THE VICE-CHANCELLOR. 21 



knows that we were witnessing (many of them did witness) 

 yesterday the extinction of a no longer useful species. The 

 last of the Senior Wranglers took his degree yesterday, and 

 one result of it, I am told, was this. A fair visitor to Cam- 

 bridge, who was present at the spectacle and was told it was 

 the last Senior Wrangler that would ever be seen, said : 

 " Then there will be no difference in the future between 

 Cambridge and Oxford." I need not tell you that we are 

 proud beyond words of receiving at Cambridge this mag- 

 nificent assemblage of men, whose greatness in many 

 departments of science is recognised all over the world. 

 The Hall in which we are assembled has never before 

 been used publicly for any purpose at all. It is the 

 inauguration of this new Examination Hall, and in spite of 

 Professor Poulton's words about examinations I trust that the 

 record which has been handed round the room, and which will 

 for ever be preserved in Cambridge, will be an indication of 

 the way in which this Hall was first employed, and that 

 something of the memory of the distinguished occasion may 

 still cling to these walls as long as they stand. At this hour 

 of the evening I feel sure I shall consult your interests by not 

 detaining you longer than to speak of two friends of Darwin's 

 who would have been present to-night if they could. 

 Allusion has already been made to the great delight 

 we have experienced in seeing the venerable Sir Joseph 

 Hooker walking about Cambridge as if he were 30 years 

 younger than he is. But we were hoping to-night to 

 have had Lord Avebury with us. He has been detained 

 elsewhere by a sorrow to which I need refer no further.. 

 The other name is the memorable name of Alfred Russell 

 Wallace. W T e hoped that we might have induced him even 

 at his present age to come and receive an honorary degree at 

 Cambridge. I believe he was asked at an earlier period ; 

 but we hoped that he might have been induced to receive a 

 degree at this double anniversary of his great friend and 

 collaborator ; but the state of his health did not permit him to- 

 do so. I have a proposal to make. It does not originate 

 froin myself, but I think from the High Steward of the 

 University, who has put into words the proposal which I will 



