34 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CHAP. 



charge of a distinguished young chemist, Alexander 

 W. Williamson (see portrait), who brought fresh life 

 into the study of practical chemistry. 



He came direct from the laboratories of Laurent and 

 Gerhardt in Paris, and I found myself in an altogether 

 new and very congenial atmosphere. The chief assist- 

 ant was Henry Watts, afterwards known as the editor 

 of the great Dictionary of Chemistry. He was 

 an admirable teacher and a walking encyclopaedia of 

 chemical knowledge, although he had not the original 

 mind of Williamson. I soon got through the ordinary 

 course of chemical analysis, which in those days was not 

 nearly so complete or searching as it afterwards became, 

 and Williamson set me before long (too early I have 

 sometimes thought) to work on original investigation. 



I quickly made acquaintances, some of whom have 

 proved to be life-long friends. Dr. W. J. Russell, 

 F.R.S., for many years lecturer on chemistry at 

 Bartholomew's, was one of these ; another was William 

 Kenrick, whom I afterwards met as a fellow-member 

 of the House of Commons. Alfred E. Fletcher, who 

 carried off the gold medal one year, somewhat to my 

 chagrin, was another. He afterwards became the 

 Chief Inspector of Alkali Works, which post he filled 

 admirably. There was also a large number of excise- 

 men, who were a queer set oldish men among a 

 number of youths. These men were set to do original 

 work. Of these Bell, Duffy, and Railton published 

 their results, and afterwards rose high in the service, 

 and there is no doubt that the couple of years which 

 they spent at University College were most useful to 

 them and beneficial to the Inland Revenue Depart- 

 ment. This was the beginning of the systematic 

 scientific education of excise officers which was for 

 many years carried on in the Government laboratory 



