The Sun.
London, England, 1830-07-24 00:00:00

CHARACTER OF MEAD.

After the most brilliant career of profeusiona
and literary reputation, of personal fonour, of
wealth, and of notoriety, which ever fell in com-
bination to the lot of any medical man in any
age or country, Mead took to the bed from
which he was to rise no more, on the 11th of
February, and expired on the ICrth of the same
month, 1754. Ilia death was unaccompanied
by any visible signs of pain.
In practice he had been absolutely without a
rival ; his average receipts had, during several
years, amounted to between six and seven thou-
sand pounds, an enormous sum in relation to
the value of money at that period. So great
was the anxiety to obtain his opinion, that ho
daily repaired to a eoffetehouse in the city, and
to another at the west end of the metropolis, to
inspect written or to receive oral statements from
the apothecaries, and to deliver his decision.
His charity and his hospitality were unbounded ;
the epithet « princely" has often been applied to
him on this bead, but he has truly left an ex.
ample which men of all ranks may be proud to
imitate according to their means ; these qualities
in Mead were not the result of the accident
which exalts or limits our means, but were the
spontaneous expression of his heart. His
gratuitous advice was ever open, not merely to
the indigent, but also to the clergy, and to all
men of learning ; and he devoted his emolu-
ments to the patronage of literature and of the
fine acts in a manner that requires a more distinct
mention.
Radcliffe was a worthy predecessor of Mead
in the magnificent use which ho made of his
fortune. 'We may safely chalkiige any country
to produce two individuals of the
,sans proles-
nion, and flourishing at the same period, who
have with equal generosity applied their revenue
to the promotion of science and of erudition,
and to the relief of misery. But Mead excelled
all the nobility of his age and country in the
encouragement which he afforded to the fine
arts, and to the study of antiquity. Considered
merely in the light of a patron, he would remain
perhaps the most conspictious example of that
character which biography has celebrated ; but
when to his exertions in that difficult and often
thankless career are added the most eminent
medical practice of his time, consummate nes
quirements, and literary labours important to
the healing Atli—we shall find it difficult •to
select his equal among. the annals of period.
Those excellent traits do not, however, complete
his portrait ; a noble frankness, suavity of man•
nets, moderation in the estimate of his own
merit, and a cordial acknowledgment of the de.
sorts of his contemporaries ; liberality, not
merely to purse, but also of sentiment, must be
drawn in order to finish the likeness..
In some respects his position in society
re-
sembled that which Sir Joseph Ifairkes itO long
occupied to the honour of his country'; •tut
tastee
uiil
fisanndiN a snore cir-
cumstances
o se
anrde with natural
a morel
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endow lead sous Aired to
delicate el
tion and of knowlasigei Justly is it to range of
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fretted that sa few among the many opulent and
- individuals who adorn Hour times, have
been disposed or enabled to imitate the example
whi
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quirer derived almost as much enjoyment from
these unburied treasures as their
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Owner.--. 4% mils/ Library,. No XIV ,

is Is believed that at the memorable contest
for Yorkshire, between Lord Muses and Lord .1.420-
Las, the expense of each candidate WU not hog thmt
120,000/. Every carriage and post-hotse in the county
was in requivition, and every inn and sayetti WO open,
The last Northumberland contest is presumed to Live cost
each candidate 11,0001. a.day; and tits sitting Member
purchase l the honour of a seat, for a few short tumulus, at
an outlay of 80,000/.