MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTER. 73- 



thousand preparations, wet and dry, besides many 

 fossils and shells. 



We have still to add that Mr Hunter's hospitable 

 mansion was open once a week for a social enter- 

 tainment and conversazione, at which his scientific 

 friends were always welcome, and where every thing 

 new in science was introduced and discussed. His 

 accomplished lady still continued to be the comfort 

 and ornament of his home ; and he was happy in two 

 children, of whom he used to say, that if he had 

 been allowed to bespeak a pair of children, they 

 should have been those with which Providence had 

 favoured him. Besides his house in town, he still 

 retained his propinquum rus, a retreat every way 

 calculated to soothe and delight, not less than to 

 improve his leisure hours. 



But in the midst of all his prosperity, Mr Hun- 

 ter's health had become essentially impaired. The 

 attacks of illness to which we have already had oc- 

 casion to advert, proved, after a considerable interval, 

 the precursors of others which finally terminated his 

 laborious life. The case was considered very pecu- 

 liar ; and that inquisitiveness of mind which formed 

 so conspicuous a trait of his character, was not dor- 

 mant in regard to the nature of his own complaints. 

 He noted the progress of the symptoms, and theo- 

 rized upon them with his accustomed ingenuity. 

 The medical men by whom he was surrounded, 

 likewise watched and investigated every turn, so that 



