HENRY DEACON 195 



thoroughly. He had the quickness of pre- 

 ception and alertness of mind of a Frenchman, 

 combined with the laborious painstaking, 

 cautious characteristics of a German, he 

 allowed no detail, however minute, to be 

 overlooked, and whatever he did, he did it 

 with all his might. 



He cared for his workpeople, and knew 

 well how to value the services of those who 

 co-operated with him. It was not for the 

 purpose of paying a mere idle compliment 

 that more than once he said : " I wish to 

 record my thanks to my partners for their 

 forbearance during the years over which my 

 researches have extended;" and again, 

 " Whilst I claim the discovery and the reason- 

 ing that led up to it, yet all subsequent 

 progress has been the result of constant con- 

 ference between Dr. Hurter, Mr. Eustace 

 Carey, the manager of the work, and myself, 

 and I am glad to have this opportunity of 

 acknowledging the value of their assistance." 



In public life he promoted every beneficent 

 undertaking. He was chairman of the Local 

 Board ; to him Widnes is mainly indebted for 

 its waterworks at Pex Hill, which affords the 

 district such an ample supply of excellent 

 water. He was chairman of the first School 



