125 



to discern what nature may perform or 

 endure. Yet when the eye has been long 

 employed in viewing distant objects, it 

 does not speedily regain its myoptic powers, 

 and adapt itself for such a scrutiny as we 

 are next to take, lam, therefore, induced 

 still to detain your attention to general 

 topics. 



The works and writings of Mr. Hunter 

 have now been long before the public, so that 

 all may be supposed equally qualified to 

 form their own opinions of his merits, and 

 pertinaciously to persist in eulogizing his cha- 

 racter, may seem like arrogating to myself 

 a power of judgment, and denying it to 

 others. It is, however, the opportunities 

 I have possessed, that have been the cause 

 of the peculiarity of my sentiments and 

 opinions ; for I am old enough to remem- 

 ber the state of surgery and surgeojis in 

 this metropolis, previous to the gene- 



