vii 



the many shortcomings of which I am but too conscious. I have to 

 express my thanks for your constant support and counsel in all 

 difficulties, for your unvarying courtesy and deference, for the friend- 

 ships which my official intercourse with you has formed or strengthened, 

 and most especially for that recent and touching evidence of your 

 approbation and esteem shown by your wish to possess within your 

 walls some pictorial remembrance of my unworthy person. Of this 

 high and generous compliment I can never, while life and reason 

 remain to me, be other than most gratefully, and I hope pardonably, 

 proud. Further, I have to rejoice that the happy lustrum during 

 which I have presided over your affairs has been harmonious and 

 peaceful — disturbed by no unseemly quarrels or serious differences 

 among us — stained by no scandal arising within our proper body, and 

 productive through your exertions and self-sacrifices of something, at 

 least, of benefit to the common weal. If I find anything to regret it 

 is that I have, not taken larger advantage of the opportunity which 

 you have confided to me of promoting the interests of the College, 

 and of our useful and noble profession. Still, I must cherish the 

 hope that the College has suffered no abatement of its ancient 

 dignity and renown through my occupation of the office which I now 

 respectfully render back into your hands. And so without encroaching 

 further upon your time, and in redemption of the pledge which I 

 gave you last year, I bid you, as your President, one and all a cordial, 

 affectionate, and final farewell." 



The " pictorial remembrance " to which he alludes is an admirable 

 likeness by his old friend, George Richmond, which was subscribed 

 for by the Fellows, and which is now among the most cherished 

 treasures of the College. A replica is in the possession of the present 

 baronet, and the picture has been most successfully engraved by the 

 great and venerable artist Samuel Cousins. 



Dr. Watson was appointed Physician Extraordinary to the Queen 

 in 1859, and in 1870 one of the Physicians in Ordinary. On the 

 9th December, 1861, he was summoned to attend the Prince Consort 

 at Windsor in consultation with Sir James Clark, Sir Henry Holland, 

 and Dr. (now Sir William) Jenner, and his attendance continued 

 until the lamented death of the Prince on the 14th December. 



In 1866 Dr. Watson was created a baronet, the honour having been 

 conferred upon him, as the then Prime Minister, Lord John Russell, 

 informed him, by the express desire of Her Majesty. 



Among other distinctions which were conferred upon him may be 

 mentioned the following. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of his 

 old College at the same time as the late Sir John Herschel. He 

 was made Hon. D.C.L. Oxford, in 1862; Hon. LL.D. Cambridge, 

 in 1864 ; and Hon. Fellow of the King's and Queen's College of 

 Physicians, Ireland. In 1859 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal 



