-96 [Proc. B.N.F.C. 



Poets Laureate are so called from an ancient custom in the 

 English universities of presenting a laurel wreath to graduates 

 in rhetoric and poetry. Aspirants were wreathed with laurels 

 in berry. Authors are still so crowned in France. " Laureation" 

 is the transferring of degrees in Scotch Universities. The 

 title " Laureate " was conferred by Edward III., on an officer of 

 the Royal Household whose business it was to compose a 

 birthday ode for the monarch, and another for the new year. 

 The post is now a sinecure. 



All the legends and romance of old time with its wealth of 

 ideas that still cling round the law el are with us to-day as 

 strongly as ever. It is still the symbol of victory and peace, or 

 of that peace obtained by victory. It is a frequent charge in 

 heraldry symbolizing the military achievements of the ist 

 bearer. Many names such as Laurier, Laurie, Lowry, are 

 derived from the tree and usually figure in some form in the 

 family escutcheon. Our poetry and literature teem with 

 allusions to the laurel. Shakspere makes frequent reference 

 always in a splendid manner to the victor's wreath — of which 

 I quote a few at random. 



" Now are cur brows bound with victorious wreaths, 

 Our bruised arms hung up for monuments ; 

 Our stern alarms changed to merry meetings, 

 Our dreadful marches to delightful measures." 



Richard III, /, /. 

 " With bruised arms and wreaths of victory." 



22 January. 



WM. GRAY, M.R.I.A.— " REPORT OF DELEGATE TO 

 THE CONFERENCE OF CORRESPONDING SOCIE- 

 TIES AT THE BRADFORD MEETING OF THE 

 BRITISH ASSOCIATION," AND 



W. J. FENNELL, M.R.I.A.L— " NOTES ON THE BRAD- 

 FORD MEETING." 



Mr. Gray said, meeting here as citizens and members of a 

 scientific society, it becomes us, before proceeding with the 



