Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/262

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242
BRITISH PHYSICIANS.

Amelia. He was afterwards called to attend George the Third in his last illness ; an attendance which was protracted during ten years, and carried him very frequently to Windsor. He was invited to become an associate of many learned bodies, and received the singular honour of more than thirty dedications in an age w^hen dedications are becom- ing more rare and more genuine. His prosperity did not render him less modest in his estimate of himself : he used to say to his own family, " I know better, perhaps, than another man, from my knowledge of anatomy, how to discover a disease, but when I have done so, I do not know better how to cure it." He was remarkable for the consideration which he paid to the feelings of his professional brethren, and more particularly to the younger branches ; punctuality was also one of his characteristics.

He was in the habit, during many years, of devoting sixteen hours of each day to business: he often paid visits to his patients until a late hour at night. His physical frame was not so strong as his resolution, and the sword began to wear out the sheath. An irritability of mind sometimes involuntarily contended against his natural kindness of heart. He frequently came to his own table after a day of fatigue, and held up his hands to the family circle eager to welcome him home, saying, "Don't speak to me," and then, presently, after a glass of wine, and when the transitory cloud had cleared away from his brow, with a smile of affection he would look round, and exclaim, "You may speak to me now."

He amassed a very considerable fortune; but it