| Description | He thanks Larmor for an interesting letter, In response he describes Waterston, who came from a family of Thompson's acquaintance in Dundee, which intermarried with the Faradays. He relates how many years ago, he was holidaying in Perthshire and he talked about Waterston with 'J.S.H.' [John Scott Haldane] and this was the origin of his book. Thompson will talk to Larmor about Haldane's abuse of Kelvin, but not in a letter. His own view of Haldane was that like others, including A.N. [Alfred North] Whitehead, he was brought up in a strict religion, which he broke away from, and spent latter years trying to get it back through metaphysics. His reaction against Kelvin was against those who had drawn him away from piety. Dugald Clerk used to 'wring his hands' in speaking of Haldane's views on the second law. Haldane was 'the most obstinate of men'. Thompson congratulates Larmor in his recent degree. He gives his movements, including giving the Lowell Lectures, as his father did. |