LECTURE I. 11 



Hunter would have given his money even 

 to his own ruin, to have procured the evi- 

 dence of any fact warranting an important 

 physiological conclusion ; but he admitted 

 nothing into his collection foreign to its 

 general design ; and scarcely any thing but 

 of intrinsic value is to be found amongst 

 the real gems in his cabinet. We do not 

 over-rate the value of his preparations, in 

 comparing them with the paintings of an 

 ancient master, which are of high price 

 because they possess a peculiarity of excel- 

 lence that cannot be equalled. Every object 

 shown by Mr. Hunter is displayed with a 

 kind of elegance, as well as with distinctness 

 and truth. He was not a man of learning, 

 and derived but little assistance from the la- 

 bours of others. Few perceived the ultimate 

 objects of his pursuit. His inquiries into the 

 structure of the lower kinds of animals, were 

 regarded as works of unprofitable curiosity, 

 and no one felt an interest in them. There- 

 fore, without the solace of sympathy, or 

 encouragement of approbation, without 

 collateral assistance, did he labour to per- 

 fect his designs, till death deprived us of 



