42 HUNTERIAN ORATION. 



produced by the man whose natal day we 

 are now met to commemorate. It is in- 

 deed a surprising example of the scarcely 

 to be expected improvement which may 

 be effected by the industry of an indi- 

 vidual when exerted in a right direction, 

 and aided by that intelligence which re- 

 views accumulated facts, compares, dis- 

 criminates, combines, and arranges them ; 

 whilst it also draws cautious inferences 

 from them, and suggests new subjects of 

 enquiry, and new modes of research. 



Of the genius, reflection, talents, and 

 industry of John Hunter I have already 

 spoken ; but to commemorate him on the 

 present occasion, I will tell you what I 

 observed relative to the peculiar and dis- 

 tinguishing characters of his mind. Surely 

 the lineaments of the mind must be more 

 interesting than the form and features of 

 the body. It is the character and conduct 

 of the former which chiefly excite our 

 interest respecting the latter; and if any 

 one were desirous of knowing what man- 

 ner of man Mr. Hunter was, I could not 

 wish to refer them to a better resemblance 



12* 



