HUNTERIAN ORATION. 43 



of him, than that drawn by Sir Joshua 

 Reynolds. Perhaps my knowledge of 

 Mr. Hunter's character may aid my ima- 

 gination ; yet when I look on that picture, 

 I feel as if I saw before me an old man, a 

 shrewd man, aye, and a benevolent man 

 too, in the act and attitude of habitual 

 thought. 



Sir Everard Home, who had great op- 

 portunities of knowing Mr. Hunter, has 

 represented him as an honest, independent, 

 perfectly candid, and most industrious 

 man, indifferent about money, and much 

 attached to science. Now though I be- 

 lieve this sketch to be perfectly correct, 

 yet there were finer traits of character re- 

 quiring to be depicted ere I should re- 

 cognise the intellectual resemblance of 

 John Hunter. Those who make the study 

 of nature, and of science, or the attain- 

 ment of moral good, the ultimate object 

 of their endeavours, are candid, disin- 

 terested, benevolent, and humble minded. 

 They openly avow their designs, solicit 

 the assistance of others, and assist them 

 in return ; they note the slow degrees by 



