Page:The Harveian oration, 1875 (IA b22314611).pdf/7

 THE HARVEIAN ORATION.

1875.

PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS,

More than two eenturies ago (it was some time in the month of July, 1656, nine years therefore before the great Plague, and ten before the great Fire of London), the old College of Physicians, at Amen Corner, was the seene of a most touching eeremony. In the library of the "noble building " which he had ereeted at his own cost, furnished, supplied with books objects of euriosity and surgical instruments, and three years previously presented to the College, William Harvey met the Fellows, his colleagues friends and pupils, for the last time. Bent beneath the weight of nearly fourseore years, worn by repeated attacks of a painful malady, "not only far stricken in years, " but "afflieted with more and more indifferent health," conseious that his life must be drawing to a elose