WILLIAM GOSSAGE 3 



localities and suggest associations. The first 

 patent taken out in 1823, for a portable alarum 

 attached to or detached from clocks and 

 watches, presents to us the picture of the 

 ardent student, who to arouse his teacher, a 

 French refugee, betimes, for his pupil might 

 be often found in his studies between four 

 and five in the morning, invents for him this 

 alarum. Now-a-days every student of science 

 knows that he must be familiar not merely 

 with French, but that without German and 

 even other European languages, he is 

 excluded from the companionship and in- 

 struction of some of the greatest teachers. 

 To-day the man of science must be a proficient 

 linguist. Gossage saw this, and with his 

 characteristic industry and enthusiasm led 

 the way. 



In January, 1828, there is a patent for the 

 construction of cocks for the passage of fluids. 

 We thus see that mechanical contrivance, 

 and not chemical reaction, first engaged his 

 au< ntion, and throughout his life the machinery 

 that was needed to perfect his inventions was 

 his task. At that time it was not recognised 

 as it is to-day, that the practical chemist 

 must first of all be a practical engineer. 

 That engineering must be the foundation on 



