Page:The Hunterian oration, delivered before the Royal College of Surgeons in London, on the fourteenth day of February, 1821 (electronic resource) (IA b21483851).pdf/195

 AN

ORATION.

OPINION, be it founded in truth or error, governs thought, and action; and is indefinite in extent of influence.

Although it may be formed from a passing and trivial incident; and its impression, on pro- mulgation, be limited to a few minds, yet, at some period, by successive communication, the whole intelligent race of mankind may bear a stamp of its original character.

Such reflections naturally pressed on the mind of your first Orator. For, however light his admitted authority, he presumed that it would be sufficient �