Account of 

 W. Hamilton. 



(36) HISrORT of the SOCIETr, 



Having fhewn an early and flrong prediledlion for the fludy 

 of phyfic, he went to Edinburgh, which was then, as it is ftill, 

 the mod celebrated fchool of medicine in Europe. During the 

 fummer of 1775, he fludied botany under the late worthy Dr 

 Hope ; and during the two enfuing winters he ftudied with 

 great ardour under all the medical profefTors, and enjoyed the 

 friendfhip of Dr Cull en and Dr Black, who having been for- 

 merly members of the College of Glafgow, were the companions 

 and friends of his father. 



Mr Hamilton intended to have remained a third feafon in 

 Edinburgh, but the flate of liis father's health rendered it necef^ 

 fary for him to give up this plan. Accordingly, in fummer 

 1777, he accompanied his father to Bath, and from thence to 

 London, where he was recommended to the particular notice 

 of the late Dr William Hunter, and of his brother Mr 

 John Hunter. Each of thefe gentleman was connecfled with 

 Mr T. Hamilton by early friendfhip, and a conftant intercourfe 

 of good offices. Under their diredion Mr Hamilton quickly 

 diftinguiflied himfelf by that ardent purfuit of anatomical and 

 profeffional knowledge,which marked every pait of his fubfequent 

 life. Though left at an early age to his own condu(5l, in a city 

 abounding above all others with objedls of pleafure and amufc- 

 ment, he reiifted the blandiftiments of both, devoting his time 

 to the acquifition of knowledge, applying not only to thofe parts 

 of ftudy which wrere entertaining, but to thofe alfo which the 

 young are apt to negledi as uninterefting, or to defpife as ufe- 

 lefs, and manifefting, on every occaiion, a diligence difcouraged 

 by no difficulty, and interrupted by few avocations. 



Such condudt did not efcape the eye of Dr Huntzr. Indefa- 

 tigable himfelf, he was delighted with appearances of profeffional 

 zeal among his fludents ; and he was fo particularly pleafed with 

 them in the fon of his old ffiend, that, after the iirft feafon, he in- 

 vited Mr Hamilton to live in his houfe, and committed the diA 



feding- 



