| Description | His remarks on the examination report were casual, he admired Herschel's docket. He thought the numbers were given by [James Palladio] Basevi. Since Herschel treated it as an official opinion, requiring explanation, Robinson will go further. The numbers do not give a fair idea of the relative abilities of the candidates, he thinks, as the papers are reported upon by different individuals. Humphrey set harder papers than he did and marked them lower. Robinson gives little weight to the mechanical part of calculation, preferring to value the natural talent for the principles and reasoning of mathematics. He has met good sub-assistants but often 'they are mere parrots'. He thinks they may talk this over another time, but wanted to write to say that he agreed with Herschel rather than finding fault in him. Melville is in orders and Robinson has done nearly all needed to start him. He will come down to Deyrah [Dehradun] for a day or two, then move down for good. |