MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTER. 21 



gow. It was under the fostering care of this elder 

 brother that John was initiated into those pursuits 

 in which he soon became the rival of his instructor. 



Of the daughters of the family, Janet married 

 Mr Buchanan of Glasgow, of whom more presently ; 

 and the younger married Dr James Baillie, Profes- 

 sor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow, from 

 whom descended the illustrious Dr Matthew Baillie, 

 and the not less distinguished Mrs Joanna Baillie. 



The subject of this memoir was born when his 

 father had nearly reached his 70th year. Hence we 

 cannot be surprised to learn, that he at no time re- 

 ceived the benefit of paternal restraint. At the age 

 of ten, he lost his father, and was then left under the 

 sole direction of his mother, who proved too indul- 

 gent to her youngest child. At the parish school, 

 his studies were neglected, and the greater part of 

 his time was spent in amusements. His early edu- 

 cation was thus extremely imperfect; and hence arose 

 many deficiencies, distinct proofs of which, most 

 painful to himself, were not wanting in his subse- 

 quent history. 



When he had attained the age of seventeen, a pe- 

 riod at which it was high time to engage in some 

 regular employment, he went to Glasgow on a visit 

 to his brother-in-law Mr Buchanan. The object of 

 this visit has been variously represented. Mr Bu- 

 chanan had lately returned from London, to settle in 

 Glasgow as a cabinet-maker and carpenter. He was a 

 man possessed of many agreeable qualities, and having 



