Dr. B⸺e.
Both of them rose to the very height of their profession, by the exercise of similar talents, and distinguished by similar endowments. It might, indeed, be said of them, that they were “pene gemelli, neque in ulla re valde dissimiles.” Both were remarkable for a strenuous diligence in accomplishing themselves in their profession; both were eminently gifted with strong sense, sound judgment, acute discrimination, and patient investigation.—They were, moreover, intimate from very early life, Dr. David P⸺ being accustomed to spend much of his time, when very young, with the Rev. J. B. father of Dr. M. B. who was Minister of Bothwell, in the county of Lanark; he was afterwards Professor of Divinity in the University of Glasgow. Dr. M. B.’s mother was the sister of Dr. W. H. the Physician, who founded the Museum well known by his name; the unfortunate removal of which from the metropolis of England to Glasgow, furnishes incessant matter of regret to students of every denomination. This untoward circumstance is said principally to have been occasioned by the inadvertence or neglect of Lord North, when Prime Minister—a very culpable neglect, surely. It is affirmed, and generally believed, for it remains uncontradicted, that Dr. William Hunter would have presented this most rich, extensive, and valuable collection of manuscripts, books, coins, medals, subjects of natural history, anatomical preparations, &c. &c. to this nation, if the Minister would have given him, in any part of London, a space of ground large enough for the erection of a Museum to be called after his name. This was either neglected, forgotten, or refused. The consequence was, that Dr. H. after directing it to be preserved for the period of thirty years in its original situation, bequeathed it finally to the University of Glasgow, whither it has, long since, been removed, and where it may be said, without any disparagement of those who possess it, that its use is more circumscribed, and, of consequence, its value less extensive and important.
The management and superintendence of this Museum and its contents, for the period limited in the will, was assigned by Dr. Hunter to his nephew, Dr. Baillie, to Dr. David Pitcairn, and Dr. Combe, who were in common, and, as it were, with one feeling, most kind and liberal in the accommodation they afforded to literary men; and sometimes, more particularly on a Sunday, might be seen assembled at the Museum, foreigners of distinction, eminent also for their learning, with some of the most illustrious philosophers and scholars of our own country.
Here Dr. B. resided, remarkable for his affability to all strangers who were introduced to him, and, as ever afterwards, conspicuously eminent for sound, good sense, and extensive information.
It is believed, that previously to his coming to England, he received his first rudiments of education at the High School of Edinburgh; so that every circumstance and period of their lives had a natural tendency to confirm and cement the intimacy between him and Dr. David Pitcairn.
Dr. B⸺ afterwards became a member of Baliol College, Oxford. And here let us indulge a good-humoured smile of wonder, in which the Doctor himself would hardly disdain to join; that, notwithstanding his early introduction into this country, his familiar and continual intercourse with the most polished and enlightened Englishmen, he ever and strongly retained the dialect of his native land.
Connected with Dr. Hunter’s Museum, in Great Windmill-street, was a Theatre of Anatomy, where Dr. ⸺ gave lectures, which were the delight and admiration of all who attended them. Perhaps this truly eminent and amiable man would not be offended at the suggestion, that the declension of his friend P⸺’s health, and his unavoidable removal to Portugal, laid the first foundation of his fame, and opened the path to that extraordinary eminence which he has since attained. One thing is very certain, that at the period when P⸺’s reputation was at the highest, and his practice almost without limit, Dr. B⸺ was rather known and esteemed as a skilful anatomist, than consulted as a physician. P⸺, however, who well knew and properly estimated his value, always and strongly recommended him, when circumstances prevented his own personal attendance; and still more particularly, when he left his practice and country, for change of atmosphere at Lisbon.
With his subsequent situation all are acquainted; and, if he lives[4], may he long enjoy the successful eminence which his merit has attained. In one thing he strictly followed the steps of his friend and predecessor; notwithstanding his very extensive and most lucrative practice, he was as prompt as when his business was circumscribed in a small and narrow circle, to attend to the necessities and sufferings of his friends. He also appropriated some portion of his valuable time to the distresses of the poor. Though his fatigue was incessant, and more particularly so, since the ever to be lamented indisposition of the Sovereign; and though, as he said of himself facetiously, “I lead the life of a dog,” he is very abstemious, and never exceeds his pint of claret.
If the writer were to indulge the strong propensities of his mind with regard to this eminent personage, many pages might easily be filled.
Those, indeed, were halcyon days, before the Doctor “led the life of a dog,” and when he condescended to share the frugal and humble repasts of an obscure author, which however, he enlivened by his good humour, and enriched by his abundant information upon all subjects.
The subject of this article, if he ever should peruse it, is affectionately entreated to forgive a little, but very pardonable instance of nationality, of a nature very general indeed, and therefore implying no individual infirmity.
It had been remarked in the vivacity of conversation, that the Scotch were so jealous of literary superiority, that they would not allow it in any branch of science to an Englishman; and that if a proficient in chemistry, natural philosophy, mathematics, Greek, or Latin were named, being a native of any other country than Scotland, if a Scotchman were present, he would immediately name one of his own countrymen as his superior. This was discussed with a good deal of pleasantry on all sides, when, after the introduction of other matters, the subject of Greek was started by one of the company; upon which, a friend of Professor Porson observed, that he believed it to be universally acknowledged that Porson was, without competition, the first Greek scholar in Europe. Our excellent friend would by no means acknowledge this, but affirmed that Mr. Professor ⸺, of Glasgow, was fully qualified to dispute the palm with Porson.—The consequence of the remark was, a general and good-humoured laugh at the Doctor’s nationality.
There can be no harm in saying a word or two of E. H. perhaps the most sagacious and most skilful, certainly the most philosophical, of our surgeons.
He was the son of a Mr. H. who was a surgeon in the army. His mother’s name was H⸺n; he was educated at Westminster School, and on leaving it, went to reside with his brother-in-law, the celebrated J. H.; from him he derived not only his surgical knowledge, but his ardour for original investigation. But he resided for some time in the family of Sir Archibald Campbell, in the West Indies, to which region he went, as an army surgeon. His success in his profession has been deservedly as great as could have been imagined by others, or expected by himself.—Honour and affluence have crowned his diligence.
He married a very amiable widow, by whom he had several children.
He has a roughness of manner externally, which is forbidding, and has offended many, but beneath, he has a heart alive to the warmest feelings of friendship; and there are a great many who have known him from his boyish days, who continue most sincerely and affectionately attached to him.
In his professional character he has been invariably kind and liberal, frequently having put himself to great inconvenience, and certain loss of the fair advantages of his situation, to sooth the sufferings of friends, and whole families of friends, by the interposition of his sagacity and skill.
If every medical personage were specifically introduced, who was familiarly known to the writer, and respected by him, either for their literary distinction, professional merit, or social qualities, the catalogue would be very long indeed, and the work extended to an undue length. The list would contain, besides the names already mentioned, a great many others;—of the late most ingenious John Hunter, Sir William John Fordyce, Sir Lucas Pepys, Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Creighton, who afterwards went to Russia, Dr. Pelham Warren, Drs. Monro, father and son, Dr. Bland, Dr. Taylor, of Reading, Dr. Cruickshanks, &c. &c.
Private friendship pauses awhile, to pay a well deserved tribute to Dr. A⸺e.
He was educated either in Cumberland or Westmorland, from whence he removed to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he so eminently distinguished himself, that he was the senior wrangler of his year.
Talents and judgment like his could not fail of succeeding in the metropolis; and accordingly, it appears that when our Sexagenarian left it, he was progressively ascending to the very height of his profession, and it could not be easy to determine whether he was more entitled to esteem for his professional, or to affection for his amiable and social qualities. There is no situation which Dr. A. would not have improved and adorned, his knowledge being so various, his information and his judgment so profound. But he was peculiarly qualified for that in which he became deservedly eminent. He discriminated the peculiarity of a case with extraordinary promptitude, and he acted with corresponding decision. Human sagacity is liable to error, the most perfect of human wisdom is oftentimes deceived and misled. This was seldom the case with him of whom we are speaking, nor is there a single memorable instance on record, marked by the failure of his comprehension, in the injury sustained by his misapprehension of the case which required his deliberation. Be this as it may, his assiduous attention, his kindness, his sympathy, when private friendship called for his interposition, demands a more extended panegyric than it is compatible with the object of this work to bestow.
Sur ce vaste sujet si j’allois tout tracer
Tu verrois sous ma main des tomes s’amasser.