Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/239

WILLIAM HUNTER. 219 scliolarsliip. He was at this time designed for the church ; but some objections arose, and while uncertain, he encountered CuUen, who was then established in practice at Hamilton. An intimacy was established ; Hunter resolved to embrace the profession of his friend, and resided hi the family of Cullen nearly three years — years which he has often been heard to call the happiest of his life. But the memory has power to scatter a sunshine over past moments, which did not illumine them when actually present : even the gloomy periods of our existence are sometimes reproduced by re- collection in an attractive form. Medical men often sacrifice a portion of happiness in the pursuit of very extensive practice ; and, when thus swal- lowed up in a vortex vv^hich impedes almost every other pleasure except that of seeing money accu mulate, it is very natural for them to look back with fondness and regret on the obscurer days in which they could find leisure to enjoy existence. Allusion has been made, in the Life of Cullen, to the honourable terms on which a partnership was formed between these two gifted individuals, and to the manner in which it was dissolved. Hunter went to Edinburgh in 1740, and remained until the ensuing spring in attendance on the prin- cipal lectures delivered there. The summer of 1741 brought him to London, where he com-- menced his residence under the roof of the eminent Smellie, at that time an apothecary in Pall Mall. He studied anatomy, and dissected under the su- perintendence of Dr. Frank Nicholls, who was the most eminent teacher of anatomy in London at that time, and who had formerly professed the