Roscoe was a Vice-President of the Decimal Association, and lost no opportunity of advocating the use of a system of weights and measures which practically every other civilized community has found it expedient to adopt. The reform of the method of holding parliamentary elections, continuation schools, opening museums on Sundays, the housing of the science collections at South Kensington, grants to University colleges, industrial employment in Ireland, limitation of moisture in weaving sheds, river pollution—were all questions upon which he was able to exercise his influence and knowledge, and most of which he lived to see satisfactorily settled. But, on the whole, he found little satisfaction in his parliamentary life. There was much in it that was irksome and distasteful to a man of his active and independent mind. It was unfortunate for him that the greater part of his political career should have to be spent in opposition, thus affording him only limited opportunities of initiating legislative action. Owing to the political circumstances of the time many questions with which he was specially qualified to deal never came up for consideration. Others were only discussed for the purpose of “marking time,” and he deplored the loss of opportunity and waste of effort thereby involved. His rejection in 1895, therefore, occasioned him no very great concern. Whatever feeling of disappointment he may have felt soon passed away, and he quickly went back to his old occupations, and to pursuits more congenial to him than haunting the precincts of the House of Commons. The following letter from Woodcote, under date July 20, 1895, affords some indication of the way in which he regarded the loss of his seat. Many thanks for your kind note. As you surmise, I do not feel personally much regret at my own defeat. I could tell you something of the way the thing was worked. Now I feel an “old freeman,” and able to do much more what I like. But this not always—for I do not see my way just now to accept your invitation. I have been worked up with the election, and have to be careful, so that with this, and with the present uncertainty of weather, I think I am safer on entire dry land. We are thankful for rain which loveth the thirsty land and makes things green again. Is it true that the “burning bush” manufactures C₂H₅OH [alcohol]? If so, that is really interesting.[27] Harden and I have found some most interesting results as regards the genesis of the atomic theory, and I am going to work them up. How about Davy?… The editor asks for more, and I should be pleased to satisfy his maw by giving him a lump of Davy. Kindest regards.