HIS LECTURES AT THE COLLEGE. 81 



sound policy on his part to appear as a public 

 lecturer, for without some proof of his capabilities in 

 that direction several avenues would be closed to his 

 progress — the very avenues he longed to see open to 

 fair competition. To practise public speaking, and 

 to give a prominence to his knowledge of several 

 points in anatomy and pathology, were strong motives 

 for his making the attempt — naturally a bold one — 

 before an audience composed of the elite of the 

 medical profession in Edinburgh, whose presence 

 indicated their hopes of getting information, and 

 breadth and originality of views, from the curator. 

 As a lecturer at the College of Surgeons, it was said 

 that Goodsir's matter was very much better than his 

 manner. Not aided by dress, or deportment, or even 

 personal appearance, wanting in rhetoric, devoid of 

 gesture, and dealing out monotonous sentences for 

 upwards of an hour together, were severe drawbacks 

 to his success ; nevertheless, Goodsir had the art of 

 engaging his audience and keeping up the number of 

 his class to the end of the course. No one could fail 

 to see his extensive knowledge of the subjects he 

 discussed, his appreciation of the collection under his 

 charge, his practical or rather surgical aims, along 

 with his cultivation of the higher anatomy ; and 

 Professor Syme, on moving a vote of thanks to him at 

 the finish of the course, but echoed the genera] senti- 

 menl of the benches, in saying that Goodsir's lectures 

 ha«l Ihm'h highly instructive and valuable. 



<; [sir's work in the museum partook more of a 



vol.. I. G 



