LOKD KELVIN 99 



attempts were made to ensure rapid signalling by heavy 

 currents; but Kelvin showed that feeble currents, com- 

 bined with delicate instruments, made the difficulty dis- 

 appear. His 'siphon recorder' is still used, and cannot 

 well be improved on. A great social and commercial 

 revolution dates from August 1858, when the message 

 was signalled under the ocean, ' Europe and America are 

 united by telegraphic communication. " Glory to God in 

 the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." ' 

 This revolution owed much to Sir William Thomson, who 

 never lost heart and never faltered in the belief that all 

 difficulties would be overcome. His presence on board 

 ship during the laying of the first Atlantic cable directed 

 his attention towards nautical matters ; and to him we 

 owe a deep-sea sounding apparatus, and a compass easily 

 corrected for the magnetic deviations produced by tlie 

 iron or steel used in the construction of ships. 



We must not estimate Lord Kelvin's greatness, how- 

 ever, merely by his own discoveries and inventions, great 

 as these are ; he has served as a model for many disciples. 

 His sincere and single-minded devotion to truth; his 

 interest in the work of others, and his sympathy with 

 their efforts; his fairness of mind and absence of pre- 

 judice ; and his straightforward and loving character have 

 raised the ideals of the whole scientific world, and have 

 deeply influenced the best minds in all countries. His 

 idea of <a treasure of which no words can adequately 

 describe the value ' is : ' Goodwill, kindness, friendship, 

 sympathy, encouragement for more work.' It is to such 

 a man that the world owes an eternal debt of gratitude, 

 and he it was for whom no honour that men have it in their 

 power to bestow could be too great. It is pleasant to be 

 able to state that Lord Kelvin's mental energy was unim- 

 paired by his burden of more than eighty years. He was 

 present at the meeting of the British Association at 



