t/ie late Mr. Henry. 3 



was articled, for the remainder of the term, to a respectable 

 apothecary at Knutsford in Cheshire. 



In neither of these situations did Mr. Henry enjoy any ex- 

 traordinary opportunities of improvement. The only book 

 which he remembered to have been put into his hands, by either 

 of his masters, was the Latin edition of Boerhaave's Chemistry, 

 in two volumes quarto, a work which, whatever may have been 

 its merits, was certainly not calculated to present that science 

 to a beginner under a fascinating aspect. His reading was, 

 therefore, entirely self-directed ; and, by means of such books 

 as chance threw into his way, he acquired a share of know- 

 ledge, creditable both to his abilities and his industry. 



At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he engaged himself as 

 principal assistant to Mr. Malbon, who then took the lead as an 

 apothecary at Oxford. In this situation, he was treated by Mr. 

 Malbon with the indulgence and confidence of a friend ; and 

 his time was chiefly spent in visiting patients of the higher 

 class, a majority of whom were members of the University. 

 Among the students at Oxford, were several who recognised Mr. 

 Henry as a former associate, and who, though holding the rank of 

 gentlemen-commoners, renewed their acquaintance with him, and 

 afforded him the most friendly countenance. His leisure hours 

 were, therefore, spent most agreeably and profitably in the differ- 

 ent colleges ; and his taste for literary pursuits was encouraged 

 and confirmed. At Oxford he had an opportunity of attending 

 a course of anatomical lectures, in which the celebrated John 

 Hunter, then a young man, was employed as a demonstrator. 



From Mr. Malbon, who was become affluent, Mr. Henry re- 

 ceived a strong mark of esteem and confidence in the off'er of a 

 future partnership. To have accepted this it would have been 

 necessary that he should have qualified himself to matriculate, 

 which would have required the completion of a residence of 

 seven years. But other views in life, which were inconsistent 

 with so long a season of expectation, induced him to decline the 

 proposal ; and, in the year 1759, he settled at Knutsford, where 

 he soon afterwards married. After remaining five years at this 

 place, he embraced the opportunity of succeeding to thebuBiness 

 B'2 



