SIR GEORGE DARWIN 179 



mathematical reasoning were referred to him. 

 There is a short and very characteristic report 

 from him on the work of the harmonic analyser, 

 and a considerable number upon researches 

 by Mr. Dines or Sir G. Stokes on anemometers. 

 It is hardly possible to exaggerate his aptitude 

 for work of that kind. He could take a real 

 interest in things that were not his own. He 

 was full of sympathy and appreciation for 

 efforts of all kinds, especially those of young 

 men, and at the same time, using his wide 

 experience, he was perfectly frank and fearless 

 not only in his judgment but also in the 

 expression of it. He gave one the impression 

 of just protecting himself from boredom by 

 habitual loyalty and a finely tempered sense 

 of dut}'. My earliest recollection of him on 

 the Council is the thrilling production of a new 

 version of the ^Annual Report of the Council 

 which he had written because the original had 

 become more completely 'scissors and paste' 

 than he could endure. 



After the Office came into my charge in 

 1900, so long as he lived I never thought of 

 taking any serious step without first consulting 

 him, and he was always willing to help by his 

 advice, by his personal influence and b}' his 

 special knowledge. For the first six years 

 of the time I held a college fellowship, with the 

 peculiar condition of four public lectures in 

 the University each year and no emolument. 

 One year, when I was rather overdone, Darwin 

 took the course for me, and devoted the 

 lectures to Dynamical Meteorology. I believe 

 he got it up for the occasion, for he professed 

 the utmost diffidence about it, but the progress 



