1837-38 DR. BUCKLAND AT THE LECTURES in 



an act of his good-nature, and meant as an 

 encouragment to the young beginner. It is a 

 formal, and therefore somewhat awful affair, our 

 lecture. First, the members and students as- 

 semble in the gallery and body of the theatre ; 

 then, as the clock strikes four, the honorary 

 visitors who have previously congregated with the 

 council in the council-room are ushered down, 

 the President, in his robes, being preceded by the 

 mace, which is reverently deposited on the lec- 

 ture-table by the beadle, when, lastly, walks in the 

 Professor, and then, when the clock strikes five, 

 your obedient and affectionate son makes his bow 

 and exit, with a much lighter heart than when he 

 entered. 



' I am truly thankful for the health and strength 

 which has thus far supported me through a severe 

 trial. My colleague, an old experienced lecturer, 

 found it so ; and most have acknowledged die 

 same. I trust to complete the course, which lasts 

 till the end of June, without greatly disappointing 

 the expectations of those who have (earlier than 

 I would have myself wished it) placed me in this 

 sphere. 



' Pearson Langshaw was, I believe, the only 

 townsman who witnessed my debut. , .' .' 



Dr. Buckland was a constant attendant at these 

 lectures. ' While he is at R.'s lecture,' Mrs. Owen 

 writes, ' Mrs. Buckland comes in to talk with me.' 



The excitement of these lectures used to have 



