The National Register. — London, England, 1816-06-03 00:00:00

AOLA'TION OF THE 17E,111 " THE PROPER STVIIT OF MANKIND IS SIAN." Mr. F.DITOrt—IN your varied and useful paper of Sunday last, I read the letter of your correspondent. J. W. I'., on s hat he calls a practice which " brutalizes the human character ;" and ae 1w professes to he only seeking fur iiifirmation, though cer tainly in language soilless hat unseemly, 1 will venture an at tempt at setting hint right. 1 hope he is upen to conviction ; Itovrever, we will try. I will just cursorily rim over his argumet ts, and make snob passing observations :is to me appear to apply ; reserving to myself the privilege of entering snore fully into particulars, should . P. express himself uusatisfitd by this conitutini • t 1011. I will first tray this much for trim awl his argument; that I ne ver enter a Cilthf•dilli, or house appropriated to the dead, with out removing my hat with the most pi °found tied reverential awe ; and that I never pass an ordinary burying-ground without feeling a mute inexpressible veneration for the mouldering Lanitauts of the silent tomb. His letter is now lying before me ; but, before I enter with Lint into detail, suffer me to generalize a little. lie and all the world must grant me this, that Anatomy is a science secondary only to the divine one of astronautic, the sublime study of those spheres which revolve in bentitifel order, and harmonious regu larity round the immediate throne of God ; that it is a science which clearly shows man to himself; shich tells Lim he is not velf-created, nor the coneregating of loose atoms, nor the con nection of the most fortuitous eircuinstnncea ; lint the immedi ate handy work of his divine maker: that Anatomy shows its time own insnfficiency, and that the piesiding finger of God is as manifest in the most delicate port ttttt of a nerve, in the more than delicate inosenlation of au artery with its necording rein, in the finely messes' rd systole and ilystole of the twilit, in the extended and tastefully painted surface of the lungs, in the exquisitely sensitive feeling oft he brain, or is that finely finished optical illArllment the eye, as in the perfect and Godlike whole; and by .hewing us the beautiful symmetry, the complicated yet correct mechanism of our own frame, must necessaiily lead us up to the contemplation of that beneficent Being wko is himself all perfection, and whose every act and production calls upon as to admire and worship ; act, as genuine science ever was, and will be, united in the closest bond, of union with trite re ligion, Anatomy, being one of a superior order, can never be studied with t hninanizing our actiot,s, refining our sentiments, and raising our affections to heal en. I have discovered, on niy first reading, that J. W. P. i: very fond of miming to the ancients for every thing. Iu order, then, to narrow the argument as much as possible, and shut him out for ever from a source which can atiord him nothing but confusion, I will trouble him with a brief history of anato my. I need not go farther hack than to Hippocrates, the father of medicine, who flourished admit lee years beti)re Christ ; who, in spite of c Innate, prejudice, and superstition, persevered in the sandy till he became an ornament to society And the profession, though far from a proficient. Pythagoras followed, and might have the same desire to en lighten the wend, hut certainly not the same ability ; and he rather added to, than removed errors from the infaut science. At this but slow advancements, and was confined to the two schools of Athens and Alexandria. In the former, the names of Socrates, Plato, Xenophon, Aristotle, and 'rheophrastus, arc still highly respected ; bat after their time, the study of natural knowledge at Athens sank for ever. While, however, it sunk at Athens, it shone at Alexandria with increased splendour s and Erisistra- Ins and Hemphill's were highly distinguished for anatomical knowledge; as by the enlightened policy and liberal patronage of the Ptolsmies, they enjoyed ample opportunities of dissect ing dead bodies (the first at this school); and the consequent improvements which anatomy received were great. After them tame Aselepiades, Ephesius, and Celsns, the most classic writer that ever appeared on the art of medicine. Next came I lalen, who was physician to four Emperors. From the time of Galen to the fifteenth century, anatomy was rather on the decline. Towards the close of the twelfth, century, however, A lodollaliph taught it among the Arabians, end by collecting, hones from the burying-grounds had opportunities of discovering many of Ga b n's errors in osteology. In the early part of the sixteenth century, the great Vesalitts, the remover of anatomy, who ven tured to trash dissection systematically, and who, by his on sterflil perseverance, and the assistance rut his pupil Fallopins, roiled in such a tide of light upon the science, anti of benefit to mankind, as to gain them immortality, and the thanks of all good men. From this time it became a profession honoured and respected ; and the seventeenth centnry witnessed the dis eovery of the most important function of animated bodies, the circulation of the blood, by Harvey ; since whose time the men of eminence that have shone in the profession, and the invalua ble discoveries they has e made, are by far hut lIIIIOVUOUS for tne to name, neither do they need it, their vvoiks speak for them. Having said thus mach to sbew that from the earliest, and even tin ()ugh the very darkest ages of mankind, Anntorny has been eagerly sought and studied by Sages, Statesmen, and Philosophers; and that it has been tolerated, eneimiaged, land commended, just in proportion to the dissipation of igno rance, and the diffusion of useful knowledge, and not like that groundless and fanciful theory Astrology, which has ever flottrished in the exact ratio of the density of that dark 'sad impenetrable night of ignorance w Inch genereted it ; and alto to prevent J. W. P. from running Montt from century to rim tory, picking ep all the obscure anecdotes that can be either eollected or invented, I will now draw my chair a little closer, end enter freely into conversation. As to his tint embarrass ment, iii arcoutitiug for why the practice hes not been repro bated, or indeed noticed, by the pions and linuitine writers of the present day," I answer, it is Mr this good reason, that nut (10111 inattention (as he supposes), but that after viewing the practice with an extended compassionate eye, they have all been convinced that it is a practice flinch to be deplored on recount of the frailties of the survivors, yet from its imperious and intlispensible necessity to be tolerated: and, indeed, who, but those of sicklied sensibility and narrowed views of huma nity, could wish to stop the diffusion of this most useful and comfort-yielding science, or wonder that men with' better beans and sounder onderstandings ehotlld bare seen it as it really is, the sole basis of surgery; and that us they hint valued their own health. lives, or limits, or tines- 4.1 their suf fering fellow-creatures, or as they admire, and wish to pronnil gate every kind of tine science and philosophy they have, instead of depreciating a system, without shish 1111111 MOM again fall into barbarism, have not only refrained from com menting un it, lint have themselves actually entered into the ;study with all their souls. " Serene philosophy, Effusive source of evidence and took! ithout thee, what were unenlightened mum t ji roaming through the woods and wilds, acougli ei id, tie, old of every finer art Ana eitgance of life." T/IP: NATIONAL REGISTI',II. And we nets see the tiisi men of the age, who from practic;d knowledge are ca pa hie of mainta Ming a long and luminous disputation on Pathology, Morbid Anatomy, stud Animal Fun. nonts, williney leave to men afflicted with nuo.c temerity and elninWld with less sound sense. to cavil at chat they can neither understand nor api.te.ciate ; and happily for the cause of humanity that it is to; far o nhout the suigical operator hash: the mod accurate knowledge of Anatomy, such an One RN is * only to be ob.ained by minute dissections and intense study over the dead hotly, o hat hope of relief could those poor onfortimate beings have who are labouring under Strametil4ted Hernia, Stone in the Bladder, 'lie Donloreti•. Cataract of the Eye, Compression on the Muhl, Aneurism, st minded Artery, or el on down to ordinary a ecideots requiring amputation, or other operation: have they no clttitas On our sympathies? Again, look on those brave defenders of tour homes and iiheities mho may be wounded while lighting our battles, iu the field, or on the ocean! is the eye of compassitm to be titres er it% cried (100, theist ? andihey left a toe, to annecessary anguish and untimely death, because the surgeon dot's hot know how to extract a ball, remove a limit, or even apply the - tuurniquette? It is a situ ple gne..tion of tinting, a het her mic dead body in ten thowand shall be appropriated to the surgeon. or the dark veil of igno rance shall be drawn over the whole art of medicine, leasing the world a prey to disease and wretchedness. "Then whence these fears—whence springs this innate dread, " Which starts repulsive front the harmless dead." Ha vingitolulgral himself in some nightseCtlincy,J.W.P. gravely asserts, that the buryieg the dead is en "expiatory ceremony ;" and that if we disturb their ashes, we break in m the repose of the departed soul. Ido not know where he gut this notion, but it is ton ridiculous to be answered. lie then misfiles on till he loses himself, and talks about dis sleeting beasts '• of analogous organization to the human frame." There is comparative anatomy, hot no such thing as analogous anatomy. lie then indulges himself milli a treat of s: or rility towards the profession in these terms " the ruthless knife of the unfeeling sit rgieal operator," " the merciless ope rators in surgery," " barbarian hands of surgical operators," and a great deal more in the same relined strain. bat an ex cellent Billingsgate mark ennan is here spoiled! Are these fit epithets to be applied to the man who lu the bey day of youth, when his powers of enjoyment arc at their height, voluntarily gives up every pleasure of society, and recreation, and a great portion of that sleep which mature unceasingly calls for, and shuts himself up with a loathsome fetid hotly, in order to tit him , for becoming an useful member of society, and to inslik hint to yield health and case to his fellow creature? This, in deed, is " Zeal for God, and active love fur man." Has J. W. P. 'lei er mixed in the society of medical men. and witnessed the goodness or their hearts, the refinement of their sentiments, and their cagagiat, affability? If lie has, and ever left them without being pleased, they either treated him contemptuously, or he has made a vet y illiberal return. This is all his letter amounts to. I was much pleased to tind, after all the imacconatable things he has sAid, that lie ran close it so limiloiously as he has done, by his quotation from the Taunton Courier: it is an excellent joke, and has are to recommend it; for it has stood the test of more than twenty nipping winters ; and by this snii tary stroke of wit lie ha.; convinced me that the drift of his whole letter is only to raise a laugh at its close t in which you, 1 sin sate, will B rant nee he has succeeded. Yours, &c. &c. London-road, May 20, 1816. J. W. PRINCE REGENT'S COURT, 4.c. Tuesday the Prince Reent held a Court at Carlton House, for the purpose of receiving the Address of the University of Oxford, upon the marriaget of Princess Charlotte with Prince Leopold. It being Publicly known that the Members were to walk in procession through Pall Mall in their academical robes, a great crowd was attracted. The procession began to move soon after three o'clock, preceded by two Esquires and two Yeo men &dies, tidlowed by Lord Grenville, as Chancellor, in his splendid robes ; the Delegate; consisting of Drs. London, Hughes, Cole, and Hodgson, the Principals of Jesus, Exeter, Worcester, and 13razenose Colleges, the Earl of Yarmouth, Lord Kenyon, the Archbishop of York, the Bishops of London and Norwich, the Duke of Portland, the Marquis of Salisbury, &c. in number about 360. They were conducted to the Regent, who was seated on Ms Throne, surrounded by several of the Cabinet Ministers and Officers of State. The Chancellor then read the Address; to which the Prince returned a most gracious answer. The Delegates had then the honour to kiss his Royal Highness's hand, and retired. Wednesday the Prince Regent held a Levee at Carl ton-house, which was very numerously attended. A Guard of Honour of the Grenadier Guards, under the command of ('ol. Joddrell, with the band in their state uniform, with caps to correspond with the grenudiers, which they have within these few days received, marched into the Court and played a number of loyal tuns. A party of the Life Guards attended in Pall-mall with Sir N. Conant, and a numerous assemblage of Bow street Officers. It being a Collar Day, the Court was particularly brilliant. The Dukes of Clarence, Glou cester, and Prince Leepold, were present ; the two latter paid their respects to the Regent upon their being ap pointed Field Marshals. There were also present the Cabinet Ministers and Officers of State. Ambassadors and Ministers—Saxon, Spanish, Russian, Sar dinian, Dutch, Itavarian ' French, Swedish, Wirtember g , Aus trian, Danish, Prussian, American, and Portuguese. T. , he Vice Chancellor, the Chiefinsticeot the Common Pleas, the Adjutant General. Mr. Chat:renor Leath, the Judge Advo cate, !vir. Alderman Alagnay ; the Recorder, Mayor, and Rai litf Liver : 00l ; the Mayor and Sheriff of Bristol, the She riff of Brecon, the Mayor of Yarmouth ' the Slim ilf of Pem broke. the Recoil der and the Town Clerk of Bristol, the May or of Salisbury, the Vice-Presidents, .tc. of the Hial t iand soci e ty, Several of the latter with Addreases of Congratulation on the recent Royal Nuptials. _ _ • • At the close of the Court the Regent went to dine with the Queen. JI7NE FEMALE FASIIIONS. rnost TUE auroslToltv OF ARTS, rAsiiiesA, ftninat. nit FAS.—A frock of striped Frrach (moac over a white satin slip; the lament of the frock is supernly tnotmed with a deep fl ,once of Bro,a. I. lace, which Li ot...ted by n single tuck of 'ryas white satin and a wreath of roses: shrive the wreath 4re aro tuclu of byes white satin. The of the torly and sleeves i, C.r.gular, novel, nod tasteful; but we are forbidden c' her to dccribe it, or mention the materials of which it is comyosed. The heir is dressed 'twat the shies, and parted Si) to to cotirely display the forshcails it is ornamented with rip elegant aigritte of pearls in trout, and a spr . ste of French roses ]acrd nearly at theZ hack of the head. Necklace. and bracelets of pearl. Whit. kid gloves. and white satin slippers: Evflrci NG Datms.—The dress is composed of white late, nod worry over n rich white soft satin slip; the skirt is finished round the Ironton b y a d eep ti m b re o f lave, :nt three narrow byes satin tucks, which are surmounted by a wreath of beautiful fancy dowers. The lait'y ar.d sleeves arc peculiarly el, - ruit and novel: n wain front, which tones the are in an easy and becoming style. is ornamented at each side with a light tinbroidery of towers, and finished with bows of riblaw. The' sleeve is, we think, the most tasteful that has been lately intro. duced. The iiidr is ptatodso as partially to display tie fierchead, and ornamented* wide a wreath of u wein. Necklace. ear-rings, and Imale. Ice' of diamonds. White kid gloves, and white natio slippers richly embroidered in coloured silks. A rich white lace scarf is thrown care. leasly over the left shunkler, end partially shades one tide of the neek. SPORTING. rI'SOM RACES, AVEHNESDAY, MAT TN! Woodrot Stakes of 'togs. each. Last Ilzi . . Lord Lowther's b. c. t v Dick Andijws, out of a Bab nacre . Mr. 111:Ike's b. f. by ax.y, darn by Young Whiskey - itlr. S. Sadler's c. by Mainnon, out of Fully - z Mr. rtir,an's f. by Eaton. out of Corona The Coburg Stukcs of I(g.. t Os. _ . Duke• of 'Rutland's End:lngo, by clz old - . . Mr. Charlton's b. f. Tozer, 5 yrs old Mr. Gould's b. c. Vision, 4 yrs old 3 M ON D DAY. MAY .70. The second and last I , car of a renca•al of the Derby stakes of 50gr. each, It. It. for 3-yr.-old nits, 14st. 71'0.-13114.5, gat. 21b. the last mile and a half: the owner of the 2,1 Lurie to rec.tive begs. out a the stakes. Duke o or •sb.c. by Ilendlr. out of Gil . Lord G. IL ravendiih's hr. c. N mot.. by Vi'slton - . Lord Stnwell's dt. c. by "tValtiln. out of Prelim( . . 3 Twelve started. The judge placid byt three. Tlie colt won by tuts leturtl.s in fine style. . _ _ _ A sweerstakes'of ttigc each. with Ings. added from the Racing Fond; for 3-yr. add. Gat. 4115.; four. 715t.29).; lire. ast. (lb.; a;zetl.ll..t. 15115.; the last mile. 'l",•c winner to he sold for 2taigs. if dtmantlul, &e Ceti. Cnwar's b. 1. elarilsrli. 4 yrs. Lord Stswell's b. c. (:olden I.eg. 3 yrs. . . Mr. (barium's h. c. l'on . pcy, 4 yrs. s Mr. rar.kc's b. c. Sir Ihn.topher. 4 yrs. Mr. Sadler 's ch. 1. Venus. :.7 yrs. 5 This rue ells keenly contested. lind men by two hogtbs. A plate of .1a 1. for all am: tw•o-rnik heats; :.yr. olds, fat. four. 814. 21h.; fire, Act. I ; six, sad arse, gat. The winner of (n • pate or sweep:ulna in this year to carry 31b. extra; of tan, 511.).; and of three 71b. 11. of I{l;tlantl's Fandango. 4 yr& Mr..T. l'erren's b. c. C..per, 4 yrs. 2 Jr Mr. ch. c. by Ruben', 5 yrs. 3 er The weather proved very favourable. and there was a numerous cep. course of spec :atop, amongst whom was For Royal Iligl nes* the iul.e of York, who was greatly elat.sl itt the success of his cult; it betnii the first Derby stakes he had ever won. PII lUD DAY. FATDAT. MA y 31. The second nn hibt year of a renewal of the Oaks States. of 50" Each. b. ft. for fillies then 3 yrs. old, tn tarry ta. 4ib. the last mile me a hall. l'he owner of the s,•cond horn: w reetive 10 cgs. out of the Stnkes. Geri. Gower s f. by Rubens. out of Iris - - . I Lord Foley 's h. f. by Sir David. out of Dowagcr - Mr. Walker's eh. f. b)• Sclini, dam by Mk , scraper . . - 5 Twelve started. The judge placed Ina the above three. The raoe was well contested. but not so good as we h::ve seen for the Oaks. Itubens' f. won by half a length. Rhoda the favourite at starting. We do not recollect ever to have seen so small an assemblage of spectators on the Downs to witaess the running for the Oaks: bat lit tle betting took Our, ant: every thing wenied flat. The knowing ones at Epsom vs ere completely taken in on Thursday ; for the Duke of York's colt, by neadler, who wee the Derby Stake, is a ver y poor figure, ;mat bets Is ere 4 to against him. Nectar and DV's* kept the lead until within 200 yards of the winning post; when the Duke of York's colt shot by him like an arrow from a bow, and came-in, in gramd style, two lengths before them. Eaten, the celebrated pedestrian is backed to a large amount to perform the unprecedented task of walking elevr hundred miles in eleven hundred successis e limns ; to vanonew e each mile within twenty tnionteu after the pi seeding hour. The bet to be void, if at any time the performance should be impeded by Magisterial interference, or by the Pedestrian te a-riving any designed injury. Eaton commences the task at Blackheath at Eight o'Clock in the Evening en Tuesday nest Jane 4. Wilson, the Blackheath peticstt ian, who started on Thursday se'rmight, in the vicinity of Cambridge, to walk 100 miles is Stiecessive hours, failed in his undertaking, by only a quarter cora mile. A match at cricket was made, a few days ago, by a party of Gentlemen. for 200 guineas, w hich is to be played next wen., by II one-armed pensioners belonging to Chelsea Hospital, Lod an equal number of one legged veterans. The bets at prereut are in favour of the arms. Boxtsc.—J. Stephenson and S. Robinson. two blacks, fought. on Tuesday at Coombe Warren for 40 guineas. The seconds were, Richmond and flurry Harmer fur Stephenson, and Oliver and Shelton Mr Robinson. The number of rounds, and the various evolutions in the tight, vire too contempt.hle to detail. Suffice it, therefore, to state, abut Stephenson bad no chance; and though 27 rounds were tbught, he gave in several times before, though his seconds insisted upon his tinning the fight. The coutest lasted an hour and 12 minutes. Two other vagabond blacks afterwards fought besides wh , ch there were three other fights, Caleb Baldwin heat amour black fellow; and a Jew, of the name of Randall, beat one of his own tribe. The other tight was betwetm two novices, •ho were on this occas ion added to the tilt catty too numerous gang of etfians. This meeting was attended by most of the thieves and pickpockets in London, who committed their depredations upon the Kill)* people who had assembled with impunity. Surely sorb meetings should be soppresscd! the injury they do to society is beyond t•timate; we place Bibles in the 1 "n" of the lower classes—we e.Stablish National Schools fiir the education of their children- • and we endeavour to iliculeat their minds the principles of religion, ;111(1 all its relative dune Ina to what purpose does all this to:a, while such scenes ale tolerated?