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student of Hunter cannot fail to appreciate qualities which threw a charm over his character.
Ingenuous, disinterested, unreserved in his communication of knowledge, he exhibited many of the excellencies that mark the true philosopher. From his eminence above the world, he surveyed the great book of Nature. His thoughts expanded by a natural elasticity, in proportion as he was elevated above the grovelling passions and influences of the world. With a love of Nature was inseparably interwoven a still stronger love of truth. It is impossible to read the history of his laborious investigations, his personal sacrifice of time, of health, and of property, without believing that to the ardour and enthusiasm which incited him to toil over the great field of Nature, he added with equal force an undeviating adherence to truth.
A spirit of arrogance, of self-esteem,—a disposition to depreciate the works of a competitor or rival, is the characteristic of the pretender to science, and exposes the unsoundness of the motives which carry him on in the pursuit of knowledge. And the cause is obvious; for, if animated by a true love of science, as the primary motive of exertion, any contribution to his favourite study is hailed with gladness; whereas the same contribution would be received by the empiric, with coldness, if not with disapprobation.
How broad is this distinction! how unlike the men! how dissimilar the motives! How often does the desire of distinction, or of notoriety—the ambition of pre-eminence above others, dictate our efforts, and develope an envious and uncharitable interpretation of the exertions of those who venture to compete with us in the struggle for fame!
