XV111 



account of his eminent services as a public teacher and man of 

 scieuce. 



From what has now been said it will be seen that Dr. Sharpey 

 did not enter upon auy active sphere of exertion, either as an investi- 

 gator or as a teacher, till he had attained his twenty- eighth year; but 

 with characteristic caution he was, during a number of years, preparing 

 himself with the greatest diligence and care, by literary and scientific 

 study, as well as by continental travel, for the duties of his after life. 



As a scientific investigator he was characterised by scrupulous 

 care and accuracy in all his observations, and by an extensive and 

 intimate acquaintance with what was previously known on the 

 subjects. Thus it happens that though, as already remarked, he 

 cannot be regarded as a copious observer or extensive discoverer of 

 new facts, yet all the observations he has recorded may be ranked 

 as important contributions to science at the time when they were 

 made, and the greater number of them have retained their value to 

 the present day, notwithstanding that the subjects to which they 

 belong may, from the advance of knowledge, have considerably changed 

 their aspect. 



As a systematic author there is everywhere apparent in his writings 

 the same scrupulous accuracy and full knowledge of his subject, com- 

 bined with a simplicity and clearness of statement, an appropriate 

 choice of language, and a critical acumen, which have given them a 

 high and lasting value. We have, it is true, to regret the fastidious- 

 ness which deterred him from more copious publication, but we may 

 console ourselves with the reflection that all he did publish bears the 

 stamp of excellence, and that in abstaining from more extended literary 

 productions he was ever spending his time and energies in the instruc- 

 tion of his .pupils and the advancement of the business of the scientific 

 institutions with which he was connected. 



Dr. Sharpey 's usefulness and influence were probably more con- 

 spicuous in his labours as a public teacher than in any other capacity. 

 During the forty-three years in which he was constantly occupied in 

 giving lectures on Anatomy - and Physiology, he devoted himself with 

 ardour and perseverance to perfecting the information which he had 

 to communicate to his pupils, and to extending and improving the 

 means of illustrating his lectures, so that he was uniformly listened to 

 with the closest attention and regarded as the highest authority 

 on the subjects which he taught. Thus too, it happened that he was 

 very frequently consulted by former pupils as well as by others with 

 regard to the preparation and publication of memoirs or more exten- 

 sive works which they had in contemplation, and it is easy to under- 

 stand the advantages which accrued to those who appreciated and 

 followed his advice, or the opposite effect which sometimes occurred 

 from its being disregarded. 



