xxi GEORGE ROLLESTON 361 



two uninterrupted hours in which to write the revised edition 

 of the Forms of Animal Life, before the regular business of 

 the day commenced. 



It is impossible for those who had no personal knowledge 

 of Eolleston to realise what manner of man he was, and how 

 great his loss will be to those who remain behind him. No 

 one can ever have passed an hour in his company, or heard 

 him speak at a public meeting, without feeling that he 

 was a man of most unusual power, of lofty sentiments, 

 generous impulses, marvellous energy, and wonderful command 

 of language. In brilliant repartee, aptness of quotation, and 

 ever-ready illustration from poetry, history, and the literature 

 of many nations and many subjects, besides those with which 

 he was specially occupied, he had few equals. " In God's war 

 slackness is infamy " might well have been his motto, for with 

 Kolleston there was no slackness in any cause which he 

 believed to be God's war. He was impetuous, even vehement, 

 in his advocacy of what appeared to him true and right, and 

 unsparing in denunciation of all that was mean, base, and 

 false. To those points in the faith of his fathers which he 

 believed to be essential he held reverently and courageously, 

 but on many questions, both social and political, he was a 

 reformer of the most advanced type. Often original in his 

 views, always outspoken in giving expression to them, he 

 occasionally met with the fate of those who do not swim with 

 the stream, and wafe misunderstood ; but this was more than 

 compensated for by the affection, admiration, and enthusiasm 

 with which he was regarded by those who were able to ap- 

 preciate the nobility of his character. The sentiment which 

 guided his life, and which he never lost an opportunity of 

 impressing upon his younger friends, was that contained in 

 the beautiful lines of Wordsworth 



We live by Admiration, Hope, and Love, 

 And even as these are well and wisely fixed, 

 In dignity of being we ascend. 



When Huxley was spoken of in relation to himself, he at 

 once expressed the chivalrous and loyal feeling he bore 

 towards worthy leaders in science, 'by quoting the words in 

 which Lancelot speaks of King Arthur 



