HEXRY CHARLES LEA. 



(Read January 20, 19 11.) 

 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



By WILUA^I \V. KEEN, ^I.D, LL.D, 

 President of the American Philosophical Society. 



Members of the American Philosophical Society, ^Members and 

 Representatives of the Library Company of Philadelphia, of the Uni- 

 versity of Pennsylvania, of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and of 

 the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Ladies and Gentlemen : — 



In the days, of Julius Caesar and during the wars which followed 

 his assassination, "Triumvirate" was a word very familiar to 

 Roman citizens. But whether applied to the first or the second 

 triumvirate it had a sinister meaning. Our own city, however, for 

 many years has had an illustrious triumvirate of men who have been 

 eminent in literature, science and civic life. Horace Howard Furness, 

 S. Weir Mitchell and Henry Charles Lea. Xo other American city 

 could boast three names comparable to these. 



When one of these three, and such a man as Henry Charles Lea 

 has passed away, it is fitting that his associates and the community 

 at large should halt for an hour in our busy life and pay a tribute 

 to his character and achievements. 



The American Philosophical Society, of which he was an honored 

 member, therefore suggested to the four other public institutions 

 named with which Air. Lea was associated by membership, and 

 which had benefited by his active interest and generous support, 

 that a joint meeting in memory of Air. Lea should be held. The 

 idea was most cordially received and a speaker representing each of 

 these societies will share in the proceedings of the evening. 



In addition to these distinguished local representatives. His 

 Excellency, the Right Lion. James Bryce, the British Ambassador, 

 has come from Washington especially to do honor to the memory 

 of his fellow historian and friend. 



