89 
CHAPTER II. 
Sir J. E. Smith leaves Edinburgh.—Lodges in Great Windmill- 
street, London.—-Dr. John Hunter.—Sir J. Banks informs him 
that the library and collections of Linneus are upon sale— 
Writes to Dr. Acrel.—Correspondence with his Father.—Lelters 
of Dr. Acrel, and catalogues of the collection.—Agrees to be- 
come the purchaser.—Letters from Mr. Pitchford, Dr. Wither- 
ing, Dr. Stokes, Professor J. Sibthorp.—Rev. H. Bryant.— 
Chosen Fellow of the Royal Society.—Letter from Dr. J. Hope. 
—Preparation for going abroad. 
Upon leaving Edinburgh, Sir James’s next object 
was to fix himself in London for the purpose of 
attending the great school of anatomy of which Dr. 
John Hunter was the head, and to avail himself of 
the medical instruction of Dr. Pitcairn ; and on the 
25th September, 1783, he took lodgings with his 
fellow-student, Mr. Batty, in Great Windmill-street, 
at the top of the Haymarket. “ Mr. Baillie,” he 
tells his father, “ Dr. Hunter’s nephew, is very civil 
to us; but we are charmed with John Hunter, he 
alone is worth coming to live in London for. I 
shall devote myself,” he continues, “ chiefly to dis- 
section as long as I find it necessary, and afterwards, 
I believe, St. Bartholomew’s hospital will be worth 
my notice. I will confess that at my first seeing 
the dissecting-room, which is abominable and horrid 
beyond conception, I found it very easy to persuade 
