1824-33 CATALOGUE OF HUNTER'S COLLECTION 45 



I prophesy, will do you honour. The vineyard 

 in which your industry is occupied will bear fruit 

 worthy the labourer, independent of the incalcu- 

 lable advantage which will accrue to your interest 

 and improvement. Your wonted industry and 

 application will ensure your good fortune and 

 prosperity. In my humble opinion, you have es- 

 timable merit and must shine in the profession, 

 provided your good sense keep it, under all 

 circumstances of fortune, under proper govern- 

 ment. . . . 



' Believe me your faithful and sincere friend. 

 In haste 



'J. Seed.' 



Of the five Descriptive Catalogues of Hun- 

 ter's Collection, vol. i. was ready in 1833, and 

 the year following vol. ii. appeared. After 

 finishing vol. i., Owen set to work to prepare 

 another and separate catalogue—' Preparations 

 presented by Sir William Blizard to the Royal 

 College of Surgeons, London.' This 4to volume 

 came out in 1832, appearing between vol. i. and 

 vol. ii. of the Hunterian Catalogue. The task 

 of describing the Hunterian Collections was a 

 Herculean labour. Most of Hunter's MS. had 

 been lost or destroyed, and the collection, as it 

 stood, was practically useless. Three thousand 

 nine hundred and seventy specimens had to be 

 examined and described, and for this purpose 



