DR. JONATHAN HEARDER. 
151 
anticipation ; and the enjoyment of them was considerably enhanced 
by his good-tempered, trenchant style of dealing with opponents in 
the discussions following, not only his own, but others' lectures. 
Many of his Athenaeum lectures were characterized, not merely 
by his ability in treatment, but also by their great amount of 
laborious preparation, and for thoroughness of experimental illus- 
tration, rarely, if ever, excelled. 
While young he was distinguished for almost superabundant 
energy. To his graver associates his scientific pursuits seemed to 
absorb his whole attention ; but with others, in cricketing, boating, 
fishing, swimming, he was recognized as first amongst the first. 
For some years after the loss of his sight he kept a school, and 
many of his old pupils have good reason to be thankful for and to 
remember, the energy with which he pressed them forward with 
their studies. He was no mean musician, and was a considerable 
contributor to the local periodical and newspaper literature. 
At the time that Sir W. Snow Harris's lightning conductor for 
the protection of ships was introduced, he took a very active part 
in combating a very energetic opposition that was raised against 
its adoption. By public discussions of a very lively character, and 
by newspaper correspondence, he did very much in diffusing a large 
amount of very useful knowledge of electrical matters. 
Amongst his earliest and most remarkable lectures were some on 
combustion, which were not only brilliantly illustrated but also 
thoroughly explained. His early recognition of the importance of 
the subject has been most completely verified by the successful 
developments of chemical manufactures, and by the history of 
marine navigation. Dr. Hearder continued to give great attention 
to the subject, both practically and theoretically. The importance 
of some of his investigations has hardly even yet been properly 
recognized ; for his investigations of the conductivity of metals to 
heat and to electricity, and of the phenomena of combustion in 
vacuo, were extensive and profound. 
When lucifer matches were first introduced, and were selling at 
one shilling per box, he took up the manufacture ; but subse- 
quently turned his attention to the making and introduction of 
Arnott's stoves, in which he made several important improvements. 
After his father's death he continued the family business, that 
of the manufacture of fishing tackle, on which matter he was the 
authority of the district. 
