1S87 SCIENCE AND POLITICS 35 



the possible contamination of political influences 

 Prof, (now Sir) G. G. Stokes, his successor in the 

 chair of the Eoyal Society, accepted an invitation 

 from the University of Cambridge to stand for elec- 

 tion as their member of Parliament, and was duly 

 elected. This was a step to which many Fellows of 

 the Eoyal Society, and Huxley in especial, objected 

 very strongly. Properl}* to fulfil the duties of both 

 offices at once was, in his opinion, impossible. It 

 might seem for the moment an advantage that the 

 accredited head of the scientific world should re- 

 present its interests officially in Parliament ; but the 

 precedent was full of danger. Science being essenti- 

 ally of no party, it was especially needful for such a 

 representative of science to keep free from all possible 

 entanglements; to avoid committing science, as it 

 were, officially to the policy of a party, or, as its 

 inevitable consequence, introducing political con- 

 siderations into the choice of a future President. 



During his own tenure of the Presidency Huxley 

 had carefully abstained from any official connection 

 with societies or public movements on which the 

 feehng of the Eoyal Society was divided, lest as a 

 body it might seem committed by the person and 

 name of its President. He thought it a mistake that 

 his successor should even be President of the Victoria 

 Institute. 



Thus there is a good deal in his correspondence 

 bearing on this matter. He writes on November 6 

 to Sir J. Hooker : — 



