The Sun.
London, England, 1825-06-27 00:00:00

NEW COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.

.• Saturday having been appointed for the open-
ing of this institution, a numerous assemblage of the Nobility
and Gentry attended to witness that ceremony, and to hear an
inaugural oration delivered by thePrestilent (Sir H. HaLFORD,
Bart., M.D.) The college library, which is a most splendid
room, was the place appointed for the reception of the com-
pany on this occasion. Three„o'clock was named for the com-
mencement of the proceedings, but long before that time the
room was nearly filledovith an assemblage of the, most distin-
guislted men in the country. Among the company were their Royal
Highnesses the Dtikes of York, Cambridge, Sussex, Gloucester,
and Prince Leopold; the Duke of Montrose ; Earls Liverpool,
Grey, and Aberdeen ' Lords Holland, Stowell,-.Sidmouth, and
;
St. Helens the "ford Primate ie Ireland ; the Bishops of
Lincoln and Chester ; the Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment ; the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; the President of
the Board of Controul ; the President:of the Board Of Trade ;
Sir C. Long, Sir J: Mackintosh, Sir T. Lawrence, Mr. Tierney,
Mr. Brougham, Mr. Bankes,'Sen., Mr. D. G. Gilbert, Mr.
Sergeant Vaughan, &c. &c.. There was besides these, a very
numerous attendance ofthe most respectable medical prac-

titioners in'the metropolis.
Soon after three-o'clock (the Royal Dnkeshaving taken their
seats in front of the 'Presidents chair), the President, attired in
his grand robes of office, preceded by the mace bearer, and at-
tended by nearly all the Fellows of the College, dressed in robes
of scarlet cloth, lined with crimson silk, entered the room, and'
having taken his'place, and :bowed to the assembly (who all
rose as he approached), prOceeded to deliver the inaugural
oration.
He began by adverting to the arduous nature of the task im-
posed on him on this occasion, surrounded as he saw himself
by so many • Royal, Noble, and distinguished personages—not
snore distinguished by their high rank and station, than by
their talents and acquirements as Senators and Statemen. 'l'o
several of those present he paid conipliments on their attendance,
alluding to • them principally in their official capacities. He
mentioned the Royal Dukes generally, and his Royal High-
ness the Duke of York in particular, in his character as Com-
-mander-in-Chief of the Army. He then adverted to the parti-
cular business for which they had assembled—to the necessity
:which existed for the erection of such a College, and on a site
snore eligible than that of the farmer College, and to the muni-
ficent patronage- of his present Majesty, under whose auspices it
had been commenced and happily completed. To his Majesty,
rebel after having terminated a desperate and protracted war by
a series of the most brilliant victories, had ever since most se-
dulously cultivated the arts of Peace, and shown himself on
every occasion the diligent promoter and bountiful patron of
the arts and sciences amongst his people, he paid some very
happy and well:turned compliments. Ile next adverted to
those, private, individuals,' members of the profession, by whose
great skill, persevering zeal, and continued benevolence, the
interests of Me Medical science generally, and those of the
London College in 'particular, had been so ably promoted.
Among these it was impossible to overlook the merits of the
late Dr. Bailey, .upon whose character the learned President
pronounced a very warm, eloquent, and affecting eulogiuin—
This, in our opinion, was the most beautiful part of the whole
oration-;' the orator taking the opportudity (while describing
the :-excellent qualities -of his lamented friend in his profes-
sional capacity and iinprivate lite) of ingeniously and' forcibly
pointing out those traitsof character by'which a medical prac-
titioner ought to be distinguiabed, not merely as a physician,
but as. a man and a Christian.
At the conclusion of thelreasage which we have thits faintly
described, a gentle half-suppressed murmur of approbation was
heard through the looms -whidi:ewOuld, we are certain, have
instantly swelled info loud atoplAise, - but for tliefear of losing
any of the passageS-which'fbllowed.•
The Learned .President.next •adverted to:the advances made
in science, and. to the advantage:l which the new College would
possess Over the 'old' oee, in having a mere extensive and betier
stored lihiary, and also.in- having a museum, in which varions
anatomical and •ether preparations caleulateci- fur the advance-
ment of the medical science would .he pre: erred.
After paying a tribute -to the ettieniorY'of several eminent
medical professors of ancientond modern times, to whose valu-
able diaceveries in the art ,the woald ssa.much indebted, lie
again adverted to the favourable auspices Mider
.which this new
college was.established, to the liberal :Pittremage of the Royal
family, and the kind interest which seemed to be excited for its
prosperity in the noble and dignified persons whom he .address-
ed ; and concluded by expressing a hope that tinder such au-
spices euccess would be certain. • ' • -
The oration was delivered in Latin, and it is -hut justice to
the learned President to state, that its elegant .composition did
great credit to his classical acquirements. • It was throughout
pronounced in a tone and manner well worthy the subject and
the occasion. .At its conclusion, the:company retired to the
hall of the College, where a most sumptuous cold collation,
consisting of every deliteiev of the season was prepared ; seats
were provided for the President, the Royal Dukes, and some
other distinguished guests at the upper table, but at all the other
tables the company partook of the refreshments standing.
At the conclusion of this repast,
The Duke of Yoax gate " Prosperity to the new College of
Physicians," and the Duke of CA 11 Bain oE gave tile health of
the President " Sir Henry Halford," both of which were re-
ceived with applause.
At half-past four o'clock the Royal Dukes departed, and the
rest of the company retired in a short time after, all evidently
much gratiEed with the proceedings of the day.-
It may not be amiss to inform some` of our readers that the
new€(4lea _ hrthat very superb building
erected in Pall-mall East, close to the building has been recently
Ring's Mews, and it is
fte
undoubtedly the most splendid of the new improvements in
that neighbourhood.