no 
PROFESSOR OWEN 
CH. IV. 
editor’s labours in making known the thoughts and 
works of the founder of philosophical surgery.’ 
The work itself was received with no little inte- 
rest, partly perhaps because there was a special 
history attached to it. 
When John Hunter died in 1793, he left a con- 
siderable quantity of MSS. behind him. These 
MSS., which were in the custody of his executor. 
Sir Everard Home, soon afterwards mysteriously 
disappeared, and on investigation it was dis- 
covered that the baronet had ruthlessly com- 
mitted them to the flames. This strange 
proceeding gave rise to considerable suspicion 
against Sir Everard. It was well known that 
he himself was given to natural history pursuits, 
and, although not a man of eminent ability, 
was the author of scientihc papers announcing 
certain small but not uninteresting discoveries. 
It was, therefore, surmised that he was indebted to 
Hunter’s MSS. for his discoveries, and had burnt 
the original papers in order to avoid detection.® 
Unfortunately for Home’s reputation, but fortu- 
nately for the literary and scientific world, William 
Clift, Hunter’s favourite pupil and assistant, had 
made a practice of copying out these MSS., and 
having for about half a century carefully kept his 
work, handed it over in his later days to Owen to 
use it as he thought best. 
Apart from this story, the two volumes of 
“ See CharleswortK s Geological Journal, 1846. 
