HUNTERIAN ORATION. 47 



instead of numbers which I could ad- 

 duce. 



The candour of Mr. Hunter's character 

 was evident in all his actions. He readily 

 told all he knew or thought upon every 

 subject; and was pleased in assisting 

 others to acquire knowledge. It is indeed 

 highly improbable, that a wise and good 

 man should be otherwise than candid. For ^ 

 wisdom teaches him not to form opinions 

 but on sufficient grounds and consider- 

 ation ; and these he would freely reveal, 

 being equally desirous that they should be 

 corrected, if wrong, and acknowledged, if 

 right. Sir Everard Home has said, that 

 Mr. Hunter's disposition was " free from 

 reserve, even to a fault ; for it sometimes 

 made him appear harsh." Yet harshness, 

 I am convinced, could never have pro- 

 ceeded from a mind attuned like that of 

 John Hunter. I do not wish to deny or 

 conceal, that occasionally the candour and 

 susceptibility of his character might incite 

 him to express his vexation and indig- 

 nation with a degree of energy and open- 

 ness that would give offence, and fail to 



