to London; and on the 13th February, 1794, was elected physician to St. Bartholomew's hospital, an office the duties of which he performed for forty years, resigning it in 1834, when he retired from practice, and quitted London. Dr. Roberts died at Croydon, 21st November, 1846, aged 84.

ROBERT HENDERSON, M.D.-A native of Scotland, and a doctor of medicine of Aberdeen, of 20th May, 1786; was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 23rd December, 1793. He held the appointment of physician to the forces, and died at Brighton 3rd April, 1808.

THOMAS STORY, M.D. was born in Cumberland, and received his medical education at Edinburgh, where he graduated doctor of medicine 24th June, 1791 (D.M.I. de Hydrope Anasarcâ). He was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 23rd December, 1793; and would seem to have died about the year 1798.

SIR HENRY HALFORD, BART. M.D. G.C.H. — This distinguished member of the medical profession was the second son (the eldest son having died at an early period,) of Dr. James Vaughan, an eminent physician at Leicester, and was born in that town on the 2nd October, 1766. He was educated at Rugby, and whilst there evinced that love of classical literature for which he was afterwards so distinguished. He went from Rugby to Christchurch, Oxford, and, as a member of that house, proceeded A.B. 31st January, 1788; A.M. 17th June, 1788; M.B. 14th January, 1790; M.D. 27th October, 1791. Previously to taking his degrees in physic, he had spent some months in Edinburgh, and he practised for a short time in conjunction with his

father at Leicester. Dr. Vaughan came to London about 1792; and, consulting Sir George Baker on his future prospects, was told that he stood little chance in the metropolis for five years, during which time he must continue to support himself from other sources at the rate of about 3001. a-year. Nothing daunted, and doubtless confident in his own powers, he, with this intention, (and the alternative, in case of failure, of returning to Leicester, to take his father's position,) borrowed 1,000l., and on that capital commenced his career in London. He was elected physician to the Middlesex hospital on the 20th of February, 1793; was admitted a Candidate of the Royal College of Physicians on the 25th of March, 1793; and a Fellow on the 14th of April, 1794.

His Oxford connexions, elegant attainments, and pleasing manners at once introduced him into good society, and he secured a position among the aristocracy by his marriage, on the 31st of March, 1795, to the Hon. Elizabeth Barbara St. John, the third daughter of John eleventh Lord St. John of Bletsoe. Dr. Vaughan's success from the very first would seem to have been certain; and Dr. Richard Warren, then one of the leading physicians in London, and a man of shrewd observation and sound judgment, predicted, on his settling in town, that he would rise to the head of his profession. His progress towards that position was rapid. In 1793, within a year of his settlement in London, he was appointed physician extraordinary to the king; and by the year 1800, his private engagements had become so numerous, that he was compelled to relinquish his hospital appointment. Other circumstances conspired to advance his interests. After the death of Lady Denbigh, widow

of his mother's cousin Sir Charles Halford, he became possessed of an ample fortune, and changed his name in 1809, by act of Parliament, from Vaughan to Halford, and, as a mark of royal favour, was created a Baronet on the 27th September, 1809.

About this time, when in attendance on the Princess Amelia, King George III. desired him, in case of his Majesty's experiencing a relapse of his mental derangment, to take the care of him, adding that Sir Henry must promise not to leave him; and, if he wanted further help, he should call Dr. Heberden; and in case of further need, which would necessarily occur if Parliament took up the matter, Dr. Baillie.

On the illness of the king, which occurred soon afterwards, Sir Henry Halford, though physician extraordinary only, was summoned to attend; and his prompt introduction of Dr. Heberden and Dr. Baillie, at once insured the confidence of the Queen and of the prince of Wales, the latter of whom appointed Sir Henry one of his physicians in ordinary, and secured for him in 1812 the appointment of physician in ordinary to the king. The confidence then reposed in Sir Henry by the prince was continued when the latter came to the throne, he was appointed physician in ordinary to George IV. and he held the same position in the medical establishments of William IV. and of her present Majesty Queen Victoria. Sir Henry Halford was thus physician in ordinary to four successive sovereigns. At the death-bed of three of these it was his melancholy privilege to minister. Almost every member of the royal family from the time of George III. had been under Sir Henry's professional care. His attentions to the duke of York during his last illness were so

unremitting, that, to manifest the sense entertained of them, he received, by royal warrant, a grant of armorial augmentations and supporters. His arms were previously: Argent, a greyhound passant sable, on a chief azure three fleurs-de-lis or. For the centre fleur-de-lis was substituted a rose argent; and, in further augmentation, was added, on a canton ermine a staff entwined with a serpent proper, and ensigned with a coronet composed of crosses patée and fleursde-lis (being that of a prince of the blood-royal). As a crest of augmentation, a staff entwined with a serpent or, as on the canton. As supporters, two emews proper, each gorged with a coronet, composed of crosses patée and fleurs-de-lis.

Upon the decease of George IV. Sir Henry received another flattering proof of royal esteem and appreciation-a very splendid clock, surmounted by a bust of his Majesty, was presented to him by the royal family, in evidence, as the inscription states, "of their esteem and regard, and in testimony of the high sense they entertain of his professional abilities and unwearied attention to their late beloved sister the Princess Amelia, her late Majesty Queen Charlotte, his late Majesty King George III. his late royal highness the Duke of York, and, lastly, to his Majesty George IV."

Sir Henry Halford's progress and eminence among his professional brethren, and in the College of Physicians, were no less rapid and distinguished than with the public and the royal family. His attainments as a practical physician were of the very highest order. Though inferior, it is said, to Dr. Baillie in accuracy of diagnosis, he was undoubtedly superior to him in that which constitutes the real aim and office of the physician-the cure and alleviation of disease. In this point of view, Sir Henry Halford

attained to consummate skill. Endowed with quick perception, a sound judgment, and an almost intuitive knowledge of the powers of medicines, he wielded the resources of his art with a confidence, precision, and success, which was unapproached by any of his contemporaries. For many years he shared with Dr. Baillie the highest professional honours, confidence, and emoluments of the metropolis; and on the death of that great anatomist, in 1823, he was left without a rival. Thenceforward, until overtaken by age and illness, he maintained an indisputable pre-eminence in the profession.

No sketch of Sir Henry Halford's life would be complete without especial reference to his long and distinguished connexion with the Royal College of Physicians. Throughout the whole of his successful career, and even when most oppressed by the arduous and harassing duties of his extensive professional business, Sir Henry was ever attentive to the highest interests of that learned body, and ready and anxious to devote himself, his energies, and influence to the furtherance of its welfare and the maintenance of its dignity. He served the office of Censor in 1795, 1801, 1815; he delivered the Harveian Oration in 1800, and again in 1835; he was named an Elect the 6th of February, 1815; and on the 30th of September, 1820, was elected President-an office to which he was annually and unanimously re-elected, and the duties of which he continued to perform with honour to the College and credit to himself till his death, on the 9th of March, 1844, in the 78th year of his age.

To Sir Henry Halford's energy and exertions the College of Physicians mainly owe their removal from Warwick-lane to Pall Mall East. The inconvenience of the former situation, the rapidly increasing and