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.