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of economy, peace, and social progress, and in the divisions of the House 

 of Commons, from which he was not often absent, his name was almost 

 invariably to be found on the extreme liberal side. 



During his life in India, as well as afterwards at home, Colonel Sykes 

 was a zealous scientific observer. His favourite pursuits were zoology, 

 meteorology, and fossil geology ; and numerous contributions by him on 

 these subjects, especially the first, are to be found in the Proceedings of the 

 Zoological, Asiatic, and Geological Societies, and in the Reports of the 

 British Association, of which he was one of the most active members, both 

 in the Sectional Meetings and in the deliberations of the Council. One 

 of his most considerable papers on Indian Meteorology was published in 

 the Philosophical Transactions for 1850,: Another subject which largely 

 engaged his attention, both in India and at home, was Statistics. He was 

 one of the founders of the Statistical Society of London, and continued to 

 take a lively interest in its work ; in 1863 he was elected President. He 

 was also President of the Royal Asiatic Society, and Chairman of the 

 Society of Arts. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1834, and 

 was more than once elected on the Council. Colonel Sykes married, in 

 1824, Elizabeth, youngest daughter of William Hay, Esq., of Renistoun ; 

 he died at his residence in London on the 16th of June, 1872. 



