i869 THE METAPHYSICAL SOCIETY 345 



give, consistently with his general view, and much the same 

 answer that he would have given if he had been allowed the 

 fullest time for deliberation. 



The general tone of the Metaphysical Society was one of 

 extreme consideration for the feelings of opponents, and your 

 father's speaking formed no exception to the general harmony. 

 At the same time I seem to remember him as the most com- 

 bative of all the speakers who took a leading part in the debates. 

 His habit of never wasting words, and the edge naturally given 

 to his remarks by his genius for clear and effective statement, 

 partly account for this impression ; still I used to think that he 

 liked fighting, and occasionally liked to give play to his sarcastic 

 humour — though always strictly within the limits imposed by 

 courtesy. I remember that on one occasion when I had read to 

 the Society an essay on the " Incoherence of Empiricism," I 

 looked forward with some little anxiety to his criticisms; and 

 when they came, I felt that my anxiety had not been superfluous ; 

 he " went for " the weak points of my argument in half a dozen 

 trenchant sentences, of which I shall not forget the impression. 

 It was hard hitting, though perfectly courteous and fair. 



I wish I could remember what he said, but the memory of all 

 the words uttered in these debates has now vanished from my 

 mind, though I recall vividly the general impression that I have 

 tried briefly to put down. — Believe me, yours very truly, 



Henry Sidgwick. 



