no branch of medical science which demands more patient and assiduous toil than
this; it was more especially so at that period, when there were few aids to
anatomical knowledge. He communicated his project to Dr Nicholls, who had
declined lecturing, in favour of Dr Lawrence, who gave him little encouragement, and he retired, as many others similarly situated have done, to meditate
on his own secret hopes, and to await a fit opportunity for commencing his
designs. It thug happens in the lives of many young men, that wiser heads
caution them against embarking in schemes they have long cherished, and in
which, after all, they are destined to be successful. The ardour and perseverance of youth often accomplish undertakings which appear wild and romantic
to the sterner and colder judgment of the aged. To William Hunter the
wished-for opportunity soon occurred, whereby he was enabled to put his plans
to the test of experience. A society of navy surgeons at that time existed,
which occupied rooms in Covent Garden, and to this society Mr Samuel Sharpe
had been engaged as a lecturer on the operations of surgery. This course Mr
Sharpe continued to repeat, until finding that it interfered too much with his other
engagements ; he resigned in favour of William Hunter, who gave his first
anatomical course in the winter of 1746. It is said that when he first began to
speak in public he experienced much solicitude ; but the applause he met with
inspired him with that confidence which is so essential an element of all good
oratory. Indeed, he gradually became so fond of teaching, that some few years
before his death, he acknowledged that he was never happier than when engaged
in lecturing. The profits of the first two courses were considerable; but having
with much generosity contributed to supply the pecuniary wants of his friends,
he found himself so reduced on the return of the next season, that he was
obliged to postpone his lectures, because he had not money to defray the
necessary expenses of advertising. An anecdote is mentioned by his biographer
Symmons, very characteristic of the early difficulties which are experienced by
many men of genius. Mr Watson, one of his earliest pupils, accompanied him
home after his next introductory lecture. He had just received seventy guineas
for admission fees, which he carried in a bag under his cloak, and observed to
his friend, "that it was a larger sum than he had ever been master of before."
His previous experience now taught him more circumspection; he became
more cautious of lending money, and by strict economy amassed that great
fortune, which he afterwards so liberally devoted to the interests of science.
His success as a lecturer before the society of navy surgeons was so decided, that
its members requested him to extend his course to anatomy, and gave him the
free use of their room for his lectures. This compliment he could not fail to
have duly appreciated, and it may be regarded as the precursory sign of that
brilliant career which he was soon afterwards destined to pursue.
In the year 1747, he was admitted a member of the Incorporation of Surgeons, and after the close of his lectures in the spring of the following year, he set out with his pupil, Mr James Douglas, on a tour through Holland and Paris. At Leyden, he visited the illustrious Albinus, whose admirable injections inspired him with the zeal to excel in this useful department of anatomy. Having made this tour, he returned to prepare his winter course of lectures, which he commenced at the usual time.
Mr Hunter at this time practised surgery as well as midwifery; but the former branch of the profession he always disliked. His patron, Dr Douglas, had acquired considerable reputation as an accoucheur, and this probably induced him to direct his views to this line of practice. Besides this, an additional inducement presented itself, in the circumstance of his being elected one of the surgeon accoucheurs to the Middlesex hospital, and afterwards to the
