Henry William Watson. 269 



The science of electricity, like chemistry, has undergone and is 

 undergoing very rapid changes, the complete knowledge of to-day 

 being no more than a stepping stone to the results attained to-morrow. 



In scientific matters Watson had on the whole a Conservative bias, 

 requiring much deliberation before adopting new methods or lines of 

 investigation. By contrast he was in his political opinions a strong 

 Liberal, of the school perhaps of Sir W. Harcourt rather than of 

 any other modern statesman. His Liberalism was, however, more 

 theoretical than practical, and did not induce him to take any active 

 part in the Parliamentary elections for his division. It did not, in 

 fact, consist in any very strong approval of Liberal measures popular 

 for the time being; still less did it stand in the following of any 

 particular politician. It was a mental state to which he had himself 

 attained, and to which it was desirable that other men should attain, 

 and find rest. 



As might have been expected, he was never an extremist in his 

 theological opinions. Extreme opinions did not readily grow in the 

 climate of Cambridge in the middle of the last century. He was the 

 friend of all his parishioners, and knew how to sympathise with 

 opinions that were not his, and with studies and interests that he did 

 not share. So far as his influence extended he was of all things a 

 peacemaker. 



S. H. B. 



