Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/10

6 our long and intimate friendship, that you, Sir, will be ready to acquiesce in my selection, and at the same time to extend to me your kindly sympathy and encouragement in the trying position in which I am placed. And as this is the first occasion on which you make what I may call a public appearance in this College as President, I trust it may not be considered out of place if, for myself and on behalf of the Fellows generally, I offer you our cordial congratulations on attaining to such an eminent and distinguished position, which you have so well and honourably earned by following in Harvey's footsteps, and which I feel confident you will most worthily adorn.

I need scarcely remind you that, in accordance with Harvey's express direction, the Oration was, until within a comparatively modern period, composed and delivered in Latin. It is just forty years ago since the change was made to our native English tongue, and it may be interesting to recall the fact that on the first occasion when this change was adopted—namely, in 1865—the Orator was Dr. (afterwards Sir) Henry Acland, whose eminent position and excellent work at Oxford are familiar to all; and the President was Dr. Thomas Watson, soon afterwards created a Baronet, whose classical and finished writings earned for him the title of the "Cicero of English Medicine," who was above all others revered and