Some of the most distinguished men had been of their number; and it would be gratifying to us to enumerate the very complimentary catalogue of able men who have been indebted for much of their eminence and success to the lessons of Abernethy; but as, in doing so, we might possibly, in our ignorance, omit some names which ought to be recorded, we forego this pleasure, lest we should unintentionally appear to neglect any professional brother whom we ought to have remembered.
In 1812-13, the pupils had presented Mr. Abernethy with a piece of plate, "as a testimony of their respect and gratitude." The arrangement of the matter was confided chiefly to the present Sir James Eyre, Mr. Stowe of Buckingham, and Mr. George Bullen. In a very interesting letter, with which I have been favoured by Mr. Stowe, amongst other matters hereafter to be mentioned, it is stated that the plate was delivered at Abernethy's house on the 1st of April; and as he had no more entirely escaped such things than other medical men, he at first regarded it as a hoax. But when the contents were exposed, and he discovered the truth, he became much affected.
The regard of the pupils was always the thing nearest his heart. On meeting the class at the hospital, he essayed to express his feelings; but finding that he should only break down, he adopted the same course as he had employed on another memorable occasion, and _wrote_ his acknowledgments, a copy of which was suspended against the wall of the theatre.
It is due to our worthy and kind-hearted contemporary, Sir James Eyre, to add that Mr. Stowe observes in his letter, that, of all others, Sir James was the most zealous promoter of a movement so creditable to all parties. Some years after this, another subscription was commenced by the pupils for a portrait of Abernethy, which was painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence, and engraved by Bromley. It was after this engraving that Mr. Cook executed the portrait which forms the frontispiece of the present volume. Sir Thomas, and the engraver after him, have been most successful. He has caught one of Mr. Abernethy's most characteristic expressions. We see him as he often stood when addressing the _anatomical_ class. We think it impossible to combine more of of him in one view. We fancy we see his acute penetration, his thoughtful expression, his archness and humour, and his benevolence, all most happily delineated, whilst the general position and manner is eminently faithful. In his surgical lectures, he was generally seated; and in the lithograph, he is represented in the position which he almost invariably assumed when he was enunciating the proposition which is placed beneath the engraving. It is the work of a young artist who was considered to evince great promise of future excellence; but who, we regret to say, died last year—Mr. Leighton.