July 2nd, 1897.'] Proceedings. xxxix. 



science in other countries, notably by Von Helmholtz. In 

 short, Sir George Stokes' labours, though rarely of a popular 

 character, have advanced science in the best possible way, 

 through the influence which they have exercised on men 

 who have since followed, with conspicuous success, similar 

 lines of research. 



Dr. Schunck then presented the Medal to Sir George 

 Stokes. 



On receiving the Medal Sir George Stokes replied : 

 " I feel highly this recognition by the Council of the 

 Literary and Philosophical Society of such work as I have 

 been able to perform. I am getting to be an old man now, 

 and I am afraid that for many years back my work has 

 been but small. Still, I am thankful to say that I have 

 been blessed with remarkably good health, and I hope 

 that my powers are not yet quite extinct." 



Dr. Schunck then proceeded to say: The Council have 

 awarded the Wilde Medal for 1897 to Sir William Huggins, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S., on the following grounds : — 



(1) For the accurate mapping of the spectra of the 

 metals. 



(2) For the first successful application of spectrum 

 analysis to the light of the stars, nebulae, and comets, 

 whereby he proved — 



That the vapours of a number of terrestrial elements 

 are present in the atmospheres of the stars ; 



That many nebulae differ from stars in having spectra 

 of bright lines only, which show that they con- 

 sist of incandescent gases ; 



That comets (when near the sun) have a nucleus 

 which gives a bright line spectrum ; 



That the approach or recession of stars in relation to 

 the solar system can be measured by the dis- 

 placement of the lines in the spectrum. His 

 measurements are still considered to be the 

 standard determinations of star motions. 



