PRESENTATION OF A PORTRAIT OF MR BOTTLE.
A meeting of the subscribers to a fund which has recently been raised by some of Mr Alex Bottle's friends for the purpose of presenting his portrait to the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society, was held on Wednesday in the Council room of the Society at 3 o'clock. Mr Michael Carteighe, President, took the chair, and at once called upon Mr Hampson, Treasurer of the fund, to address the meeting.
Mr Hampson said he considered himself extremely fortunate in having this opportunity of saying a few words with regard to his old friend, Mr Bottle. He had to hand over to the President of the Society this portrait, on behalf of those who had initiated the movement and who were now assembled to support him. There was nothing so suitable as a collection of portraits to adorn the walls of any institution, which, like theirs, professed to lead in thought or action. In Germany and on the Continent generally you found collections of portraits in connection with the various learned societies, and nothing was more delightful to look on those portraits, not only of those who were still living, but of those who had passed away; they were constant sources of pleasure, not merely from their artistic merit, but from their perpetuating the remembrance of those who had gone, after having fought the good fight in various ways. This portrait of Mr Bottle was not only a successful portrait, which would add grace to the Council Chamber, but it would remind those who occupied it in days to come of his presence there. If he were asked why should they give Mr Bottle a portrait, the question was very easily answered. Mr Bottle was the father of the Council, to whom they had looked up for many years, and whose advice was sought because there was no man so well acquainted with the law of the Society, and he could generally say whether they were going right or wrong. When the Society had its birth he was one of the first who came forward to support it. Not living in London, but in the country, he saw the necessity that the craft should be organised, and for fifty years he had been a devoted friend to the Society and a hearty worker for its welfare; and for about thirty years he had filled a seat on the Council. Those were sufficient reasons; but there were others. Mr Bottle, as they all knew, was a very single-hearted and faithful friend, and there was not a member of the Council who did not consider it a privilege to call him so. He (Mr Hampson) had by degrees acquired his friendship, and he hoped he should always retain it. On behalf of those who had arranged this matter, he had much pleasure in presenting the portrait to the President for the Society, and he had no doubt it would be treasured, as a work of art, as an incentive to others, and as a memento of Mr Bottle's long service as Vice-President.
The President said he was authorised to say on behalf of the Council of the Society that it accepted this portrait with the greatest possible pleasure and gratitude. While he was yet a pupil in the school, Mr Bottle was a member of the Council, but since then he had been associated with him in Pharmaceutical work as much as most of his colleagues. During the last few years he had had the special advantage of his assistance in what might be called the directorial work of the Society, in the examinations and in committee work, and his respect for him was such that he almost envied the Society the possession of this picture. That portrait was not only a great treasure in itself, but it was a worthy companion to those of other distinguished men which adorned the walls, most if not all of whom, except Mr John Mackay, had been residents in London. It would be extremely pleasant to him to see on the wall the portrait of a gentleman who lived almost as far from Edinburgh as it was possible to do, so that Edinburgh, London and Dover were in that sense united. A good gallery of portraits was as nice a thing to hand on to their successors as they could desire, and on the part of the Council he begged to thank the donors and to promise them that the portrait should have the position which its merits and those of their dear old friend himself entitled it to.
Mr Hampson said he had much pleasure in also handing Mr Bottle a small personal memento in remembrance of this happy event.
Mr Bottle said he was not prepared with a speech on this occasion, but he could not let it pass without a few words of grateful thanks for all the kindness he had received from time to time within those walls. When he first joined the Society, nearly fifty years ago, some of the old familiar faces which adorned the walls, William Allen, Jacob Bell, George Sandford and others were amongst them. It had been his privilege for thirty years to hold a seat on the Council, and during that time he had made many friends and he ventured to hope he had never made an enemy. It was exceedingly kind of his friends to join together and present this portrait to the Society, and he hoped and believed that in time to come it would hold a place on the walls in company with those of other men more honoured and more deserving, who had gone before him. But none had been more zealous or more desirous of serving the Society than he had been. The time was coming when in the ordinary course of events he must cease to occupy an official position but he should regret to lose it so long as he retained his health and intellect; and when he failed in that, and had to retire into private life, he should carry with him very pleasant recollections of their friendship and good feelings which he had always met with from members of the Society. He thanked all present for their many kindnesses, and in particular for this last manifestation of their good will.
The President then moved a vote of thanks to the committee, to Mr Richard Bremridge and to the Treasurer. Though a member of the committee himself he had really done very little work, and therefore might be allowed to propose this resolution, and to mention especially Mr Hampson, Mr Butt and Mr Hills, who formed the Sub-Committee.
Mr Bottle said he thought he was entitled, as vice-president, to second the resolution, and he begged to tender his own thanks to the members of the Committee for the very satisfactory way in which they had carried out the arrangements.
The resolution was carried unanimously and the proceedings terminated.
The portrait, which is by Mr Elmslie, was the subject of general admiration by those present.