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.
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