233 



h\ ifHemoiiam^ 



HENRY F. HAILES, 



BoKN September 13th, 1827: Died October 21st, 1892. 



Since the issue of the last miniber of the Journal of the Club, 

 we have lost, by death, the services of our esteemed Editor and 

 Honorary Foreign Correspondent, and it would not be fitting 

 that this, the first number issued since his death, should reach 

 the hands of the members of the Club without containing some 

 tribute to his worth. It would have been extremely easy to 

 find a member of the Club much better fitted than myself to 

 write such a tribute, but it would be difficult to find one who 

 entertained a warmer regard for Mr. Hailes, or who was under 

 greater obligations to him . 



Henry F. Hailes was born at Camden Town on the 13th 

 September, 1827. His father does not seem to have taken a 

 great deal of trouble either about his education or about giving 

 him a start in any business. Most of the large store of know- 

 ledge, upon many subjects, that he possessed, seems to have 

 been acquired here and there and by following the bent of his 

 own inclinations. His oldest friend was a Mr. William Croft, 

 and, as the story of the way in which their acquaintance was 

 formed reveals somewhat of Mr. Hailes' character and pursuits 

 at the time, I may be pardoned for telling it here. Croft and 

 Hailes, both boys, lived near together in Camden Town. One 

 day the former laid a train of gunpowder upon a garden wall, 

 and was about to fire it, when Hailes came up on the opposite 

 side of the wall and blew the gunpowder away. Croft jumped 

 over the wall, and, although much the smaller boy, commenced 

 to belabour Hailes, when the latter, who was very fond of 

 experimental chemistry, said, " Don't let us fight, and I will 

 tell you how to make gunpowder." This he did, greatly to the 

 delight of the younger boy. The two became fast friends from 

 that day and continued to be so up to the time of Hailes' death. 



