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Grove were not the less agreeable because they generally consisted of few persons, and everything was conducted in a simple and unostentatious manner.

On the whole, it is difficult to conceive that any one could perform his duties as President of the Royal Society in a manner more honourable to himself, or more beneficial to the community, than that in which they were performed by Sir Joseph Banks. It is to be observed at the same time that he had some peculiar advantages, having an ample fortune and no family, and having also the good taste to avoid being involved in political discussions and disputes.

In March, 1808, through the interest of Mr. Home, with the assistance of his colleague, and of some little reputation which I had myself acquired as a young teacher of anatomy, I was elected assistant-surgeon to St. George's Hospital. I was fortunate in obtaining such an appointment so early in life. I was indeed not quite twenty-five years of age (my birthday

being in June). I was at that time living in lodgings at No. 24 Sackville Street, not having my name on the door as a candidate for private practice, and being still one of the senior students at the hospital. From the date of my appointment Mr. Home left me very much of the management of his patients, and by degrees interfered in it very little himself. This, however, was not the only advantage which I derived from my new office. The junior surgeon, Mr. Gunning, joined Lord Wellington's army in the Peninsula, being attached to the staff of the commander-inchief as surgeon-in-chief of the British forces. There was an old law of the hospital (now abrogated) which enabled the Weekly Board to give an unlimited leave of absence to any one of the medical officers who was employed on military service. This leave was granted to Mr. Gunning. The governors at the same time appointed the other assistant-surgeon, Mr. Robert Keate, and myself to take charge of his patients in his absence. This arrangement continued until the year 1813, when, on the resignation of Mr. Thomas Keate, his nephew was elected surgeon

in his place; and from that time until Mr. Gunning resumed his duties, about four years afterwards, his patients were entirely under my management. Thus I had the opportunity, at an unusually early age, of acquiring a large experience in hospital practice, and to this cir cumstance my early professional success may very much be attributed. Having at this time no private practice, I was able to devote a great deal of my time to my duties in the hospital. During six months in the year I passed several hours daily in the wards, taking notes of cases, and communicating freely with the students. During the other six months, the whole of the time which I could spare from my employment as a teacher of anatomy, was devoted to the hospital also. The custom at St. George's, and indeed at all the other metropolitan hospitals, had hitherto been for the surgeons to go round the wards only on two days in the week, not attending otherwise, except when there were operations to perform, or severe accidents which made their assistance necessary, or on other special occasions. Mr. Robert Keate and myself

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