal 'for a
couple of legs the size of life drawn from one of Raphael's
cartoons。' His holidays were spent in sketching； his evenings；
when they were free； at the theatre。 Here at the opera he
discovered besides a taste for a new art； the art of music； and it
was； he wrote； 'as if he had found out a heaven on earth。' 'I am
so anxious that whatever he professes to know； he should really
perfectly possess；' his mother wrote； 'that I spare no pains'；
neither to him nor to myself； she might have added。 And so when he
begged to be allowed to learn the piano； she started him with
characteristic barbarity on the scales； and heard in consequence
'heart…rending groans' and saw 'anguished claspings of hands' as he
lost his way among their arid intricacies。
In this picture of the lad at the piano； there is something； for
the period； girlish。 He was indeed his mother's boy； and it was
fortunate his mother was not altogether feminine。 She gave her son
a womanly delicacy in morals； to a man's taste … to his own taste
in later life … too finely spun； and perhaps more elegant than
healthful。 She encouraged him besides in drawing…room interests。
But in other points her influence was manlike。 Filled with the
spirit of thoroughness； she taught him to make of the least of
these accomplishments a virile task； and the teaching lasted him
through life。 Immersed as she was in the day's movements and
buzzed about by leading Liberals； she handed on to him her creed in
politics： an enduring kindness for Italy； and a loyalty； like that
of many clever women； to the Liberal party with but small regard to
men or measures。 This attitude of mind used often to disappoint me
in a man so fond of logic； but I see now how it was learned from
the bright eyes of his mother and to the sound of the cannonades of
1848。 To some of her defects； besides； she made him heir。 Kind as
was the bond that united her to her son； kind and even pretty； she
was scarce a woman to adorn a home； loving as she did to shine；
careless as she was of domestic； studious of public graces。 She
probably rejoiced to see the boy grow up in somewhat of the image
of herself； generous； excessive； enthusiastic； external； catching
at ideas； brandishing them when caught； fiery for the right； but
always fiery； ready at fifteen to correct a consul； ready at fifty
to explain to any artist his own art。
The defects and advantages of such a training were obvious in
Fleeming throughout life。 His thoroughness was not that of the
patient scholar； but of an untrained woman with fits of passionate
study； he had learned too much from dogma； given indeed by
cherished lips； and precocious as he was in the use of the tools of
the mind； he was truly backward in knowledge of life and of
himself。 Such as it was at least； his home and school training was
now complete； and you are to conceive the lad as being formed in a
household of meagre revenue； among foreign surroundings； and under
the influence of an imperious drawing…room queen； from whom he
learned a great refinement of morals； a strong sense of duty； much
forwardness of bearing； all manner of studious and artistic
interests； and many ready…made opinions which he embraced with a
son's and a disciple's loyalty。
CHAPTER III。 1851…1858。
Return to England … Fleeming at Fairbairn's … Experience in a
Strike … Dr。 Bell and Greek Architecture … The Gaskells … Fleeming
at Greenwich … The Austins … Fleeming and the Austins … His
Engagement … Fleeming and Sir W。 Thomson。
IN 1851； the year of Aunt Anna's death； the family left Genoa and
came to Manchester； where Fleeming was entered in Fairbairn's works
as an apprentice。 From the palaces and Alps； the Mole； the blue
Mediterranean； the humming lanes and the bright theatres of Genoa；
he fell … and he was sharply conscious of the fall … to the dim
skies and the foul ways of Manchester。 England he found on his
return 'a horrid place；' and there is no doubt the family found it
a dear one。 The story of the Jenkin finances is not easy to
follow。 The family； I am told； did not practice frugality； only
lamented that it should be needful； and Mrs。 Jenkin； who was always
complaining of 'those dreadful bills；' was 'always a good deal
dressed。' But at this time of the return to England； things must
have gone further。 A holiday tour of a fortnight； Fleeming feared
would be beyond what he could afford； and he only projected it 'to
have a castle in the air。' And there were actual pinches。 Fresh
from a warmer sun； he was obliged to go without a greatcoat； and
learned on railway journeys to supply the place of one with
wrappings of old newspaper。
From half…past eight till six； he must 'file and chip vigorously in
a moleskin suit and infernally dirty。' The work was not new to
him； for he had already passed some time in a Genoese shop； and to
Fleeming no work was without interest。 Whatever a man can do or
know； he longed to know and do also。 'I never learned anything；'
he wrote； 'not even standing on my head； but I found a use for it。'
In the spare hours of his first telegraph voyage； to give an
instance of his greed of knowledge； he meant 'to learn the whole
art of navigation； every rope in the ship and how to handle her on
any occasion'； and o