(36) HISTORY of the SOCIETT. 



Accoumof Having fhewn an early and flrong predlledlion for the ftudy 



W.Hamilton. i- 1 1 i • 1 1 • • n-ii 



of phyfic, he went to Edinburgh, which was then, as it is Itill, 

 the moft celebrated fchool of medicine in Europe. During the 

 fummer of 1775, he lludied botany under the late worthy Dr 

 Hope; and during the two enfuing winters he ftudied with 

 great ardour under all the medical profefTors, and enjoyed the 

 friendfhip of Dr Collen and Dr Black, who having been for- 

 merly members of the College of Glafgow, were the companions 

 and friends of his father. 



Mr Hamilton intended to have remained a third feafon in 

 Edinburgh, but the ftate of liis father's health rendered it necef- 

 fary for him to give up this plan. Accordingly, in fummer 

 1777, he accompanied his father to Bath, and from thence to 

 London, where he was recommended to the particular notice 

 of the late Dr William Hunter, and of his brother Mr 

 John Hunter. Each of thefe gentleman was connecfted with 

 Mr T. Hamilton by early friendfhip, and a conftant intercourie 

 of good offices. Under their diredion Mr Hamilton quickly 

 diftinguifhed himfelf by that ardent purfuit of anatomical and 

 profeflional knowledge,which marked every part of his fubfequent 

 life. Though left at an early age to his own conducft, in a city 

 abounding above all others with objeds of pleafure and amufe- 

 ment, he rehfted the blandilhments of both, devoting his time 

 to the acquifition of knowledge, applying not only to thofe parts 

 of ftudy which were entertaining, but to thofe alfo which the 

 young are apt to negledl as uninterefting, or to defpife as ufe- 

 lefs, and manifefting, on every occafion, a diligence difcouraged 

 by no difficulty, and interrupted by few avocations. 



Such condudl did not efcape the eye of Dr HuNT£a. Indefa- 

 tigable himfelf, he was delighted with appearances of profeffional 

 zeal among his ftudents ; and he was fo particularly pleafed with 

 them in the fon of his old friend, that, after the firft feafon, he in- 

 vited Mr Hamilton to live in his houfe, and committed the dif- 



feding- 



