The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-24 00:00:00

The Surgeon of the Alabama.

David Herbert Llewellen, who perished in the
noble performance of his duty in the late action off
Cherbourg, was the son of the Rev. David Llewellyn,
perpetual curate of Euston Royal, Wilts. He was
educated at Marlborough College, was an artieed
pupil of Dr, Hassell, of Richmond, and subsequently
studied his profession at Charing•cross Hospital:
from 1856 to 1859, He was Silver Medalist in Sera
gery and Chemistry. He was with the Alabama
throughout the whole of her eventful career, and
was much respected by all on board. We are en-
abled to give a copy of the lest letter which we be-
lieve he ever wrote. It was addressed to Mr.
Travers, the resident medical officer of Charing-
cross Hospital, and is as follows :—" Cherbourg,
June 14, 1864. Dear Travers,—Here we are. I
send this by a gentleman coming to London. An
enemy is outside. If she only stays long enough,we
go out and fight.her. If I live, expect to see me in
London shortly. If I die, give my best love to all
who know me. If Monsieur A. de Caillet should
call on you, please show him every attention. I
remain, dear Travers, ever yours, D. H. Llewellyn.."
How poor Llewellyn did his duty as a man and a
surgeon may be judged by the following touching
episode which was seen to occur during the late
battle :—The whaleboat and dingy, the only two
boats uninjured, were lowered, and the wounded
men placed in them, Mr. Fulham being sent in
charge of them to the Kearsage. When the boats
were full, a man who was unwounded endeavoured
to enter one, but was held back by the surgeon of
the ship—Mr. Lewellyn. " See," he said, " I want
to save my life as much as you de ; but let the
wounded men be saved first." "Doctor," said the
officer in the boat, "we can make room for you?'
"I will not peril the wounded men" was his reply.
He remained behind and sank with the ship—a
loss much deplored by all the officers and men.
Noble and self-denying as was the conduct of the
late surgeon of the Alabama, we are proud in
the conviction that the same chivalrous spirit ani•
mates the medical officers of the united services of
this kingdom. There has been much talk of their
being " non-combatant officers ;" but where are we
to look for greater heroism or self-devotion, " even
at the cannon's mouth ?" And yet Llewellyn was
the type of a class whom the Admiralty and the
Horse Guards have thought fit, by every means in
their power, to degrade and insult. No wonder,
under such circumstances, that the service is now so
unpopular that there are more than 200 vacancies
thata hisn al
llfeowwhich cannot be filled up. The cause in which the
real hero of the late naval duel perished is not one
which can be acknowledged
to edbhyeaanryntic
testi-
monial ; but we are glad
students contemplate the erection of a tablet to his
memory in the hospital in which he so greatly dis-
tinguished himself, and in which his kindly and
1 generous spirit had gained for him the greatest es-
teem and affection. It would be a fitting monument
to his memory, and we trust that it will be placed
in so appropriate a place.—The Lancet.

A STATUE OF MOZART is going to usurp the place
of the fountain in the place dedicated to the corneae!,