 He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1906 and made a Knight of the Thistle in 1911.He received an honorary doctorate (LL.D) from the University of Glasgow during their 450th jubilee celebrations in June 1901.He remained in contact with the Dutch community and attended the reception and spoke with the famous Dutch writer Louis Couperus (1863-1923) on the occasion of his visit to London in June 1921, being invited by the Dutch ambassador in London, René de Marees van Swinderen (1860-1955), and which visit was mainly organised by his translator Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (1865-1921).