232 M. C. COOKE ON EARLY MEMORIES OF THE Q.M.C. 



encouragement, as well as practical help and advice in their 

 studies. Moreover, a society was required which either initiated 

 or encouraged social field work, and was disposed to foster social 

 intercourse and fraternisation. It was frankly acknowledged 

 that at this time the old Society was too exclusive, and self- 

 contained, to interest itself in students, and was incapable of 

 training the rising generation of microscopists. The feeling of 

 monopoly had to be broken down, and the coming Q.M.C. wa& 

 fated to be the instrument. 



When the proposal was formulated, Mr. Hardwickewas pleased 

 with the idea, and although he was not a microscopist himself he 

 volunteered to do all that he could to assist in its realisation, by 

 placing his office at disposal for preliminary meetings, and allowing 

 it to be used as a provisional office for correspondence. On July 

 1st, it was announced in "Science Gossip" that at a preliminary 

 meeting, which was held on June 14th, at Mr. Hardwicke's office^ 

 it was decided to hold a general meeting for organisation at the 

 St. Martin's National Schools, Charing Cross, on July 7th, for 

 which purpose a provisional Committee had been appointed, con- 

 sisting of the three persons already mentioned, with Mr. Hardwicke 

 and his friend Mr. S. Highley, together with the originator of 

 the proposal, Mr. W. Gibson. 



The next important step taken was the organisation of the 

 Quekett Microscopical Club on July 7th, 1865, with a Provisional 

 Committee, and Mr. R. Hardwicke as Treasurer. At all these 

 meetings, until the election of the President, the chairman was 

 the writer of this notice, and the acting secretary, Mr. W. M. 

 Bywater. Two subjects occupied most of the discussion at the 

 July meeting — viz., the name of the Club, and the terms of 

 subscription. Mr. Pichard Beck took an animated part in the 

 discussions, and greatly assisted the Committee by his sympathetic 

 attitude, aided by his experience in practical microscopical work, 

 and his appreciation of all efforts on behalf of struggling students. 

 I am not sure my memory is accurate, but I think it was 

 Mr. Beck who proposed the name of the " Quekett Microscopical 

 Club," and that was ultimately unanimously adopted. It was 

 urged that the word " Club " would better express its aims and 

 objects than that of " Society." The other struggle was between 

 those who advocated a subscription of five shillings and those 

 who contended for a subscription of ten shillings per annum. 



