Page:The healing art in its historic and prophetic aspects - the Harveian oration delivered before the Royal College of Physicians, Oct. 19, 1885 (IA b21908199).pdf/11

 THE HARVEIAN ORATION 1885.

Foundation of the Harveian

PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN,-It is known to the majority of those, or even to all, whom I have now the honour to address, that our great ancestor Harvey, when he conveyed Oration. by indenture his patrimonial estate to our College, made that conveyance subject to certain trusts. One of these trusts, Sir, had reference to the duty of to-day, which, at your request, I am about to endeavour to discharge.

Save for a few brief periods of intermission, this duty has been fulfilled annually since the year 1656, when the first Harveian Oration was delivered by Dr. Edward Emily. In the lengthy roll of those who have succeeded this first Harveian Orator we find the names of many Fellows who have been highly distinguished, not only in the annals of our College, but also in the still wider annals of English science and literature. To follow such eminent men in the discussion of subjects on which little that is new can now remain to be said, is an undertaking from which I should naturally have recoiled. But, remember- ing, Sir, that the request proceeded from you, the dis- tinguished President of our College, once a fellow-student, always a friend, I felt that it was no longer open to me even to hesitate. I felt that I must adopt the words of 112