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beauty of countenance； though she was unhappily deformed in body
and of frail health； and she even excelled her gentle and
ineffectual family in all amiable qualities。 So that each of the
two races from which Fleeming sprang； had an outpost by his very
cradle； the one he instinctively loved； the other hated； and the
life…long war in his members had begun thus early by a victory for
what was best。
We can trace the family from one country place to another in the
south of Scotland； where the child learned his taste for sport by
riding home the pony from the moors。 Before he was nine he could
write such a passage as this about a Hallowe'en observance： 'I
pulled a middling…sized cabbage…runt with a pretty sum of gold
about it。 No witches would run after me when I was sowing my
hempseed this year； my nuts blazed away together very comfortably
to the end of their lives； and when mamma put hers in which were
meant for herself and papa they blazed away in the like manner。'
Before he was ten he could write； with a really irritating
precocity； that he had been 'making some pictures from a book
called 〃Les Francais peints par euxmemes。〃 。 。 。 It is full of
pictures of all classes； with a description of each in French。 The
pictures are a little caricatured； but not much。' Doubtless this
was only an echo from his mother； but it shows the atmosphere in
which he breathed。 It must have been a good change for this art
critic to be the playmate of Mary Macdonald； their gardener's
daughter at Barjarg； and to sup with her family on potatoes and
milk； and Fleeming himself attached some value to this early and
friendly experience of another class。
His education； in the formal sense； began at Jedburgh。 Thence he
went to the Edinburgh Academy； where he was the classmate of Tait
and Clerk Maxwell； bore away many prizes； and was once unjustly
flogged by Rector Williams。 He used to insist that all his bad
schoolfellows had died early； a belief amusingly characteristic of
the man's consistent optimism。 In 1846 the mother and son
proceeded to Frankfort…on…the…Main； where they were soon joined by
the father； now reduced to inaction and to play something like
third fiddle in his narrow household。 The emancipation of the
slaves had deprived them of their last resource beyond the half…pay
of a captain； and life abroad was not only desirable for the sake
of Fleeming's education； it was almost enforced by reasons of
economy。 But it was； no doubt； somewhat hard upon the captain。
Certainly that perennial boy found a companion in his son； they
were both active and eager； both willing to be amused； both young；
if not in years； then in character。 They went out together on
excursions and sketched old castles； sitting side by side； they had
an angry rivalry in walking； doubtless equally sincere upon both
sides； and indeed we may say that Fleeming was exceptionally
favoured； and that no boy had ever a companion more innocent；
engaging； gay； and airy。 But although in this case it would be
easy to exaggerate its import； yet； in the Jenkin family also； the
tragedy of the generations was proceeding； and the child was
growing out of his father's knowledge。 His artistic aptitude was
of a different order。 Already he had his quick sight of many sides
of life； he already overflowed with distinctions and
generalisations； contrasting the dramatic art and national
character of England； Germany； Italy； and France。 If he were dull；
he would write stories and poems。 'I have written；' he says at
thirteen； 'a very long story in heroic measure； 300 lines； and
another Scotch story and innumerable bits of poetry'； and at the
same age he had not only a keen feeling for scenery； but could do
something with his pen to call it up。 I feel I do always less than
justice to the delightful memory of Captain Jenkin； but with a lad
of this character； cutting the teeth of his intelligence； he was
sure to fall into the background。
The family removed in 1847 to Paris； where Fleeming was put to
school under one Deluc。 There he learned French； and （if the
captain is right） first began to show a taste for mathematics。 But
a far more important teacher than Deluc was at hand； the year 1848；
so momentous for Europe； was momentous also for Fleeming's
character。 The family politics were Liberal； Mrs。 Jenkin； generous
before all things； was sure to be upon the side of exiles； and in
the house of a Paris friend of hers； Mrs。 Turner … already known to
fame as Shelley's Cornelia de Boinville … Fleeming saw and heard
such men as Manin； Gioberti； and the Ruffinis。 He was thus
prepared to sympathise with revolution； and when the hour came； and
he found himself in the midst of stirring and influential events；
the lad's whole character was moved。 He corresponded at that time
with a young Edinburgh friend； one Frank Scott； and I am here going
to draw somewhat largely on this boyish correspondence。 It gives
us at once a picture of the Revolution and a portrait of Jenkin at
fifteen； not so different （his friends will think） from the Jenkin
of the end … boyish； simple； opinionated； delighting in action；
delighting before all things in any generous sentiment。
'February 23； 1848。
'When at 7 o'clock to…day I went out； I met a large band going
round the streets； calling on the inhabitants to illuminate their
houses； and bearing torches。 This was all very good fun； and
everybody was delighted； but as they stopped rather long and were
rather turbulent in the Place de la Madeleine； near where we live'
＇in the Rue Caumartin＇ 'a squadron of dragoons came up； formed； and
charged at a hand…gallop。 This was a very pretty sight； the crowd
was not too thick； so they easily got away； and the dragoons only
gave blows with the back of the sword； which hurt but did not
wound。 I was as close to them as I am now to the other side of the
table； it was rather impressive； however。 At the second charge
they rode on the pavement and knocked the torches out of the
fellows' hands； rather a shame； too … wouldn't be stood in England。
。 。 。
＇At＇ 'ten minutes to ten 。 。 。 I went a long way along the
Boulevards； passing by the office of Foreign Affairs； where Guizot
lives； and where to…night there were about a thousand troops
protecting him from the fury of the populace。 After this was
passed； the number of the people thickened； till about half a mile
further on； I met a troop of vagabonds； the wildest vagabonds in
the world … Paris vagabonds； well armed； having probably broken
into gunsmiths' shops and taken the guns and swords。 They were
about a hundred。 These were followed by about a thousand （I am
rather diminishing than exaggerating numbers all through）；
indifferently armed with rusty sabres； sticks； etc。 An uncountable
troop of gentlemen； workmen； shopkeepers' wives （Par