Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/16

 supported by long tradition and by the highest authorities, past and present, which he had to combat, refute, and overthrow, and the confusion he had to clear away; the intelligence and indomitable perseverance with which he worked out, and proved to absolute demonstration, the positive facts and new truths which he had to present in their stead; and the masterly, but at the same time, courteous manner in which he disputed and ultimately overcame the objections which from various powerful quarters had been raised against his views.

To Folkestone belongs the indisputable honour of having been the birthplace of Harvey, in April 1578, according to Willis on the first day of that month. Though somewhat late in the day, the town acknowledged the honour by erecting a tercentenary memorial statue in bronze of its illustrious townsman, which was unveiled in August 1881 by Professor Richard Owen, in the presence of representatives of the medical profession from all parts of the globe. Harvey was the eldest of a large family, and, like most great men, he had a noble-minded woman for his mother, as recorded in the beautiful inscription on her monumental tablet in Folkestone Church, where she is spoken of as a "godly harmless woman," "a careful tender-hearted mother," and "reverensed of her children." I mention her more particularly, as this year happens to be the tercentenary of her death, which took place on