HUNTERIAN ORATION. 
The Hunterian Oration, annually delivered in the theatre of 
the College on the anniversary of the birth of John Hunter, 
the founder of the unrivalled anatomical collection bearing his 
name, was on Saturday delivered by Mr. James Luke, one of 
the vice-presidents, before a large and most distinguished audi¬ 
ence. This gentleman commenced by explaining the objects of 
the founders of the oration, which, he said, was intended to be 
expressive of the merits of John Hunter, and of those other 
members of the profession to which he belonged, who, having 
attained excellence in comparative anatomy, physiology, and 
surgery, shall have passed from the scene of their exertions. 
The language of eulogy (said the orator), when addressed to the 
living, may not have any other scope than that of policy, and 
may be limited or prompted by personal considerations merely. 
The language of eulogy, however, of those to whom it cannot 
reach, must have some higher motive, and should be animated 
by some enduring principle. Can we suppose any motive more 
elevated, or any principle more permanently enduring and suit¬ 
able to occasions like the present, than the certain influence 
which the presentation of a good example has upon the mind as 
a powerful incentive to emulative imitation! Mr. Luke then 
gave an account of the early education of Hunter, shewing how 
deficient it had been, and regretted that it had been so super¬ 
ficial as to prevent the great anatomist from so clearly express¬ 
ing his meaning, which, in some instances, it was difficult to 
understand ; and expressed a parting regret that jewels so rare 
and so valuable as those possessed by the man they were met 
to honour should have been subjected to any tarnish. The 
learned orator then in eloquent terms urged upon the profession 
the necessity for enforcing a good preliminary education as a 
means auxiliary to professional progress, and irrespective of 
those many advantages which are, unquestionably, to be derived 
from it in our social positions. Thus, at the very outset of the 
professional career, difficulties are encountered which no means 
exist better fitted to overcome than those derived from a know¬ 
ledge of the Greek and Latin languages. Mr. Luke then urged 
a cultivaton of languages generally as calculated to be of great 
benefit to the profession by enabling them to.become acquainted 
with the opinions of their foreign friends. It is to be regretted, 
said he, that facts which constitute the staple of knowledge are, 
in modern literature, too often so dealt with that the labour of 
collecting and adding them to our common stock in a compen¬ 
dious and useful form bears so high a proportion to their intrinsic 
