Page:The Harveian oration 1888.djvu/15



To-day we meet together in fulfilment of the express wish of Harvey, our illustrious benefactor, and most distinguished ornament, and it is my duty " to commemorate the benefactors of the College and to encourage its members to search out the secrets of nature by way of experiment."

I will not apologise for endeavouring to perform this duty, imposed upon me by our past President, heartily though I wish it had fallen into worthier hands. As a duty I accepted the task; it is made a pleasant one by the feeling that, in commemorating the achievements of the past, I shall have the sympathy of my audience; and if by pointing to the direction in which further advances are possible, and suggesting routes by which these advances may be made, I can stimulate and encourage any here present to search out these secrets of nature, I shall feel that the very deep anxiety with which I undertook to address you has not been altogether fruitless.

And what are the achievements of the past? and of the