406
This induced him to pay particular attention to
Mr. Hunter; and finding him acute and sensible, he
desired him to make another visit. A second con-
versation confirmed the doctor in the good opinion
he had formed of Mr. Hunter; and, without any
further hesitation, he invited him into his family
to assist in his dissections, and to superintend the
education of his son. Mr. Hunter, having com-
municated this offer to his father and Dr. Cullen,
the latter readily and heartily granted his concur-
rence to it; but his father, who was very old and
infirm, and expected his return with impatience,
consented with reluctance to a scheme, the success
of which he thought precarious." Dr. Cullen having,
for the advantage of his friend, thus generously
relinquished the agreement between them, was for a
time deprived of a partner ; but still determining to
practise only as a physician, he took the degree of
Doctor of Medicine at Glasgow in 1740, and, in the
following year, entered into a contract with Mr.
Thomas Hamilton, surgeon, on terms similar to
those which had been formerly agreed on between
him and Dr. Hunter.
Dr. Cullen, during his residence at Hamilton,
was twice elected magistrate of that place—first in
the year 1738, and again in the year 1739. While
in the magistracy, he appears to have taken an active
share in the agricultural improvements beginning at
that time to be introduced into the west of Scotland.
He frequently attended the meetings of the trustees
appointed for the improvement of the high-roads,
and was much consulted by them on the different
matters that came under their consideration. Some
of his papers relative to these subjects exhibit singu-
lar proofs of habits of arrangement, accuracy in
transacting business, and a knowledge of rural and
agricultural affairs which must have rendered his
advice particularly acceptable. Agriculture was a
study which continued at an after-period of his life
to interest his attention ; for we find him, when a
lecturer on chemistry, endeavouring to throw light
upon it by the aid of chemical science ; and in the
year 1758, after finishing his course of chemical
lectures, he delivered, to a number of his friends and
favourite pupils a short course of lectures on agri-
culture, in which he explained the nature of soils,
and the operation of different manures.
Dr. Cullen, early in life, became attached to Miss
Anna Johnstone, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Johnstone,
minister of Kilbarchan, in the county of Renfrew. She
was nearly of his own age ; and he married her on the
13th of November, 1741. After his marriage Dr.
Cullen continued for three years to practise as a
physician at Hamilton ; during which period, when
not engaged in the more active and laborious duties
of his profession, he devoted his time to the studies
of chemistry, natural philosophy, and natural his-
tory; nor is there any doubt but that at this time he
was preparing and qualifying himself to teach those
branches of science on which he very shortly after-
wards became so eminent a lecturer. Hitherto the ad-
vantages held out by the Duke of Hamilton prevented
his seeking a more appropriate field for the display
of his abilities ; but after the death of the duke,
which happened at the end of the year 1743, he was
induced to transfer his residence to Glasgow. He
settled in that city in the end of the year 1744, or
beginning of I745, at which period Dr. Johnstone
was professor of medicine in the university, and Dr.
Hamilton was the professor of anatomy and botany,
but neither of them gave lectures. Dr. Cullen, who
soon perceived the possibility of establishing a medi-
cal school in Glasgow similar to that which had
been established in Edinburgh, made arrangements
with Dr. Johnstone, the professor of medicine, to
deliver, during the following winter, a course of lec-
tures on the theory and practice of physic, in the
university. This course lasted six months; and, in
the following session of 1747, with the concurrence
of Dr. Hamilton, the professor of botany, besides
lecturing on the practice of physic, he gave lectures,
in conjunction with Mr. John Garrick, the assist-
ant of Dr. Hamilton, on materia medica and botany.
Dr. Cullen in the physic class never read his lectures;
in allusion to which practice, he observed, "Written
lectures might be more correct in the diction and
fluent in the style, but they would have taken up too
much time that might be otherwise rendered useful.
I shall be as correct as possible; but perhaps a fami-
liar style will prove more agreeable than a formal
one, and the delivery more fitted to command atten-
tion."
As the institution of a course of lectures on
chemistry was essential to a regular medical school,
Dr. Cullen proposed to the faculty of the university
of Glasgow, that lectures should be given on that
branch of science by himself, and Mr. John Garrick,
brother of Robert Garrick, Esq., of Hamilton,
who was at that time assistant to Dr. Hamilton, the
professor of anatomy. These proposals having been
approved, the lectures on chemistry were commenced
by Mr. Garrick; but he being taken ill, the remain-
ing part of the course was delivered by Dr. Cullen.
In commencing his second course of chemistry, Dr.
Cullen printed and distributed among his students,
"The plan of a course of chemical lectures and ex-
periments, directed chiefly to the improvement of arts
and manufactures, to be given in the college of
Glasgow during the session 1748." But besides
these lectures, Dr. Cullen, in the summer of 1748,
gave lectures in conjunction with Mr. Garrick on
materia medica and botany. Of the lectures delivered
on materia medica only a few fragments of notes
have been preserved, and these are not sufficient to
afford a precise idea of the general plan which he
followed. The lectures on materia medica and
botany were again delivered in 1749 ; but how long
they were delivered after that period has not been
ascertained.1 In his lectures on botany Dr. Cullen
followed the system of Linnaeus, and by so doing
displayed no ordinary sagacity; for although the
natural arrangements of Jussieu and Decandolle are
now chiefly taught in the universities of this country,
yet the artificial classification of Linnaeus was the
ladder by which botanists ascended securely to the
generalizations of the natural system, and is still of
great use in determining generic and specific distinc-
tions. After Dr. Cullen discontinued his lectures on
botany, he still pursued his botanical studies; as
appears from a letter of a Danish physician, which
contains the answer of Linnaeus to certain queries
that had been referred to him by Dr. Cullen. Al-
ready it must be obvious that Dr. Cullen, in devoting
his attention so minutely to so many branches of
science, displayed a mind of no ordinary activity
and comprehensiveness. He seems, indeed, to have
felt in its full force the observation of Cicero, that
"all the sciences are connected, tendering to each
other a mutual illustration and assistance."
During the period that he lectured on chemistry
in Glasgow, the celebrated Dr. Black became his
pupil, and Dr. Cullen was not long in discovering
the talents of his young student. Thus began a
mutual confidence and friendship which did honour
both to the professor and his pupil, and was always
mentioned by the latter with gratitude and respect.
1 The Bee, vol. i. p. 7.