JACOB BELL. 469 



tion, and perhaps a prelude to one that promised greater 1859. 

 efficiency. 



Such were the arguments that Mr. Bell used at the eleventh 

 annual meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society. The members 

 present concurred with them, and it was the unanimous opinion 

 that every exertion should be used to pass the bill. The result 

 is well known: the Act for Regulating the Qualifications of The Pharmacy 

 Pharmaceutical Chemists passed both Houses of Parliament, Act ' 1 852 ie 3 ' 

 and finally received the royal assent, 30th June, 1852. 



Upon the dissolution of Parliament, and the General Election 

 in the summer of 1852, Mr. Bell offered himself for the re- 

 presentation of Great Mario w, but was not successful. In 

 1854, upon the death of Lord Dudley Stuart, he contested the 

 borough of Marylebone with Viscount Ebrington, but also with- 

 out success ; although upon this occasion he polled more votes 

 than the successful candidate had polled at the previous election. 

 When in the present year he was solicited to offer himself for 

 the same borough, and with every prospect of being returned 

 without opposition, his health was such that he was compelled 

 reluctantly to decline the honour. 



But though a Parliamentary career did not open to Mr. Bell, Failing 

 his interest in public matters allowed him to lead no useless or health. 

 idle life. With the exception of a short visit to Paris in the 

 year 1855, and the tour of a few weeks on the Continent in 

 1856, he scarcely ever left London for more than two or three 

 days at once. To this unceasing occupation, and utter forget- 

 fulness of his own bodily powers, must be attributed the long and 

 gradual decline in his health, which was unhappily terminated 

 by death in June last. The commencement of the malady which 

 proved so serious, may be traced back as far as the year 1854, 

 when having to address several public meetings on the occasion 

 of the Marylebone election, he contracted an ulceration of the 

 larynx, from which he never thoroughly recovered. 



The latter part of last year found Mr. Bell in an exceedingly 

 precarious state of health ; and although he always steadily re- 

 fused to try the effect of wintering abroad, he acceded to the 

 wishes of his physicians so far as to spend several weeks at 



