398 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



may not be aware what a great interest he took in all things of a scien- 

 tific nature, and especially anything that was new and epoch-marking in 

 connection with the treatment of disease. Some years ago one can 

 recollect the interest he showed when, as Prince of Wales, he was present 

 at a Soiree of the Royal College of Physicians. Consumption was then 

 first proved to be due to the ravages of a bacillus, and the lively enthu- 

 siasm he displayed when the actual bacilli were shown him under the 

 Microscope cannot easily be forgotten. Still later, and in fact all through 

 his career as King, this interest has never ceased, and has recently been 

 particularly emphasized by his creation of a new appointment — that of 

 Bacteriologist to the Royal Household — the first appointment of the 

 kind in Europe. Yes, Gentlemen, our late King was a really wonderful 

 man, who with all his manifold duties of state could find time to keep 

 himself in touch with everything that was new. I recollect the late Sir 

 William Huggins telling me that in ten minutes' conversation with His 

 Majesty he was particularly struck with the pertinent questions he put 

 to him upon the future possibilities of the spectroscope, You can well 

 appreciate, Gentlemen, even from the little I have said, the truth in what 

 I am about to say, that in losing King Edward VII. science has lost a 

 valued supporter, and the only solace we can find in our poignant grief 

 is the knowledge that his Son — His Most Gracious Majesty King George — 

 is a monarch of like attainments. Long may he be spared to reign over us. 



In conclusion, Gentlemen, I feel sure, without putting a resolution 

 before you in the ordinary manner, you will consider your Council have 

 acted rightly when they resolved that this Meeting " do adjourn as a 

 mark of respect to our late Sovereign," and that our Secretaries be 

 requested to forward the two memorials about to be read to you : One 

 to be addressed to His Most Gracious Majesty King George V., praying 

 him to accept our heart-felt sympathy in this his great time of grief, 

 assuring him of our respectful congratulations on his accession to the 

 Throne, and of our loyal, humble, and faithful allegiance to him as King ; 

 and the other to our most beloved Queen-Mother Alexandra, expressing 

 our deep condolence with her in her great bereavement, adding at the 

 same time our trust that Almighty God may help her in this her pressing 

 hour of need. 



The Chairman then read the proposed Addresses, as follows : — 



May it Please Your Majesty, 



We, your Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the President, 

 Vice-Presidents, Council, Officers, and Fellows of the Royal Micro- 

 scopical Society in General Meeting assembled, humbly beg leave to 

 offer our sincere and respectful condolences to your Majesty on the 

 loss which you and the Nation have sustained on the death of your 

 illustrious Father, our late beloved Sovereign, whose many virtues, 

 effective interest in scientific pursuits, and thoughtfulness for the 

 benefit of his subjects, are universally recognised. The death of 

 your Royal and Imperial Father touches this Society most acutely, 

 as he was its Patron since its incorporation in 1866. 



We desire also to present our humble and heartfelt congratula- 

 tions upon your Majesty's accession to the Throne, and to express 

 the hope that your Majesty's reign may be long, happy, and glorious. 



