Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/28

 The earlier records of the annals he collected and wrote out in his own hand; and subsequently to his own election as a Fellow he gave a fully detailed account of the College doings. He was, in fact, our first Registrar, and set an example to all succeeding Registrars, which is certainly most faithfully and ably maintained at the present time.

Amongst the benefactors of this College whom we should undoubtedly honour on this occasion are those who have held important offices, and to whom we are indebted in such large measure for the position it holds to-day, its practical working, and its continued and increasing prosperity and usefulness. Naturally our Presidents claim special recognition. The office of President of the is not only one of great influence and high dignity, but at the present day, at any rate, entails serious responsibility, and no small amount of anxious thought and labour. He has to pay special personal attention, not only to important and sometimes difficult questions relating to the affairs of the College itself, but also to matters referred to us by the State, or from other quarters, and the work seems to be ever on the increase.

On looking down the list of those who occupied the position of President during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, while all, no doubt, were men