Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/390

366 The Great Plague of London occurred in 1664, and put an end to all social and other assemblages during its continuance. To his honour be it told that when the metropolis was well-nigh abandoned owing to this scourge, Pepys remained at his post, observing in a letter to Sir William Coventry, "The sickness in general thickens around us. You, sir, took your turn at the sword ; 1 must not, therefore, grudge to take mine at the pestilence."*

On January 22nd, 1665-6, was held—

Nothing appears, at this date, on the subject of the discourse here alluded to, or in regard to the following, in the ' Philosophical Transactions': they may consequently have been papers read before the College, and not before the Royal Society : —

Pepys associates now with men of scientific character, and with them holds much "sweet converse." On August 8th, 1666, he —

We wonder what Prof. Tyndall or Lord Rayleigh would have to say to these conclusions. The next "experiment," if made at the present lime, would assuredly have subjected all concerned to much objurgation at the hands of the Anti-Vivisection clique. If the operation termed "transfusion of blood" is but little resorted to now-a-days, and has not altogether fulfilled the expectations

Weld, 'History of the Royal Society.' vol. i., p. 296.

Sir George Ent, F.R.S.. was President of the College of Physicians.