10 LECTURE I. 



knowledge. In 1782, Mr. Hunter says, his 

 Museum " had already cost him 10,000/. 

 besides the labour required in making the 

 preparations. Of this sum more than 

 2000/. had been expended in the purchase 

 of dead animals only."* Opportunities of 

 examining rare and curious animals were 

 also liberally afforded to him, chiefly 

 through the means of that zealous patron 

 and promoter of science. Sir Joseph Banks ^ 

 towards whom, he always felt and express- 

 ed the warmest friendship and gratitude. 

 Mr. Hunter knew but little of the arbi- 

 trary arrangenients of natural history. The 

 simplicity of his object induced an equal 

 simplicity of arrangement. The facts are 

 displayed in his Museum, according to 

 the order of the vital processes, which is 

 the method also adopted by Professor 

 Cuvier. 



I repeat what I asserted in the intro- 

 ductory lectures, that the preparations in 

 the Museum are records of facts. Mr^ 



* European Magazine for 1782. 



