The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-06 00:00:00

FIRE 47'

The following abstract of the losses sustained in this
awful calamity, is taken from a statement published by
order of the Committee, at Alirainichi, dated tat February
last:—

Lives Lost—Burnt 159; drowned 10: total 110.
Sufterers--Remsining at Miramichi 3778; lett immediately after
the lire 300; tot:d 3078.
Buildings destroyed--Ilouses 3e3 stores 47; workshops 40;
biros 135: stables G 8; mills 4 ; total Zdls.
Cattle Destroyed—Horses 41 ; oxen VS; cows 33 ; sheep 403,
hogs 313 ; total 876.
Ilay and Oats Destroye4.—Tons 2,445.
Fences Destroyed —Reid', 35.2:',5.
Timber diuo—On priMue property, acres 30,000.
Value of property destroyed (exclusive of timber 94 Crown
Lands), 243,5'231. Os.
12,0501. only was insured.
The Aliramichi Committee state, that a correct enumeration of
the different descriptions of property destroyed could not possibly
be given, the abstract is therefore confined to buildings, cattle,
hay, and fences, merely to show how extensive the conflagration
must have bees to have cause so much desolation, where the build-
ings were generally detached, and the settlements spread over so
large a surface uf country.
D7SJEC7' .Y OF THE PLEPHANT.

At nine o'clock on Saturday evening Mr. Cross directed that tin
more visitors should be admitted. The numbers of perAnis at
this thile in the menagerie amounted at least to two hundred, and
the crowds of persons on the stairs and around the establishment
exceeded any thing aver before witnessed. The house wee not
cleared until near ten o'clock, when Mr. Wright ordered his men,
engaged especially to flay the anhnal,. to prcpurc for the operation.
A crub was fixed at the farther end ot the room, near to the den of
Nero. The chains and ropes to bear up the animal were put round
the body, and having been made fast to the crab, orders were
given for the melt to commence. The two " near legs" were first
bawled up, slid then the " off legs." The operation wee by no
means so offensive as had been expected, owing to she precatitions
taken by Mr. Cross in fumigating the room. The flaying of the
animal occupied upwards of eleven hours, and nine Men were
employed in the task. By ten o'clock testerday morning every
thing was prepared. and the protk,eitonal gentlemen were then ad-
mitted. Dr. Brookes and Mr. Morgan dissected the animal. l'het
first operation was that of opening the body front the throat to the
after quarter. The parts were exceediagly large of course—the
heart particularly so. The brain wee not dissected, but the eye
presented a strongl ivid colour. The tusks were separated from the
or. with much ease. but the teeth reniaine4 fast. 1n tact, the
evidently had perished in the very moth of his strength,

COLLEGE. OF SURGEONS.

On Saturday right an Adjourned Meeting of the Surgeons°,
the Metropolis MRS held at the Freemasons"favern, to take into
further cousi•leration the abuses existing in the Royal College of
Surgeons, and to devise torsos for amending the Charter of the
said College. -
Mr. Lawill:NCE was called to the Chair. The object of the
Meeting was to resume the business which was discussed on that
day fortnight, 'elating to the abeam of the Royal College of Sur-
geons.. '1 he inajority of that meeting had agreed to a resolution
to appeal to the legislature, praying that the charter should be
amended, and in adopt such other measures as would remove thz
grievances complained of. Since the last Meeting he had received
COORTILOIk3ORIM front a number of surgeries from provincial hos-
pitals, complaining of the injury done to diem by the Royal Col-
lege refusing to pay any attention to the certificates given by them
to their pupils who offered themselves for examination at the Royal
College. 'l'he reason the College gave for t his refintel was, that it
was decreed by them that only five schools of surgery should be
recognized by the Court, viz. London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glatt-
gni,. and Aberdeen. Ile (the Chairman) contelided, that pupils
who for four, five end six years, had been in constant practice in
provincial hospitals, though there were not a hundred beds
therein (which a byelaw of the Royal College requirrel), had a tio
better opportunity of becoming qualified to practice as surgeons
than those who had what was vulgarly termed " walked the ion.
don Hospitals." (Loud applause). If persons had .qualified
themselves to praetiee surgery, by studying at Paris, Vienna. Are-
settles, or in Germany, and presented Menominee to the Royal
College of Surgeons in London, to undergo an exantination, they
were excluded. because they had not walked the hospitals of Lon-
don. He should be glad to know why the Royal College refused to
examine pupils who had obtained itudrectios abroad or in the pro-
vinces ? Because they had not bought their knowledge at the shop
of those surgical traders ! (Loud clieerieg.) lie could cite many
instances of the gross injustice of the Royal College to individuals
tending to the great injury of the science of surgery in this coun-
try. The -nephew of Professor Patterson went to America to
study; he was there five years, and obtained a diploma of doctor ; •
on hiaseturn to Dngland he presented himself at the Royal College
of Surgeons to be examined, with testimonials of ability• and pro-
fessional knowledge. and he was mused an examination, nor be•
cause he was unqualified, but because: he had not studied in a Lon-
don hospital. If no persons but these who had walked the London
hospitals had been allowed to practise, the scientific world would
never Ipve had to boast of such men as Carlow, Brooks, and
others, whose names wired be handed dew* to. posterity. •The
stipulation of the Court of Examiner*, relating to anatomy, was a
de:into* profitable only to lecturers (loud applause), and they evi.
dently. did not consider the study of physiology Of pathology at all
MINIMA' to quality a surgeon. for the names of these sciences were
not mentioned in the lists of qualifications for examination.
(Cheers ) The evils which he had painted out arose from the de-
fective constitution of the college—they were self-elected—they had
not the confidence of the great body of the profession, and before
they could obtain their confidence they must be elected by the ge-
neral body. (Cheers.) The examinants of the Royal College,
from their great age, were incapable of conducting an examination ;
and it was, therefore, important that the general body of surgeons
should prepare evidence to lay before a Committee of the House,
of Commons, chewing the necessity of an alteration in the Charter
Mr. TYRRELL laid before the mectiog the proceedings of the
Committee since the last general meeting, stating that an applica-
tion had been made to the College of Surgeons, and that the answer
they returned mss, " that the College of Surgeons were always
ready to pay due attention to any suggestions from its Members,
when directed to the common weal ; but that the Council cannot
hold communication with persons whose avowed object is the sub-
vention of the charter of the College."
Mr. DILLON came forward and said that he presented himself
before the meeting more by compulsion than inclination. Ile held
in his hand a paper containing the most scurrilous remarkii,.lo4
illiberal observations, that ever could be made upon.any individual
in a free country. The observations to which he alluded were emt-
tained in the John Bull, and which, he submitted, ought not to
be suffered to pass unnoticed. It was their duty to repel those
charges, lest the legislature, whose protection they were seeking,
should give credit to them.
Mr. CARPEL here interrupted the speaker, and submitted that
they had nothing to do with those observations or remarks. They
had nothing to do with John Ball. (Laughter.)
The CHAIRMAII said that Mr. Dillon, as a Member of the
College, was entitled to snake such observations as he thought
proper ; but he submitted that any remarks upon the comments in
John Bull would not promote the object they had in view.
Mr. DILLON then made some remarks upon the mode of ex-
amination which was pursued in 1793, snit gave a very ludicrous
description of the conduct of the old Gentleman who then officiated.
who abused him (Mr. Dillon) for being a disciple of Dr. Hunter,
but who at length desisted from making any further remarks when
warmly replied to, and directed the applicant to pay his hero, and
be admitted into the College.
A GENTLEMAN here rose to make some observations upon a
letter signed " Scrutator," which had appeared in the Courier,
mid which he said reflected upon the profession, when he was in-
terrupted by the Chairman.
Mr. Waitt.to then came forward. The room MRS instantly in a
state of the greatest uproar; acme applauded, whilst others hissed
—others called loudly for the Chairman to interfere, and complained
that no respect was paid to that individual. In this tumult
The CEIAIRMAN rose and called the meeting to older, by inform-
ing them thgt all ought to be beard, and that übstoratioanaould
wady be met by a fair sod impartial discussion.
Mr. WIKLET the 4 made several obeorentions upon the condom
the Cage, and concluded by moving that a petition should be
prepared by beisnuedtatily presessedso Peslimmatit
This was agreed to.
The gentleman before alluded to then rose and proposed, " That
this meeting having only for its object the welfare of the profession
as connected With the public at large, most decidedly disclaims any
such political views ss have been attributed to it by a letter signed
' &rotator,' inserted in the Courier of February 22, and com-
mented upon In John Bull of February 26; nor does it yield, in
feelings of uttahaken loyalty to the Ring and Constitution if this
realm, to any the most zealous of his ALoesty's aubjects." Upon
the recommendation of the Chairman, the resolution was, how-
ever, withdrawn. The meeting then adjourned.