"It is, of course, necessary to become well grounded in mathematics, mechanics, and chemistry, which are now so necessary for all well-educated engineers. The better your knowledge of these, the more you will use your knowledge - I might almost say without your knowing it. Pay particular attention to geometry of all kinds, to the geometry of three dimensions and geometrical mechanics. It will assist you in designing, and in mental calculations, to which I would advise you to before habituated."