452 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. X. 



similar circumstances. He proposed the subject to some medical 

 gentlemen, and also to his colleague, who always had been for- 

 ward to promote objects of public utility. The scheme was 

 followed up with zeal and liberality. An institution arose far 

 surpassino; his utmost expectation." " Such," in the words of an 

 intimate friend, with whom he often conversed, " was the develop- 

 ment in his truly Christian mind of an institution which has 

 since grown to be one of the honors of Canada — an institution 

 of which Montreal will always be proud, and to which the late 

 Hon. iMr. Richardf^on, after all highly valued labours, had the 

 honour of making an important addition." 



By his will, drawn up on the 21st of February, 1833, four 

 years before his death, "he left bequests in the following order, 

 and to the following amount: — For the purchase of a ground 

 lot and erection of a manse, for the use of the minister of St. 

 Gabriel Street Church, during thirty years the object of his 

 warm and constant solicitude, £1000; to support a lectureship 

 for the benefit of the Natural History Society of Montreal, 

 £1000; to Mr. David Wilkie, at Quebec, his friend from early 

 life, £1000; to the Rev. Alex. Mathieson, of Montreal, many 

 years an intimate friend, £100; to the late Thos. Blackwood, 

 Esq., one of his oldest and most confidential friends at Montreal, 

 £100; and to the Trustees of the Montreal General Hospital, 

 as residuary legatees, all that might remain after paying off all 

 the above mentioned leo-acies." Dr. Wilkie remarks: "The 

 remainder falling to the General Hospital must, it is believed, 

 be very considerable, and will, no doubt, be suitably recorded." 



Tn our time the amounts bequeathed by Mr. Somerville to 

 public objects, do not seem large; but fifty years ago they must 

 have been counted considerable, when there was comparatively 

 little realized wealth in this country, and money was so much 

 more valuable relatively, than it is now. Though not looking 

 very large to the present generation, they were timely; and the 

 several sums applied to the respective objects contemplated in 

 his final benevolent disposal of his means were productive of 

 more important and lasting results to those public objects 

 than five times the amount would be to-day. His thoughtful 

 generosity put the institutions which it aided on a prosperous 

 footing, and once they got fairly under weigh, their success be- 

 came assured. 



It was not from his professional income, however, that the 



