305 
of Edinburgh, Session 1873-74. 
neer, and in this capacity he made several reports to his clients of 
permanent value. One, “On Canal Haulage,” is of great interest, 
and another “ On the Explosion of the Tradeston Elour-Mills.” 
He was consulting engineer of the Highland Society of Scotland. 
This sketch of the leading incidents of the scientific works which 
have made Rankine’s name and fame represents, though very 
feebly, the more permanent portion of his usefulness to his profes- 
sion and to his generation. But besides these great works, he 
contributed about 150 papers of greater or less importance to 
philosophical journals, mechanics’ magazines, and to “ The Engi- 
neer ” in particular; generally expositions of such questions as the 
day or week suggested connected with engineering and mechanics; 
and it has been truly said — “ With him thought was never divorced 
from work, both were good of their kind ; the thought profound 
and thorough — the work a workmanlike expression of the thought.” 
“ Few, if any, practical engineers have contributed so much to 
abstract science, and in no case has scientific study been applied 
with more effect to practical engineering.” 
Rankine was a steady attendant at the meetings of the British 
Association, and took an active part as President of Section Gr, or 
Secretary of Section A, or otherwise in these meetings, where he 
had a universal acquaintance, and was universally respected and 
esteemed. He was a member of the “ Red Lion’s ” Club. 
In 1857 he took the most active part in founding the “Institu- 
tion of Engineers in Scotland.” He was the first President. It 
has proved a successful and eminently useful institution. 
The outward lustre of Rankine’s career is of course derived from 
his scientific work, but there was an inner halo surrounding him, 
which to his friends shone even brighter than the outward lustre. 
He was a true gentleman, gentle, chivalrous, self-forgetting, and 
scrupulously truthful, a patient listener, a quiet expounder. He sup- 
ported applause without feeling the weakness of vanity. He had 
not a vestige of the spirit of rivalry, being of a thoroughly genial 
temperament. In his judgment of other men he obeyed the pious 
injunction of Thomas a Kempis, “Ad hanc estiam pertinet, non 
quibuslibet hominum verbis credere, nec audita vel credita mox 
ad aliorum aures effundere.” 
His health for several years in his early youth was feeble, and he 
