30 MODERN HISTORY 



because 1 do not possess any guage for the mind : I have 

 no plummet for sounding the depth of intellect ; nor any 

 common measure by which its relative amount can be de- 

 termined, under the different varieties of exertion. I should 

 not be able to weigh genius against acquirements, or to 

 decide whether the quantity of discovery in one were equal 

 to its quality in another. I can only state my own opinion ; 

 which is, that if it were necessary to point out any one 

 man, as the chief contributor to the present state of zoology 



that an accurate parallel should be drawn of the labours and discoveries of 

 each, and that all their respective writings should be well known. In the 

 Lectures, there is no comparative statement of what these great men have 

 accomplished ; and the author gives us to understand, that of Cuvier's 

 numerous important works he is acquainted only with his Lectures on Com- 

 parative Jnatomy, Yet he does not abandon the design, but addresses his 

 audience as Gentlemen of the Jury, coming forwards as "a voluntary advo- 

 cate in the cause of Hunter versus Cuvier and others." p. 16. In this 

 mockery of a legal proceeding he has unfortunately omitted every one of 

 the cautions and regulations which, in the justly-venerated forms of English 

 judicial proceedings, are designed to secure impartial justice. Where is the 

 enlightened judge, indifferent to both parties? Where the impartial jury, 

 any of whom may be challenged by the accused ? Where the advocate of 

 the opposite party ? He soon gets sick of his trial ; does not even state the 

 grievance complained of clearly ; adduces not a particle of evidence ; but 

 uniting in his own person the characters of advocate, judge, and jury, and 

 not hearing any thing in behalf of the defendant, of course pronounces a 

 verdict for his own client. Who the others are, combined in this charge 

 with Ckvier, or what they have been guilty of, we are uot informed. 

 This happy thought of a trial is again introduced, and accompanied Avith a 

 compliment to British liberty (p. 334): it was a singular period to select 

 for such an eulogium — for transplanting to the College of Surgeons the ap- 

 peals to national vanity, which the increasing good sense and taste of the 

 very galleries have nearly banished from the theatres. 



Having disposed of Cuvier, the author makes very short work with 

 Haller, Dauhekton, Pallas, and Cajiper ; thinking, apparently, that 

 all merit allowed to them is so much clear loss to the object of his idolatry. 



Having shewn how erroneous the opinion is, that our science owes any 

 great obligations to these individuals, and relying firmly on the ignorance of 

 his audience in respect to dates, he easily arrives at the conclusion — ^" that 

 the great' illumination which comparative anatomy and physiology have of 

 late received on the Continent, h;is in a considerable degree resulted from 

 reflected light, originally emanating from materials which Mr. Hunter 

 brought together, and from his brilliant physiological discoveries." p. 61. 



