Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/68

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52 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. fession, and the anxious desire he felt to secure and promote its future interests. — Having made known one of his liberal intentions to the Presi- dent of the College of Physicians, Dr. Prujean, who then held that office, announced his design to the Fellows assembled, in the following words : " If I can procure one that will build us a library, and a repository for simples and rarities, such an one as shall be suitable and honourable to the College, will you assent to have it done or no ; and give me leave, and such others as I shall de- sire, to be the designers and overlookers of the work, both for convenience and ornament ?" The College, as may readily be supposed, as- sented most willingly to so hberal a proposal, and voted the erection of the statue of Harvey, of white marble, in the robes of a doctor, to be placed in their hall, with a Latin inscription, alluding to the two great works by which he had rendered himself immortal, and hailing him as the perpetual benefactor of their body ! The building was now begun, and finished in the following year, when Harvey invited his colleagues to a splendid entertainment ; and the doors of the museum being thrown open, the munificent old man, in the most benevolent manner, and wishing all prosperity to the republic of medicine, presented at once the mansion and all its valuable contents to the College. He then laid down the office of professor of anatomy and surgery, which lie had hitherto held ; and was succeeded in that appoint- ment by that eminent anatomist, Glisson. The building, or Museum of Harvey, as it was called, is described as a noble edifice, of Roman