XIV 



sentences, honourable alike to each of these eminent men, exhibiting 

 true modesty, transparent candour, and in all simplicity a most 

 generous appreciation of merit in the other.* 



But to resume the tenonr of Bonders' life. In 1847, that his ser- 

 vices might the better be secured to his University, he was named 

 Professor Extraordinary, there being no vacancy among the ordinary 

 chairs ; and such was the confidence inspired by his character that 

 he was asked to select his own subjects for lecture. He chose four, 

 viz., Forensic Medicine, Anthropology (especially for students in 

 theology and law), General Biology, Ophthalmology. To this last he 

 had been drawn, not only by its own intrinsic charm, but from his 

 having, in the preceding year, in order to eke out his slender resources 

 (for he had now wifef and child), undertaken a Dutch translation of 

 the great German treatise of Ruete on that subject, and from having 

 thereupon thrown himself, as was his wont, heart and soul into what- 

 ever lines of original research this work, as it proceeded, had sug- 

 gested to him. It is impossible here to particularise, but several of 

 these were among the more subtle problems lying on the borderland 

 of physiological optics, problems remaining to perplex even the most 

 observant practitioner, until by their solution the path is made clear 

 to all alike. Suffice it that Bonders in this way became more and 

 more attracted towards Ophthalmic Practice ; for with readiness he 

 gave all the help in his power to the physicians and patients who 

 were eagerly approaching him, as they heard of his discoveries in the 

 physiology of vision. And when it was proposed to him by some of 

 our passing countrymen that he should acquaint himself with English 

 methods of treatment, then much esteemed abroad, he came to London 

 in 1851, on the occasion of our first " Great Exhibition," return- 

 ing by way of Paris. Some of the incidents of this journey he himself 

 soon after placed on record,}; and he always spoke of it as having had 

 a great influence in moulding his life. It was his first travel, and it 

 brought him, at least, one thing for which he had great reason to be 

 thankful the personal friendship of Albrecht von Graefe, an asso- 

 ciation soon to be fraught with splendid results for the expanding 

 science of Ophthalmology ; for these two men, both of the first 

 capacity, laboured ever afterwards to advance it as brothers in 

 council, and alike fruitfully; freely communicating their ideas to 

 each other, always in perfect harmony of aim. While von Graefe, a 

 stranger in London, was able to tell Bonders of the European hos- 

 pitals he had been visiting, and of the new clinical ideas he was 



* Vide Chas. Darwin ' On Expression, ic.,' Nov. 1872, p. 160, &c. The writer 

 is indebted to Mr. Francis Darwin for the opportunity of perusing these letters. 



t His first wife was Ernestine J. A. Zimmerman, daughter of a Lutheran pastor. 

 (She died Sept., 1887.) 



J Notes on London and Paris, ' Nederlandsch Lancet,' 1852. 



