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



accommodation in accordance with its needs and means, it finally- 

 settled in its present home. 



It will be conceded that, not only in the first instance, but 

 through its entire career, the Club has been remarkably fortunate 

 in its selection of Secretary. It would scarcely have been possible 

 to have found a more thorough business man, of a more amiable 

 disposition, prompt, punctual, methodical and unassuming, than 

 its genial first Secretary, to whom the early success of the Club 

 must be largely attributed. 



Next in importance to the Secretary, the founders of the Club 

 were impressed with the importance of securing the best possible 

 first President, and this was for some time a matter of anxiety. 

 It is very customary, in cases of this kind, to propose as a first 

 President the person who has held the chair at all the preliminary 

 and provisional meetings. Whether in accordance with custom, 

 or otherwise, I was requested to allow myself to be nominated 

 as President for the first year, but this I at once declined to do, 

 in the event of the Committee being able to secure the services 

 of Dr. Edwin Lankester, or some one of equal repute or influence, 

 and this decision I have never regretted. I contended that a 

 President who was already a Fellow of the Microscopical Society 

 would bear evidence that the Club was not an opposition Society 

 and that, with Dr. Lankester as President, the Club would at 

 least be held in respect by kindred Societies, whereas I was 

 myself a comparatively unknown man except within a limited 

 circle, and I felt conscious that I was not possessed of that 

 influence which was essential for the first President of a Club, 

 so predestined to success as the Quekett Microscopical Club 

 appeared to me to be, provided no false step were taken in the 

 election of its officers. Fortunately, the friendship and influence 

 of Mr. Hardwicke, added to my own request, secured the ser\aces 

 of the man whom we all regarded as the best man, under all the 

 circumstances, to preside over the Q.M.C. during the first year 

 of its existence. 



The bye -laws and regulations were drawn up by myself and 

 By water, and afterwards considered and adopted by the members. 

 I was requested also to draw up the prospectus or programme, 

 which was endorsed by the conclave of three and afterwards 

 officially adopted. 



Thus the Q.M.C. was floated, wdth its officers and Committee, 



