SIR CHARLES BELL. 263 



degree of energy be devoted to the acquisition. If a 

 person indulge in the vision that he is a prodigy in 

 his way, and may safely rest upon his oars, his bark 

 will either dash, upon rocks or drift to a strand. 



The subject of this sketch was riot an erratic in- 

 dividual thrown into view by chance or accident, or 

 one fortuitously brought into notice by revolution, but 

 he inherited respectability, and enjoyed comfortable 

 surroundings ; and by the display of fair talents, con- 

 siderable energy, and much industry, he attained 

 distinction. 



Charles Bell was born in Edinburgh, in 1778, and 

 was the youngest son of Rev. William Bell, a clergy- 

 man of the Episcopal Church of Scotland. The eldest 

 of the sons, Robert, was an attorney, and the second 

 son was the well known John Bell, anatomist and 

 surgeon. Under the tutorship of the latter, Charles, 

 after graduating with honor at the high school ol 

 Edinburgh, was educated in medicine. The young ap- 

 prentice took to his studies with zeal, and was soon 

 enabled to assist his fraternal instructor, who was 

 lecturer on anatomy and surgery in the famous Uni- 

 versity of Edinburgh. He prepared the anatomical 

 demonstrations w T ith such care and scope that the 

 Bells became distinguished as philosophical teachers. 

 The younger of the two was skilled in the use of the 

 pencil and brush before leaving the high school ; and 

 now he found a place to utilize these talents. He 

 sketched a variety of anatomical preparations, and 

 displayed them in water colors. These attracted at- 

 tention and called forth such flattering comments that 

 he was encouraged to have them published as Plates 

 of Dissections. 



He had at -that time become a licentiate, and this 



