The works of Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie : ... with an autobiography / Collected and arranged by Charles Hawkins.

  • Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, 1st Baronet
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie : ... with an autobiography / Collected and arranged by Charles Hawkins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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    Ireland, and is now the Lord Chief Justice Campbell.* The three best speakers were the two Grants and Bowdler. The latter, if he had lived, would undoubtedly have occupied a considerable place in society; but he had ill- health and died a very few years after the period of which I am now speaking. I was too shy and too much awed by the society of persons generally a good deal older than myself to take any part m the debates, excej^t when it was my turn to open the discussion, and on these oc- casions my speeches had little to recommend them, ex- cept their brevity. In the first year, however, I furnished an essay on the advantages which might be derived from metaphysical enquiries. I read other essays afterwards, one on the principles of science and the mode of con- ducting scientific enquiries (which gained me some credit in the society), and another on what were supposed to be modern discoveries, which could be found in Pliny's Natural History. I mention these trifling matters merely because they show that, although I was really studying hard in my profession, I nevertheless found some leisure to think of other things. Ellis and myself were for some time joint secretaries or, as we were called, registrars of the society, and hence arose an inti- macy between us, which has continued uninterrupted to the present day. He was then a sub-librarian of the British Museum, of which institution he has been now for many years the principal official person.f As I have introduced the ' Academical Society,' 1 shall give the rest of its history, which may, however, be comprised in a few words. The most zealous of its members was our president. Dr. Maton. He regarded it as an institution for the advancement of literary and * Lord C<ani])b(!ll died Lord Chancellor of England June 23, 18G1, iu liis ciglity-first year.—C. IL t Lord Gleuolg and Sir Ilonry Ellis alone survive.—C. IL