The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-11-05 00:00:00

donations, and it has beeu the instrument of cheering
the dark days of respectable age, as well as of assist-
ing the families of several worthy members of the
profession.
It happened also to Mr. Rigby to reader a far more
important service to Norwich than its inhabitants are at
all aware of. During-a visit to his native county, his
daindoess of heart led him to call upon his nurse, whom
he found employed as a weaver, and using u the flying
shuttle." He immediately saw the immense supwriosity—
•of this instrument over that thrown by the band ; he
caused one to be purchased and brought it to Norwich.
On his -arrival be introduced the subject to Mr.
Maltby, who treated hie application as an • impertinent
interference ; Mr. Rigby then applied to Mr. Patte-
son who instantly discovered the benefit, and erected
a loom for its employment, thus giving effect to Mr.
Righy's design. Since that time Norwich can best
tell how much it has been benefited by the introduc-
tion of the dying shuttle into its manufactories. In
1788 he broke for a short time from his numerous eu-
gagements, and visited France; a part of Italy, and
Switzerland, in coupany with W. Morgan, Esq. the
celebrated calculator, and actuary of the Equitable
office, and another friend. It so happened that they
reached Paris just at the explosion of the revolution.
He was detained in that city a week, during which
the attack of the Bastile and the massacre of the
Thuilleries took place. Ile became acquainted with
Turgot,. Roland, and other persons distinguished at
that period : and he has written a very animated and
interesting journal of the events, which remains among
his unpublished papers.
In 1789 Mr. Rigby was admitted a member of the
London Corporation of Surgeons and of the London
Medical Society.
With a mind thus constantly occupied in the con-
templation and prosecution of public good, it may rea-
sonably be imagined that Mr. Rigby had little desire
for civic honours. •In point of fact he was rather
averse to encounter duties so much at variance with
professional habits. In 1802, however, be. was soli-
cited by many friends, who were anxious to uphold
the respectability of the Corporation to become a can-
didate for the vacant gown. The hope of still further
improving the economy of the Workhouse, or rather
of preventing the erection of a new building then in
contemplation, was the grand motive which prevailed
to induce him to accept office. He was elected in a
very honourable manner, and in 1803 received the
letter for Sheriff, which office he served. In 1805 he
succeeded to the Mayorality, and supported the Chair
with dignity and hospitality. In 1506 he was elected
a fellow of the Linnean Society.
We must here retrogade a little in our narrative.—
In 1602 we have stated Mr. Rigby was elected an Al-
derman. Soon after his appointment be successfully
opposed a plan for building a new Workhouse, at an ex-
pense of 30,0001. for which powers from Parliament
had been previously obtained. He sheaved the inade-
quacy of the sum the Guardians were authorised to
raise by the Act; he exposed the errors of the work-
house system, and advocated to conviction the saps.
rior adventures of out-door allowances, both as a►•
spected pecuniary savings, and the morals, the comforts.
and happiness of the poor. Committees were ap-
pointed to ascertain the facts, and the result was a re•
port, which stated, that by the system of out-door al-
lowances, the expenses per head was 120, whereas
the cost of maintenance in the house amounted to
3s. rid. per head. Of the meagre and evasive notices
or this report, however, Mr. Rigby complained
heavily ■nd justly. The result was, the altera-
tion of St. Andrew's Workhouse in lien of erecting a
new env, by which an immense saving was made to
the city.
Mr. Rigby next turned his attention to the article of
provision, and to the improvement of the Medical
treatment of the poor, and particularly to a system for
preventing contagion and the spread of the small pox.
Committees were appointed for both objects ; of the
eight clauses in the report delivered by the Medical
Committee it came soon to be a matter of regret that
three only were acted upon.
The report of the Provision Committee (drawn by
Alderman John Browne) exposed considerable differ-
ences between the sums paid for bread, butter, and
meat, and the quantities apparently consumed. A
division in the duties of management in consequence
took place, and a committee to superintend the in-
door arrangements was specially appointed.
During the year of Mr. Rigby'', mayoralty, the phi-
Isaihropic Mr. Nield visited Norwich, and published
in The Ger.:kr:urn'. Maga:bac a report concerning
what he saw in the workhouse, which was very dis-
grateful to the discipline there established. This oc-
casioned much literary controversy. In the same year
the small pox raged in Norwich, when the Mayor
called a public meeting, to combine the general aid •in
checking its progress. In 1607, 1508, and 1609 its
ranges swept off two hundred and three persons, and
the appalling numbers of this mortality were recorded
and preserved by a regulation adopted during Mr.
Rigby's mayoralty, and this regulation hashed no email'
effect in convincing the public mind of the necessity of
preventive measures. Had the proposal for insulating
such casual patients as fell under the disease been acted
upon, there are strong grounds for believing this ca-
lamitous amount of death might have been wholly pre-
cl
la 1812, Mr. Rigby learned that the disease had
again appeared in the neighbourhood ; and at his sag-
gestion a general vaccination was adopted with great
elfect. Of all these matters he published a general
account in 1512, together with a report drawn by
himself of the pauper vaccination.
The natural desire of gradually retiring from the in-
cessant and constantly increasing labours of a most
laborious and responsible' profession. induced Mr.
Rigby to think of taking the degree of Doctor of Me-
dicine,
and henceforth of practising as. a physician.
Ile therefore took his diploma in 1814. liut in order
to remove the delicate anxiety of females whom he had
hitherto attended. he conemeted in many instances to
continue his services to Ms old patients; while they
were needed in one department. that demonstratieg the
same kind attention to the feelings-of his oonneetions,
for which his life has been remarkable.
But though be thus retreated from the incessant
calls upon his time, under which neithei his health
nor strength of body oe mild, uncommon as they.
were mild have bons up, be saver Ise a single mu
• meet abandoned the search after useful knowlelp,
whisk formed the assiduous, usveaesasiag sswsp•
tioi of his entire thoughts. Change of employment