The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-01 00:00:00

SIR ASTLEY COOPER.

The following particulars respecting this celebrated
Surgeon, we copy from the Medical Gazette :
In 1787 he spent the winter in attendance on the me-
dical classes in Edinburgh ; and in 1792 he went to
Paris, having previously married Miss Cock, a connection
of Mr. Cline, by whom he had one daughter—his only
child, who died in her second year.
During his residence in the French capital he attended
ch'efly to the lec!ures and practice of Desaul', at that
time the most distinguiibel surgeon in France, and of
whose instructions he enurtair.ei a very I.i,r,h opinion.
Here Sir Astley was present during some of the horrors
of the revolution, aid among other things was a witness
of the celebrated attack upon the Tuil ries, and the mas-
sacre of the Swiss Guards, on Vie lo,h August, 1792.
On his return from Paris. Sir Astley permanently set-
tied in practice. In I Moo 13^ became burgeon to Guys
Hospital—an appointment which he retained t'll 1826,
when he was created consulting-surgeon.
Sir Astley's first home was in Jeffrey's-square, St.
Mary Axe—not a very fashionable part of the town cer-
tainly, but where he was content to sojourn not less
than six years. He then removed to New Broad-street,
where he remained for seventeen years in very extensive
practice, and in daily inc easing reputation. His income
was certainly at one time greater than that of any other
medical man of the present day, having, we believe, on
more occasions than one, exceeded 20,0001. w;thin a year.
In 1815, when at the height of his reputation, he re-
moved to Spring Gardens; and he was one of the few with
whom the migration from the city to the west-end has
proved fully successful. A few years afterwards he was
employed professionally by George IV. to remove a small
tumor from the scalp—al operation which he performed
with all his wonted coolness and dexterity.
Soon after this (in 1821) he was created a baronet,
the patent extending to his nephew and name-sake, Ast,
ley Poston Cooper, fourth son of his brother—the present
holder of the title. From this time till 1827 he continued
to enjoy an excellent practice, and to make a very large
income. He then, in the full zenith of his fame, volun-
tarily retired into the country to enjoy the riches he had
accumulated, and spend the remainder of his days in the
dignified repose of a country gentleman. But Sir Astl .y
was not made for the otium rum diynitate, and a ve-y short
time saw him back again in the metropolis, where, on
more than one occasion, he publicly refereed to the period
of his seclusion, and declared that if he had remained
idlc he should certainly have banged himself. His nephew,
Mr. Bransby Cooper, having been installed in his old re-
sidence in New-street, Spring-gardens, Sir Astley took a
house in Conduit-street, where he gave a series of con-
versaz ioni, which were attended by nearly all the medical
world in London, and which were intended apparently to
convince his brethren of the reality of his return. He
brought with him bis great name and unblemished repu-
tation, but never had, and probably never desired to have,
the same immense business as before his temporary re-
tirement; others, of scarcely inferior note, bad gained
possession of, and retained a considerable portion, of what
. had before been almost exclusively his own.
As an operator we need scarcely say that he was bold,
rapid, and skilful, almost without parallel,--qualities
which tended greatly to enhance ha own reputation, and
to heighten the character of English surgery. We well
remember having been present at a conversazione at
M. Maunoir's in 1817, attended by most cf the sc'eptific
men in Geneva, when the fact was comnamicated of
Sir Astley having cut down upon and tied the aorta in the
living subject; nor shall we readily forget the expressions

o f admiration, Wort quite unmisi-d with consternation, with
whic'l the announcemo-t was received.

Probably no surgeon of ancient or modern times has
enjoyed a greater share of reputa.ion durirg his life than
Lai fallen to the lot of Sir Astley. The old and new
woild ha; alike rung with •his fame ; and, perhaps, we
cannot give a better example of this than one to which
we remember having alluded on a former occasion—e e
mean, the fact of his signature being re:eived as a pass-
port among the mountains of Biscay, by the gild fol-
lowers of am Carlos. A young English surgeon, seek-
ing. for employment was carried as a prisoner berore Zu-
malaearregui, who demanded what thstimonigls he had of
his calling or his qualifications? Our countryman pro-
seated his diploma of the College of Surgeons; and the
name of Astley Patton Cooper, which was attached to it,
no sooner struck the eye of the Carlist leader, than he at
once ITc-slated his prisoner with friendship, and appointed
him a surgeon in his army.
Sir Astley had, for years, been subject to occasional
attacks of giddiness, which he was naturally anxious to
corceal, but which sometimes proceeded so far as to corn-
pel him to de,i,t from whatever he was exployed about ;
and, on one occasion, he evea fell in the street. During
the latter part of his life he also suffered a pod deal from
occasional fits of the gout, which, however, did not present
ary thing remarkable. For some time his countenance ex-
hibited a purplish tinge, as from some embairassmeet iq the
circulati n : and, latterly, he had been heard to protest, that
he must decline visiting patients who were up two pairs of
stairs—a 6: eat which, though meant as a kite, had evi-
dently originated in the exertion distresing him. In-
deed, we understand that he had sere aedly expressed his
belief that there was " something sarong," and that he had
not long to live.
The last and fatal att ick, however, was of resent date,
and in it he had the assistance of Dr. Chalmers arid Dr.
Bright. The body was examined after deatheswhen the
diagnosis pre,iously given was confirmed, by the heart
being found to be enlarged, with some atheromatous depc-
sit in the Botts, and effreion into the pericardium and
cavities of the pleura.
Sir Astley Cooper was a handcome mar, and of s•riking
appearance, wall de erring the " c'e.st un bel I:omme I"
which was often bestowed upon him as he walked round
the Hotel Dieu vii b M. Dupuytren.
Thoughout his whel c trier nothing cou!el exceed the
uniform f,irness of his canduct towards tll his brethren,
or his kindness towards tie younger memhess of the pro-
fession, especially those whom he saw to be possessed of
merit. There a-e few among us who do not fell person-
ally grateful to him for his conduct on some occasion.
Sir Astley, as we have seen, long enjoyed a large share
of public patronage; but we believs the actual amount of
his fortune, when stated at half a million, is considerably
over-rated. His personal expenses were not great ; but
he was very liberal to his relations, on whom we have
head, on what we believe to be good authority, he be-
'towed between two and three thousand pounds annually.
He is also said to have spent 20,0004 in bringing his bro-
ther iato Parliament. Nor was his liberality confined to
his own family :—when Dr. Bailie and some others made
up a purse for Dr. Pemberton, in the difficulties brought
upon him by his ill health, Sir Astley contributed the
munificent sum of 5001.

MARIE ANTOINETTE'S ADVO-

CATE.

(From the Gazette des Tribunaux of Sunday.)
M. Chauveau Lagarde, Councillor Lt the Cour de Cas-
satioo, died on Friday, at six o'clock in the evening, in
his seventy-sixth year. He was born at Chartres about
the latter end of the year 1765, and was alrea ly en-
joying a well merited reputation at the bar of Paris,
when in 'B9 our political regeneration gave him the
means of displaying his taint on the vast and san-
guinary theatre which the div,:rs changes of the revolu-
tionary contest offered. Being the undanted antagonist
of Fouquier Tinville, he defended, amongst others,
General Miranda, Brissot, Charlotte Corday, and Marie
Antoinette. His energy during the prosecution of that
unfortunate Queen caused him to be arrested, as well
as Troncon Decoudray, who shared with him the d In-
ger and glory of that defend. It was endeavoured
to force them to reveal secrets which were supposed to
hava been confided to them by their august client ; but
their interrogatory dissipated unjust suspicions, and they
were set at liberty.
In Charlotte Corday's defence Chauveau Lagarde
found himself nearly brought to a stand still by the
heroic attitude of the accused, who, not caring a straw
fur her life, gloried in the murder which she had com-
mitted. He fulfilled his mission, at any rate, as well as
his exceptional position allowed him, without either
compromising his character or the opinion he might
have formed, as a citizen, on Marat's assassination.
He limited himself to implore the indulgence of the
Judges, in maintaining the political fanaticism and ex-
citement under the sway of which Charlotte Corday
hai rendered herself guilty of homicide, an asser-
tion which caused his client to interrupt him, as
she persisted in having her act considered as having
been meditated in the quiet moments of reflection,
and under the intro influence of patriotic excite-
ment. Charlotte Corday, however, aft r her judg-
ment had been pronounced, addressing herself to
her counsel with an expression of gratitude and energy
which did not fail to strike the Court, said, " You de-
fended me in a delicate and generous manner, citizen,
and it was the only one which could suit me ; I thank
you, and I will give you kprnof of my esteem. These
gentlemen have Just informed me that my property is
confiscated ; I have some small debts in the prison, and
I charge you to discharge them.—Moniteur.
The honourable and intrepid anneal hastened to fulfil
the pious mission which he had accepted with gratitude.
But some time afterwards he was arrested, notwith-
standing the crelit of Coffinhal, his friend and com-
panion in early days. Being restored to libe ty after
Robespierre's downfal, he defended, in 1797, before a
military commission, the Abbe Brothier, who was ac-
cused of Royalist conspiracy with Durand and Laville
eurnois. He became avo cat to the Council of State
in Islspoleon's reign, to whose decheauce he felt bound
to adhere in 1814.

After the events of 1815 and the second res'o ation,
Chau%C.ll.l Lagarde devoted his talent and eloquence t 3
the defence of the proscribed of another party. Ws
plea:!ing in the prosecution of the brave General B
noire, who was falsely accused of having ordered the
deathof Colonel Gordon, was an evidence that the tt-

lent of Marie Antoinette and Charlotte Corday's coun-
sel had not diminished. Afterwards, in 1826, he
pleaded, conjointly with M. Isambert, the cause of the
free men of colour of Mattinique. In 1828 M. Chau-
veto Lagarde, who ha I already received from Louis
XVIII. a patent of nolylty at the same tune the oreer
of tf)e Legion of Honour was conferred upon him, was
named Councillor at the Cour de C4ssation.

M. Chauveau Lligarde. has published, first, an histo-
rical notice of the prosecution of Marie Antoinette of
Austria an] of Madame E'izabt th of France, at the

revolutionary tribunal (1816) ; second, a simple and
faithful detail of the conduct of General Bonnaire, ex-
commandant of the Place de Conde, who was accused
of having ordered the murido. of Colonel Gordon, who
had been sent by the King to Conde to Full-, and with
having participated in that murder (1S16).
Whilst at the Cur de Caseation, M. Chauveau La-
garde nev,,r disavowed any of the reminiscences of his
life, and of his former profession. His death adds a
cruel loss to those which have for the last year so pain-
filly affected the Magistracy and the bar.

CRIM. CON. 1N FRANCE ; OR THE
PARISIAN LADY IN A FRENCH PROVIN-
CIAL TOWN.

The Tribunal de Senlis lately had to judge a de-
'nand of separation between a married coupe living
in the vicinity of the town, and, as the affair excitsd a
certain de;rce of interest, the Court was much crowded.
M. Cognassen appeared on behalf of Madame (!e
Lavalle:•, the wife of tl:e attorney of Neuilly on Toe!,
and asked permission to prove cc-twin ill-tie ttment, and
other injuries which his client had experienced from
her husband, and in virtue of which that lady
appealed to the court to pronounce separation between
the parties. The learned counsel stated that one
day when M. de Lavallee teturKei home from sporting,
he accused his wife of being intimate with the tax-col-
lector of Neuilly en The!, and declared, with his gun
pointed towards her, that he would shoot her as he
would a hare, were it not the fear of the law, and
flnaly flung a chair at his wife's held. On another oc-
casion M. ds Llvallee struck his wife, and told her
that were it not for legal consequences he would strangle
her. Soon after he gave her two slaps on the face, on
account of a pretended walk she had taken with some
young man, and had repeated the same brutal act a few
days after, under pretext of his wile having circulated a
report of his being intimate with a young and pretty maid
servant then living in the house.
M. Cognassen having expatiated on the behaviour,
hoped that the Court would grant the prayer of his
client relative to the separation, and would give orders
that she should be provided with a sum of 1,5001., and
an annual allowance of I,ooof.

M. DUFAY, for M. de Lavallee, applied for separa-
tion, and regretted that he should he obliged to raise a
veil which served to cover acts highly efflicting to pub-
lic morality ; he would have to show the marriage vow
violated by a guilty wife, not merely once, but in the
most profligate manner, and would have to describe
most scandalous conduct under a husband's roof, conduct
not confined to the place where her husband resided,
but which bad been equally infamous in
a lm
quarter of the capital. He (M. Dufay) Propee (ien
less than 41 items in support of his client s prayer,
and asserted that Madame de Lava
lleeost earyo
had been one continued scene of criminal con-
versation. She had been intimate with the tax-
collector of Neuilly en Thel, from 1830 to
1834 ; with the notary's bead clerk from 1836
to 1838 ; and with M. de Lavallee's own clerk in 1838 ;
not to say a word of two medical men, who had borne
no indifferent part in the assaults on M. de Lovallee's
honour. Modesty prevented the reading of the state-
ment abl: proved by the testimony
a prove that the conduct of
of‘ ,tf) o
ef
i facts whichne w
Madame de Lavdllec was of so slight a character thet
couplets and songs were composed about her. Her
husband had frequently remonstrated with her on the
culpability of her conduct, but she paid no a.ten-
don to his ob,erTations, and continued Ler improper
conduct. She ever) Sunday frequented the public 01
of the town, remained there till a very late hour at night,