80 EARLY LIFE. 



ambitious in his researches, and Bergman claimed the 

 place of a discoverer, which Black was unwilling to 

 allow him, appearing to join with those who pleasantly 

 said his greatest discovery was the discovering Scheele. 

 It is needless to add that of Scheele he had the 

 greatest admiration. In truth he placed him at the 

 head of all ; and except Sir Isaac Newton, I do not 

 remember any name so devoutly revered by him as 

 Scheele's. When, a year or two after, I passed in 

 my Swedish tour one night through Koping, where 

 Scheele lived, though a native of Pomerania, I well 

 remember being haunted by the recollection of Black, 

 an account of whose death had reached me just as I 

 was setting out for Stockholm.* 



Among others who have since been distinguished, 

 Thomas Young and George Birkbeck were my fellow- 

 students under Black.t 



Long before entering the Speculative Society, and 

 when only somewhat trained in the young Debating 

 Society, after little more than one session at the col- 

 lege, I had an opportunity of trying my voice at a 

 great meeting, that of the Eoyal Medical Society, 

 a chartered body, to which almost all the medical 

 students, and one or two others, belonged. The 

 meetings were weekly, and between 100 and 150 were 

 often present, including a small number of visitors. 



* Charles William Scheele, the Swedish chemist, born 1742, died 

 1786. 



t George Birkbeck, born 1776, died 1841, chiefly known for his exer- 

 tions in the establishment of Mechanics' Institutes. George Young, cele- 

 brated for deciphering the Rosetta inscription, born 1773, died 1829. 



