Annual Report of the Council. xlvii 



the papers which fell within his province with tlie most scrupulous 

 care, and continually assisting the authors with kindly criticism 

 and suggestions. In 1 885 he was called to the Presidential Chair, 

 which he occupied till 1892. The most memorable occasion of 

 his later life was the celebration of his professorial Jubilee at 

 Cambridge in 1899, when a distinguished company of represen- 

 tatives of Universities and learned societies came together from 

 all parts of the world to do honour to the veteran whose simplicity 

 and modesty of character were in keeping with the solidity and 

 dignity of his scientific achievements. 



By our own Society Sir George Stokes had long been held 

 in the highest regard. He had been numbered amongst our 

 honorary members since 1851 ; and on the institution of the 

 Wilde Medal and Wilde Lectureship in 1897 it was felt that the 

 series of medallists and lecturers could not be more brilliantly 

 inaugurated than in his person. The lecture which he gave us 

 on the theory of the Rontgen rays {Manch. Mem.., vol. 41) will 

 long be remembered for the almost boyish vivacity and delight 

 which he showed in the subject, and which charmed even those 

 who were unable to appreciate the acute suggestions which it 

 contained. 



Stokes was happy in retaining his intellectual powers and 

 interests unimpaired to the last. He died after a brief illness on 

 February i, 1 903. His funeral on February 5 was the occasion of 

 a remarkable demonstration of regret and affection on the part of 

 scientific and personal friends hastily gathered together from all 

 parts of the country. 



Some account of his scientific labours was given in the formal 

 award of the Wilde Medal {Manch. Mem., vol. 41, p. xxxviii). 

 A detailed appreciation by his life-long friend and admirer. Lord 

 Kelvin, appeared in Nature., February 12, 1903. H L. 



Frederick Baden Benger, who died at his residence, 

 The Grange, Knutsford, on January 28th, 1903, aged 63 years 

 was elected a member of this Society on December loth, 1901. 

 He was formerly in partnership with Mr. Standen Paine, and 



