MEMOIR OP JOHN HUNTER. 33 



on the other. Tbe injustice beyond all question 

 was great, and was the less excusable, as coming 

 from one so nearly related, and who was himself al- 

 ready basking in the brightest sunshine of popularity 

 and success. That offence should have been taken 

 can scarcely excite either surprise or censure. But 

 Btill it can never be sufficiently lamented that two 

 such men should have allowed occurrences of this 

 nature, which, with a little kindly feeling, might have 

 been so easily adjusted to their mutual credit, to be- 

 come a source of heart-burning and division. We 

 have not the means of judging how far these awl 

 similar occurrences were attended with personal al- 

 tercation ; but it is a melancholy fact, that the spark 

 thus early kindled, occasionally burst into a flame, 

 during the remaining years of their lives. Not that 

 they lived in a state of uninterrupted hostility ; very 

 far from it, as we shall have ample occasion to ob- 

 Berve in the sequel, and as the facts to which we have 

 just been adverting themselves sufficiently evince 

 For, although these painful events occurred whei 

 John had been only six years in London, he conti- 

 nued in connection with his brother for six years 

 longer. In fact, John's labours at this period con- 

 tributed so much to his brother's museum, and were 

 altogether so gratifying to his disposition, that though, 

 as Sir E. Home remarks, in many respects they di/ 

 not agree, the powerful bond of interest, in conjunc- 

 tion, H may be hoped, with the remnants of better 

 lings, long delayed their separation. 

 C 



