90 GEOEGE JOHN EOMANES i879- 



mination of Weismannism,' represent an enormous 

 amount of reading and thought ; and besides all these, 

 there was experimental work in University College 

 and in his own laboratory in Scotland, and a succes- 

 sion of important articles in reviews, chiefly the 

 ' Nineteenth Century,' ' Fortnightly ' and ' Contempo- 

 rary ' Eeviews, and ' Nature.' ^ 



It would be quite absurd to deny that Mr. 

 Eomanes liked a fair and free fight, and there was a 

 good deal of scientific controversy, but he was abso- 

 lutely incapable of anything but fairness, and never 

 imported into private life any quarrel in print. He 

 had plenty of stiff fights, chiefly with Mr. Thiselton- 

 Dyer, Professor Lankester, and Mr. Wallace, but the 

 first two were always his friends, and with the latter 

 he had a very slight acquaintance. The following 

 letter, though it belongs to a later date, will show his 

 feelings on the subject of controversy : 



Christ Church, Oxford. 



Dear Professor Meldola, — I trust that our differ- 

 ences — and disagreements — as presented in ' Nature,' 

 will not disturb our relations in private. Anyhow, I 

 send the inclosed circular, which I am addressing to 

 English biologists, and hope you will testify to your 

 desire for ' facts ' by signing the memorial. 

 Yours truly, 



Geo. J. EojiANEs. 



He lectured a good deal in provincial towns, and 

 gave several Friday evening discourses at the Eoyal 

 Institution. Lecturing, even in days of failing health, 

 was always a pleasure, never a burden to him. The 

 following letter is a mock triumphant description of 

 a lecture in Grlasgow, written purely to amuse his 

 wife, and provoke some mock depreciatory remarks. 



^ He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society in 1879. 



