BEIEF SKETCH OF SIR GEORGE GARRIEL STOKES. 15 



men of science in this country. At the meeting of the British 

 Association at Exeter in 1869 he was elected its President, and 

 during this period of his career he was elected an honorary member 

 of several foreign academies, and received the Prussian order Pour 

 le M4rite. He also was awarded honorary degrees from the 

 Universities of Oxford, Dublin, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. On the 

 death of Mr. Beresford-Hope in 1887, he was returned as one of the 

 representatives in Parliament of Cambridge University, and sat till 

 the session of 1892, but from his retiring disposition seldom took 

 part in debates in the house, though generally voting with the 

 Conservative party. In 1886 he accepted, with the hearty approval 

 of the members, the position of President of the Victoria Institute, 

 in succession to the Earl of Shaftesbury. Nor was this a purely 

 honorary office, for he took a warm interest in the affairs of the 

 Society, and when his engagements at Cambridge permitted, was a 

 regular attendant at the meetings of the Council and of the 

 Institute ; coming up to town in all weathers — sometimes at much 

 personal inconvenience — until increasing years and infirmity made 

 it impossible. To his wise counsel and conciliatory bearing the 

 Institute largely owes its present prosperous position ; and on 

 several occasions he contributed to its proceedings. Those who 

 were present at the Annual Meeting in 1898, will not soon forget 

 his lucid exposition of the action of light on the organs of the eye, 

 and the marvellous arrangements for the perception of colour."^ It 

 was on this occasion that Lord Kelvin gave expression to his 

 admiration for his friend and fellow-worker in the domain of 

 physical investigation when he exclaimed in reference to previous 

 experience, "Whenever we found ourselves in difficulties we said, 

 ' send for Stokes,' " or words to that effect. 



Within a year of his decease Stokes was elected Master of 

 Pembroke College, the highest honour it was in the power of the 

 College to confer, and on Sunday, January 4th, 1903, Stokes entered 

 into that " Rest, which remaineth for the people of God," at the good 

 old age of 84 years, having by his great talents and unfailing industry 



Delivered July 18th, 1898. 



