Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 2.djvu/552

 and energy, and, at some of the discussions, even on medical subjects, the Hall of the society, and the very staircase, were crowded with visiters, attracted by the interest of the questions, or the reputation of those who were to conduct the debate. Of the four presidents elected after that busy session, two, Dr. Gaulter and Dr. Lane, have since died, before age had overtaken them: the latter died before the year of his presidency expired, and Dr. Brabant, now of Devizes, was almost unanimously elected in his room. Dr. Burne, now of London, and myself; were the other two. This office, it is well known, is one eagerly desired by Edinburgh students, being almost the only honour or mark of distinction which is open to them in that University. Like other offices, it is said to have been, sometimes, "derived corruptly:" but, in the session of which I am speaking, by whatever degrees of merit it might be gained by the different candidates, I feel fully assured it was not obtained, in any instance, by any superfluous expenditure of money. That Dr. Darwall desired to fill this office, and that he ought to have filled it, was never doubted by those who knew him; but he distrusted his popularity, and was absent at the time of the annual election. He was, however, always looked upon as one of the members who conferred most honour on the society, by his learning and talents, and he took a very active share both in the discussions and in the management of the institution. Although he evidently carefully prepared himself on the subjects to be discussed, it was not in his nature to be solicitous about the mode in which his opinions were expressed. His language