PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. XV 



somewhat suddenly to an attack of bronchitis on Nov. loth, 

 1 89 1. He leaves, besides his wife, a son and two daughters. 



Moseley was of rather more than medium height, and of 

 square powerful build. His endurance and keen sight have 

 already been alluded to. I think that he prided himself most 

 on his powers of throwing : he used to exhibit the method of 

 throwing the boomerang and using the Australian throwing stick 

 in the parks at Oxford, and even when Linacre Professor he 

 has been known to find the temptation to throw at cocoa-nuts 

 in St. Giles' Fair irresistible. This, of course, was in vacation 

 time. He had much sympathy with the fun and riot of fairs, 

 which he looked upon as a survival of good old days, inter- 

 esting as a relic of mediaeval times, and commendable for the 

 amusement they give to the people. I remember his coming 

 to me in high dudgeon, and showing me a petition, numerously 

 signed by leading members of the University, against the 

 continuance of St. Giles' Fair, which is held in the long vaca- 

 tion. " Of course I won't sign it ! " he said ; and yet he was one 

 of the principal sufferers, the fair being held opposite his house, 

 and he was one of the few likely to be in residence whilst it 

 was going on. 



He was one of the truest men I ever knew, and his truthful- 

 ness and scepticism were curiously blended together. He was 

 perfectly incredulous. Anxious to obtain information from 

 every possible source, he would draw out strangers, and listen 

 patiently to their stories ; but he was very slow to believe them. 

 Before he would give his belief to any statement, he must 

 verify it for himself, or have the strongest testimony in support 

 of it from independent sources. But once he was satisfied of 

 its accuracy it became a part of his own personal experience, 

 and his belief, once established, was not to be shaken. 



Similarly in social relations, though always courteous and 

 genial, he did not readily give his confidence and friendship 

 to strangers. He was as incredulous of men as of the tales 

 they told, but when once, after sufficient acquaintance, he felt 

 certain of a man's genuineness, and admitted him to his confi- 

 dence, he did so without reserve, and was as staunch and 

 steadfast as could be. A friend was a man of whom he was 



