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.