378 
ANNUAL DINNEK. 
hardly recognised; and I hope I may. say that that science 
now stands in a more elevated position than it did at the 
time of the appointment. But I doubt not that there are 
manv men who could have fulfilled the task as well or better 
than myself. My labours have, however, not been without 
some fruit, and I trust that those who may follow me will 
build upon the foundation that I have attempted to lay, and . 
that the superstructure will prove to be something like an 
ornament to the profession. (Hear, hear.) I fear I have 
done but little to interest you in the position in which you 
have placed me this evening; but you are aware that we 
have been placed under peculiar difficulties. Here let me 
say that I wish the members of our profession had 
assembled in sufficient numbers to fill the large hall of 
this building instead of dining in a room on the second 
floor. I have no doubt, if we put our shoulders to the 
wheel, we may bring about this result on future occasions. 
It was so during a former presidency, when we were 
honoured by the presence of the Duke of Cambridge, the 
Commander in Chief of the army. When the office of 
president passed from the hands of Mr. Field, it was filled 
by gentlemen who did not see eye to eye with him as to 
what ought to be done to place the profession in a prominent 
position; and hence another good example which he set 
was not followed, namely, that of calling together the great 
and noble of the land, on whom we are, as a profession, 
partly dependent, and likewise men distinguished in science 
and in art, to those happy meetings at Red Lion Square 
which assumed the character of conversaziones. I certainly 
deeply regret that meetings such as these were allowed 
to fall to the ground. I mention this because it may be 
said that I have had an opportunity during my year of 
office of doing something in this way. I certainly had it 
in rny heart to do it, and am sorry that circumstances were 
such as to prevent its being carried out. I found that prin¬ 
cipals of the College when in office had done nothing of the 
kind, and also that gentlemen occupying distinguished po¬ 
sitions who succeeded our friend, Mr. Field, had likewise 
done nothing; and I thought it would be hardly right for 
me, as a mere teacher, to call together men of science and 
distinction at a conversazione^ when others had done nothing 
of tlie kind. It was partly on this account that I desired that 
we should dine together in this convivial way, and that these 
things should be mentioned, so that we might all of, us de¬ 
termine to do better for the future, and that it might be seen 
l)y the way in which our invitation to the medical section of 
