264 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



exhibition of brilliant talents favored his election to 

 the College of Surgeons, and afterward to the staff of 

 the Royal Infirmary, the only hospital then in Edin- 

 burgh. . . . The older brother holding the high- 

 est position in Edinburgh as anatomist and surgeon, 

 Charles could not rise in that city without coming in 

 direct rivalry with him ; hence he left home in 1808, 

 and sought a wider field of labor in London. In the 

 great metropolis he knew that he would have to come 

 in competition with Cline, Cooper, and Abernethy, 

 yet he took the step without the thought of igno- 

 minious failure. He entertained lofty aspirations, and 

 courted the opportunity to cross lances with brilliant 

 knights in the lecture field. Pie did not engage in a 

 rash experiment, for his fame had already reached the 

 learned circles of London. His modest demeanor, 

 gentlemanly bearing, and many accomplishments, 

 proved a ready introduction to scientific clubs. He 

 was early invited to join the Anatomical Society, 

 where he became acquainted with many of the popular 

 and eminent teachers in medical science ; and he soon 

 entered a partnership with Mr. James Wilson in the 

 Windmill street School of Anatomy and Surgery, 

 where Hunter gained a share of his reputation in the 

 scientific world. 



Here young Bell's style of lecturing at once cap- 

 tivated listeners and drew crowds of students to his 

 auditorium and laboratory. He was so courteous to 

 his elders in teaching that he provoked no jealousy, but 

 forced the concession on the part of competitors that 

 they were more than rivaled that they were ex- 

 celled. 



From this time there was no question as to the 

 grade of talents possessed by Charles Bell, nor as to 



