George- Francis FitzGerald. 159 



quick and versatile and more plodding he would have been better 

 appreciated, save by a few." O. H. 



" FitzGerald had no trace of intellectual pride, he never put him- 

 self forward, and had no desire for fame ; he was content to do his 

 duty. And he took this to be the task of helping others to do 

 theirs. Although he held strong views on many points, and could 

 defend them with vehemence, his argument was never a personal 

 one; and it was obvious that he was actuated solely by a love of 

 truth, and that his only object was to defend what he thought to be 

 right. Moreover, what FitzGerald thought to be right was pretty 

 sure to turn out right in the long run." W. R. 



From an obitua'ry notice in the Electrician for March 1, 1901, the 

 following : 



" He possessed extraordinary versatility, and could turn his mind 

 almost instantly to anything, but the instant it was so turned it 

 went deep into the subject, to the exclusion of other things for the 

 moment; and in the deepest subjects he was more at home than in 

 the trivial and superficial. But he was never a recluse ; had he 

 been more of a recluse perhaps his great power of intimate brooding 

 and absorption, combined with his wide mathematical knowledge 

 and preparedness, might have led him to some epoch-making dis- 

 covery. But if so he did not give himself the chance, his place was 

 with the captains and the shouting, and the intervals of leisure for 

 real continuous work were few and far between." 0. J. L. 



A communication from Lord Kelvin, which appears as the con- 

 clusion of Dr. Larmor's memoir above referred to, shall not have an 

 extract removed from the context. 



But on the personal side, the following extract from an apprecia- 

 tion in the Athenceum, attributed with some probability to Professor 

 Mahaffy, may be quoted : 



" His appearance was not unworthy of his fame. More striking 

 he was than handsome; but his ample grey locks and beard, his 

 furrowed brow, his penetrating eyes, reminded one of the bust of 

 some Greek philosopher, which we cannot look upon without that 

 instinctive feeling of respect which intellect and character command 

 among civilised men." 



And the following by Larmor: 



" His scientific place will be henceforth alongside Kowan Hamflton 

 and MacCullagh and Humphrey Lloyd, and the other famous men 

 who have secured for the Dublin school so prominent a position in 

 the edifice of modern physical science, In the higher domain of 

 heart and conduct the recollection of his qualities will be an abiding 

 treasure to all who knew him." 



FitzGerald was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1883, and 



