12 



A INIEMOIR OF A. HUNTER, M. D. 



The Doctor being possessed of* an active and liberal mind, considered 

 himself as not only engaged to benefit those with whom he lived, but 

 also to do something for posterity. Accordingly, in the year 1764, he 

 published an " Essay on the Nature and Virtues of the Buxton Waters." 

 This little Tract was very favourably received. In 1770, he was instru- 

 mental in establishing an Agricultural Society at York ; and to give re* 

 spectability to the institution, he prevailed on the members to reduce 

 their thoughts and observations into writing. These he arranged and 

 published under the title of " Georgical Essays." They obtained for 

 the Society a considerable degree of celebrity. In 1772, he success- 

 fully projected a plan of a Lunatic Asylum at York, and at the end of 

 five years, the building was opened for the reception of patients. In the 

 prosecution of this scheme he took unwearied pains, and he had the 

 satisfaction of living many years, to see it answer the humane and charit- 

 able intentions of its promoters. In 1777, he was elected a Member of 

 the Royal Society in London, and in the same year he published a new 

 edition of Evelyn's Silva, with Notes, and Engravings of all the Forest 

 Trees mentioned in that Book. The first edition being sold off, the 

 Doctor published a second in 1786, with additional Notes, and a third 

 in 1801, to which he subjoined the Terra of the same author ; from this 

 work he acquired much reputation as a geoponic writer. Since his 

 decease, a Fourth Edition was published (in 1812) by the writer of 

 this short Memoir, under whose inspection the present edition has 

 also been printed. 



In 1790, he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh | 

 and a few years afterwards he was distinguished by being chosen, without 

 solicitation, an honorary Member of the Board of Agriculture, 



In 1765, he married Elizabeth, one of the coheiresses of William 

 Dealtry, Esq. of Gainsborough, in the county of Lincoln, by whom he 

 had three children, two sons and one daughter ; all these he survived : 

 and in 1799, married Annej the daughter of Richard Bell, Esq. of 

 Welton, near Hull, who died October 26, 1814, leaving no issue. 



York, June, 1825* 



