The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-10 00:00:00

The Committee appointed to raise a fund for the relief of the
Widow and Family of the late William Thom, the gifted but unfor-
tunate Poet of Inverury, beg leave briefly but earnestly to appeal to
the Public, more especially to the Public of Scotland, in behalf of the
trust which has been confided to them.
The name and genius of Thom are well known and universally ac-
knowledged ; many of the feeling and pathetic effusions of his muse
have been brought before the public, not enly in a combined form,
but in various periodicals. His talents attracted the attention of the
ablest judges; and the Messrs. Chambers, in their Journal, have de-
voted a chapter to his autobiography, and to that favourable meed of
praise to which they considered his merits entitled.
The life of William Thom has, in feed, combined the vicissitudes of
a humble child of the Muses, having formed a scene of trials and dis-
appointments, accompanied by an overflowing share of poverty and
distress.
Many of his earliest and best years were passed at the Hawkhill
of Dundee—the remembrance of which seemed deeply impressed on
his mind ; for thither, to use his own emphatic language, he wished
to return, like a bird that flutters round her forsaken nest, to spend
his latter days in comparative peace and quiet.
His wishes were fulfilled, for not many months ago he did return
from his wanderings, debilitated and impoverished, and breathed his
last on Monday, the 28th of February. He has left a widow and three
infant children, the youngest but five months old, totally unprovided
for ; and it has therefore been resolved to raise a fund, in order, if
possible, to afford them permanent assistance. A Committee has
been appointed, who have cheerfully undertaken this duty, and al-
ready they are happy to announce that their call has been responded
to in a prompt and liberal manner. Lord Kinnaird, Lord Jeffrey,
Messrs. Douglas Jerrold and Robert Chambers, and many others,
have spontaneously sent their contributions ; and it is earnestly
hoped that the charitable and the admirers of native genius and un•
obtrusive merit will support and encourage the laudable object which
the Committee have in view.
Dundee, March 10, 1848.
Contributions will be received by any of the Members of Commit-
tee; and at the shops of Messrs. Chalmers, Shaw, and Middleton,
Booksellers, and Mr. Mills, Perfumer, Dundee.

DEATH OF WILLIAM THOM, THE INVERURY POET.
(To the Editor of the "Dundee Courier.")
• Dundee, February 29, 1848.
Sir,—The painful task has been deputed to me of announcing to
the public the death of William Thom, the Inverury poet. For
some time past he had been in delicate and declining health ; and
his diseased state of body was doubtless aggravated by the uncer-
tainty of his circumstances, and the consequent anguish of his
honourable and sensitive mind. Yesterday, in our city, at half-
past eleven ♦.M., he departed this life. Ile has left behind him
something more than a name—some true and beautiful strains.
which, as " a thing of beauty is a joy for ever," the world will not
willingly suffer, like the inscription on the coffin, to be buried in
the tomb. He has left behind him, alas something of yet ten-
derer and mere mournful interest—a widow and three children,
th 7 eldest of whom is only four years, and the youngest but a few
months old. These are " utterly destitute," and but for the kind-
ness of one or two private friends, might have been cast out ere
this to the charity of the streets. I make no appeal in behalf of
the poet himself; " after life's fitful fever he sleeps well " He has
found what the most troubled and tempest-tossed wanderer will at
last find, and which to him was peculiarly grateful—rest. Nor will
/ indulge or express any vindictive feelings as to the treatment
which he received while yet alive. A true poet, he met with truly
poetic usage. He was caressed, but not fed ; as if one could sup
on incense, or as if one public dinner could keep a man alive for
years : But I would bespeak general sympathy in behalf of his
destitute family. I would implore every lover of literature—
every one who has derived pleasure from the departed poet's
lyrics, or from the simple story of his life—to prove their pleasure
and their gratitude true by some more substantial evidence than ex-
clamations or tears. I would call especially upon those who saw
him at our late Watt Festival, and heard almost his latest breath
given forth in those brief, broken, but thrilling accents—accents how
Mr superior to the measured cadences of rhetoric—to testify by
generous deeds their sense of melancholy satisfaction that theirs was
the privilege of meeting with and hearing him for the last time.
No time ought to be lost. Indeed, no time has been lost. Intima-
tions to the above effect either have been, or are immediately to be,
dispatched to Douglas Jerrold, Charles Dickens, Lord Jeffrey, and
others But as Dundee has had the honour of containing his death-
bed, let us follow the start we have accidentally gained by instant,
active, strenuous efforts in behalf of his widow and his fatherless
bairns.

Messrs. Chalmers, Middleton, and Shaw, Booksellers, and Mr
Mills, Perfumer, have kindly undertaken to receive donations.

The smallest sums will be welcomed
I am, Sir, yours truly,
GEORGE GILFILLAN.
The last verses of the late William Thom, written shonly before
his death :

SONG OF THE DWELLERS IN DEAN YALE.
Tune—" Miller o' Dee."
While we laugh and sing, in this happy ring,
With a bright and a brotherly glee,
May we never forget that the sun bath set
On the homes of misery.
For oh it may be that this chill night wind
Sweeps round some fireless hearth,
Freezing the heart of the homeless one,
With never a friend on earth.
Then aye, as we sing, may we closereling,
In our bright and brotherly glee ;
Yet never forget that the sun may set
On the homes of misery.

Man was not made for this world alone,
The world was lent to man ;
'Tis a debt we owe to Heaven, you know,
Then pay it as well as you can.
Now winter rides mad in his carriage of snow,
With his pelting rain and his hail;
May it never be said that hunger and woe
Held abiding in bonny Dean Vale.

Then aye, as we sing, may we closer cling,
In our bright and brotherly glee,
And never forget that the sun may set
On the homes of misery.

W. THOM.

NUMBER ONE, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH
YARD.

This business will be CLOSED at Seven o'clock, on the Evening
of THURSDAY, the 11th instant, and will remain CLOSED on FRIDAY,
being the day fixed for the Funeral in Derbyshire of Mr. WM.
DAKIN, who met his death by the late sad accident. Business
will be resumed on the day following, and will continue to be car
tied on as heretofore.

DAKIN and COMPANY, TEA-MERCHANTS, NUMBER ONE,
SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD.

,ADIES' GOLD CHAINS, London made.—
..ILA Drawings of the various new patterns arc kept for the pur-
pose of sending by post to any part of the country.—For facility or
reference the weight is given by comparison with sovereigns ; the
quality of the gold is warranted equal to any that is worked into
articles of this description.
T. COX SAVORY and Co., GolAsmiths, &c., 47, Cornhill (seven
doors from Gracechurch-street), London.

BOND'S PERMANENT MARKING INK,
the original and by far the best, requiring no preparation,
offers the surest means of protection for every variety of household
linen and wearing apparel against loss or mistake, for which reason
be careful to ask for the genuine article, prepared by the inventor,
JOHN BOND, 28, Long-lane. West 'Smithfield, City. Sold by most
Chemists, Stationers, and Medicine Venders. Price Is. a bottle.

BRITISH COLLEGE of HEALTH, New-
road, London.
The principles of the Hygeian theory are contained in the follow-
ing propositions :-
1. The vital principle is contained in the blood.
2. Everything in the body is derived from the blood.
3. All constitutions are radically the same.
4. All diseases arise from the impurity of the blood, or, in other
words, from acrimonious humours lodged in the body.
5. This humour, which degenerates the blood, has three sources
—the maternine, the contagious, and the personal.
6. Disease and pain have the same origin, and may therefore be
considered synonymous terms.
7. Purgation by proper vegetable purgatives is the only effectual
mode of eradicating disease.
8. Experience of upwards of twenty years has amply proved MO-
RISON'S VEGETABLE UNIVERSAL MEDICINES to be such
proper vegetable purgative.
9. From the intimate connexion subsisting between mind and
body, the health of the one must conduce to the serenity of the
other.

ON PHYSICAL DISQUALICATIONS, GENERATIVE INCAPA-
CITY, by 26 Anatomical Coloured Engravings on Steel.
New Edition,ClTl
by post, direct from the Establishment, 3s. 6d. In postage stamps,
'LlkaNrgpedlt3Olll'9E6DplaMgeEsN. JTUSst7ubMlisAhßedß,lpAriclEe .2s. 6d., or
THE SILENT FRIEND, a Medical Work on
the infirmities and decay of the generative system, from ex-
cessive indulgence, infection, and the inordinate use of mercury,
with remarks on Marriage, end the means of obviating certain dis-
qualifications. Illustrated by 26 Coloured Engravings. By It. and
L. PERRY and CO., 19, Berners-stroet, Oxford-street, London.
Published by the Authors sold by Strange, 21, Paternoster-row ;
Hannay, 63, and Sanger, 150, Oxford-street ; Starie, 23, Titehborne-
street, Haymarket ; and Gordon, 146, Leadenhall-street.
PART I. treats of the anatomy and physiology or the re-productive
organs, and is Illustrated by Six Coloured Engravings,
PART 11. treats of the consequences resulting from excessive indul-
genee, and their lamentable effects on the system, producing mental
and bodily weakness, nervous excitement, and generative incapacity.
It is illustrated by Three Explanatory Engravings.
Pear 111. treats of the diseases resulting from infection, either in
the primary or secondary form, and contains explicit directions for
their treatment. The consequences of early neglect and of the abuse
of mercury, are also clearly pointed out. This section is illustrated
by Seventeen Coloured Engravings.
Pear IV. treats of the Prevention of Disease by a simple ap-
plication, by which the danger of infection Is obviated. Its action
is simple but sure. It acts with the virus chemically, and destroys
Its power on the system. This important part of the Work should
be read by every Yonne Man entering into life.
PART Y. is devoted to the consideration of marriage, and its
duties. The causes of unproductive union are also considered, and
the whole subject critically and philosephically Inquired into.
THECORDIaI. BALM (sr snoscum is exclusively employed in treat-
ing nurvous and sexual debility, impotence, &c., 11 s .and 335. per
bottle. The Concentrated Detersive Essence, an anti-syphilitic
remedy, for purifying the blood in cases of infectiott, secondary symp-
toms, eruptions, and the abuse of mercury, 1 Is. and 335. per bottle.
Perry's Purifying Specific Pills, 2ti. sd., 4s. 6d., and 1 Is. par bcix, a
certain .emedy in gonorrhcea, strictures, and chronic inflamma-
tion of the bladder. Consultation fee, if by letter, 11. 51. Packets
with advice to be had at the Batablishrnent only, by which the fee,
11., is saved. Attendants daily at 19, Berners-street, from Eleven
tin Two and Eire to Eight; on Sundays from Eleven to cloo

ON NERVOUS DEBILITY AND GENERATIVE DISEASES
Just published, the Thirty-sixth Thousand, an 1119PrOireit edition•
re-
vised and corrected, 120 pages, price 2s. in a sealed envelope , o
foiwar led by the Authors, post paid, to any address, secure from
observation, for 2s. 6d., in postage stamps, illustrated with nu-
merous Anatomical Coloured Engravings.
MANHOOD: the CAUSES of its PREMA-
TURE DECLINE, with Plain Directions for its PERFECT
RESTORATION. _

its indiscriminate Ex-
cesses,nd Sedentary Ilab ,
emanating from Solitary a
and infection, &c., addressed to the,
Effects of Climate
with Practical Remark
A Medical Essay on those Diseases of the Generative Organs,
the
on Marriage, the Treatment an
other Urine-Genital Diseases, by
sufferer in Youth, Manhood.
Syphilis, and
constitution may be restored, and
bility, Impotency, and Old Age;
which even the meat
The whole illustrated
and Cure of Nervous and Mental De-
Steel, in colour, exPlain-
gs on with numerous Anatomical reach the fall period of lite allotted to Man.
msihcaaltteErieidgravin
inc the various functions, secretions,
Consulting Surgeons,
dcourcrteivspeoonrdgeannese,isiciaslltsti,t&hca.nd disease ;and structures of the repro-
with instructions for private
By J. L. CURTIS and CO.,
Manhood.' A Medical Work.—To the
arn them of the
trust this little work will serve as a beacou to w
7, Frith-street, Soho-square, London.
and
their
danger attendant upon the too rash indulgence whilst to some it may serve as a monitor in the hour ,
h otuhro no: h ti
ell:8p::
Non, and to the afflicted as a sure guide to health."—Chronicle
and reputation in the treatment of these pain 1 s
` Manhood.' By J. L. Curtis, and Co.— hronpicai:sions,
Their long experience
1 diseases is the
patient's guarantee, and well deserves for the work its immense cir-
culation."--Era.
ai
" ' Curtis on Manhood' should be in the hands of youth and old
age. It is a medical publication, ably written,
reatment of a class of paiuful maladies which has too long been
the prey of the illiterate and the designing."— • " United Service
Gazette. gning.— ul elevelopes the
The
approaching Parentto a po , wh
emature beholds his beloved child pining away, and last
r grave,
which, for want of careful investigation of its real cause, has been
in consequence of some disease,
set down to the score of consumption, will, on perusing this work, be astonished to find, that in nine-tenthsson o the cases of young per-
f s of both sexes, who perish ofhe
t is called pulmonary con-
le and exclusive origin has
sumption, heart disease, tabes, &c., the so been the indulgence in certain destructive habits
much more frequently than it is at all suspected practised by youth
N.B. Hours of cousultatioll 40111 £4yen till Two, aid Six to
Eight 173 W© Lyeuing.