council's report. 35 



The transport of the sick and the care of the blind occupied 

 part of his time for many years. In 1914 he received the 

 honour of knighthood in recognition of his many public 

 benefactions. His scientific activities were numerous in 

 his early years. He had a keen insight into mechanical 

 processes. He studied with great care the act of swallow- 

 ing and contributed a number of original observations to 

 the elucidation of this complicated movement. Particularly 

 he described the position of the epiglottis and the move- 

 ment of the larynx. He made some investigations con- 

 cerning the accomodation of the eye and the structure 

 and arrangement of the suspensory ligaments of the lens 

 of the eye. He devoted much attention to the study of the 

 voice. For many years he tried to improve his lectures by 

 seeking for new models to enforce the teaching of his 

 lectures. He showed such skill in his designs that a mere 

 glance served in most cases to recognize the principle of 

 mechanics that was illustrated. Future generations will 

 bear testimony to the stateman's grasp of education that 

 he possessed. 



Frederick William Webb, c.m.g., was born in Sydney 

 on 20th February, 1837, and died on 17th July, 1919, at 

 Balgowlah, near Manly, at the age of 82 years. He was 

 the only son of the late John Webb of H.M. Commissariat 

 Department, and was elected a member of this Society in 

 1897. In 1853 he accepted employment in the Post Office, 

 and remained there for six years. On April 19th, 1860, he 

 obtained the position of Clerk in Charge of Parliamentary 

 Papers in the Legislative Assembly, and from that time, 

 as vacancies occurred, he received the promotion to which 

 he was entitled. In 1877 he was appointed Acting Clerk 

 of the Assembly during the absence of Mr. Stephen W. 

 Jones, and filled that position again in 1886 in similar cir- 

 cumstances. On the retirement of Mr. Jones in 1888, under 

 the provisions of the Civil Service Act, Mr. Webb received 

 his commission as Clerk of the Assembly, and held that 



