Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
November,  1909.  j 
Charles  Darwtn. 
519 
could  have  witnessed  that  brilliant  assembly,  for  although  there 
have  been  wonderful  developments  in  every  branch  of  science  since 
the  "  Origin  of  Species  "  first  startled  the  world,  the  celebration  of 
the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  publication  was  of  such  a  character  as 
to  bear  undisputed  testimony  to  the  fact  that  it  was  the  work  of 
Darwin  which  opened  up  the  new  world  of  biological  knowledge 
and  gave  inspiration  to  those  who  followed  in  his  steps. 
The  most  interesting  and  important  part  of  the  celebration  con- 
sisted of  the  proceedings  on  June  23,  which  were  a  blend  of  digni- 
fied ceremony  and  lighter  social  functions.  In  the  morning,  at  the 
Senate  House,  the  proceedings  were  opened  by  an  address  by  the 
Chancellor  of  the  University,  Lord  Rayleigh,  after  which  con- 
gratulatory addresses  were  presented  by  the  delegates  from  the 
various  countries  represented,  nearly  all  of  whom  wore  their 
academic  robes.  Among  those  participating  in  this  ceremony  were 
four  sons  of  Darwin,  namely :  Sir  George  Darwin,  who  appeared  for 
the  Roman  Academy  Dei  Lincei,  Major  Leonard  Darwin,  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Royal  Geographical  Society,  Mr.  Francis  Darwin, 
President  of  the  British  Association,  and  Mr.  William  Erasmus 
Darwin,  the  eldest  son,  as  delegate  for  the  Hartley  College,  South- 
ampton. There  were,  furthermore,  speeches  by  Professor  Oscar 
Hertwig,  of  Berlin,  Professor  Elie  Metchnikoff,  of  Paris,  Sir  E. 
Ray  Lankester,  of  London,  and  Professor  Henry  Fairfield  Osborn, 
of  New  York.  The  latter,  in  addressing  the  gathering,  paid  an 
eloquent  tribute  to  the  University  of  Cambridge  and  the  genius  of 
Darwin.  Although  his  oration,  for  want  of  space,  cannot  be  fully 
recorded  here,  the  sentiments  which  it  embodied  may  very  briefly 
be  indicated. 
He  assured  them  of  the  great  privilege-  the  delegates  from  the  United 
States  felt  it  to  be  of  uniting  in  the  celebration  of  Darwin's  birth,  and 
referred,  in  affectionate  terms,  to  the  maternal  ties  which  bound  the  Univer- 
sities of  America,  through  Harvard,  with  the  University  of  Cambridge.  To 
no  other  institution  in  any  country  might  they  turn  with  such  a  sense  of 
filial  gratitude.  The  growth  of  the  influence  produced  by  the  trans-atlantic 
universities  upon  American  life  was  noted,  and  the  fact  that,  through  the 
survival  of  the  best,  the  political  guidance  of  the  nation  was  passing  more 
and  more,  as  in  the  British  Empire,  into  the  hands  of  men  who  had  been 
trained  in  the  Colleges.  A  son  of  Yale,  for  example,  had  succeeded  a  son 
of  Harvard  as  President  of  the  United  States.  Concluding  with  a  panegyric 
upon  Darwin,  he  said  that  the  American  delegates,  naturalists,  and  friends 
desired  to  present  to  Christ's  College,  as  a  memorial  of  their  visit,  a  portrait 
