Page:The Harveian oration, 1875 (IA b22314611).pdf/9
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obviously out of place. Assuming then a certain undefined and wholly undefinable degree of competence, I address myself earnestly to the task of justifying the President’s choice, fulfilling your reasonable expectations, and approaching, as near as my powers permit, to my own ideal of what is due to the dignity of this College, and the memory of its brightest ornament and greatest benefactor.
The lapse of time and altered circumstances have, as you are aware, brought about deviations from the original design of the ITarveian Oration. In lieu of the Latin tongue, once the written and spoken language of the learned, we now use our own native English, which promises some day to be to the whole world, what Latin was to the educated section of a small part of it; and by a sort of general understanding and consent, we meet on this occasion to do honour to Harvey himself, as the man who, above and beyond all others, has “approved” himself “ a benefactor to the College” and our greatest contributor “to the sum of medical science.”
In saying this, I think that I rightly represent your feelings and expectations; but on referring to the published orations of my predecessors, I find