Mr Beckett took an immediate Occasion to explode all these Legendary Assertions, and fully proved the Truth of Mr Collier’s positive ipse dixit to lye on the other side of the Question, in two Letters which he Published, I. To Dr Steigerthal, intituled “A Free and Impartial Enquiry into the Antiquity and Efficacy of Touching for the King’s-Evil.” II. To Sir Hans Sloane in “order to a compleat Confutation of that supposed supernatural Power descending from Edward the Confessor to the succeeding Kings of England. Also, A Dissertation concerning the ancient Method made use of, for the curing Diseases by Charms, Amulets, &c.” To which is added, A Collection of Records.
When in the Year 1722, it was feared that we should be visited with the Plague in England, after it had raged so violently at Marseilles in France; Dr Mead published his Preservative against Pestilential Distempers. And, among several other New Pieces written, and Old ones revived upon this Occasion, Mr Beckett voluntarily lent his helping Hand for the good of his Country, by giving his Judgment, and Publishing (Anonymously) A Collection of Pieces Written during the Plagues, which happened in the two last Centuries.
Mr Beckett’s Chirurgical Observations, made at St Thomas’s Hospital Southwark; Published last Summer, were prepared for the Press by Himself, and Inscribed to Sir Hans Sloane and the Royal Society.
TO
Sir HANS SLOANE.
Honoured Sir,
THE last Paper Mr Beckett ever wrote, was an Address to you for a private Favour; in which he says, he likewise had reason to believe that Dr Mead would be his Friend. He therein acquainted you that he had, “contracted such a Cold by sitting to write, with his Neck against a North-Window, as he feared would be his Death; and if so, adds he, it may be said I dye a Martyr to the Improvement of the History of Physic and Surgery.” Thus concluded his Paper which he did not live to sign; it was found among his Collections relating to the Lives of the British Physicians, Surgeons, &c. He had copied fair, for the Press, the greatest part of his Papers; and tho’ it was an unfinished Work, yet from his Character, and the great Pains he had taken, I knew it would be very acceptable to the Public. Accordingly I put it to the Press, and intended to have published it in two Volumes in Octavo. Young Dr B * * * *, was recommended to me as a proper Editor: I sent for him and shewed him the Papers; but soon found, that he was much too young both in Character and Ability for such an Undertaking. I printed one Sheet, in Octavo, (of which there were but two Copies taken off) upon this, Dr Milward informed me, that he had been for some Years compiling An Universal History of Physic. He expressed his Desire of purchasing Mr Beckett’s Papers, and being fully convinced, from his Learning and Candour, that he would do Justice to the Author’s Memory, I readily let him have them. And Sir, that you, might in some measure be apprized of Mr Beckett’s Plan, I have to this Volume prefixed his Introduction to the Work.
I Remain,
Honoured Sir,
Your Most Obliged,
And Obedient,
Humble Servant,
E. Curll.
INTRODUCTION
TO THE