The Columbian fountain., 1846-10-01

II is minated by ky. thu apy
hing beneficial Is proposed TO ID, that

II is inlimated by KY. thaV any
thing beneficial Is proposed 10 ~, that
they lay right hold ofit. hug il 10 o. bosoms;
,hat ii is universally hailed al lis advent, rs
worthy Of iheif respect and attention. butls
il so2 | apprehend x. Y. is mistaken, and
that he has read history 10 lille purpose or mol
al all, if he sincerely believes in the readiness
of mankind 10 throw aside their dear aud long
cherished prejudices in order TO adopt some
thing new, that is altogether al yanance with
them. And trust he will excuse me for IN
Producing few scraps OF history Tor his IN
siruclion and benefit.
Ii would afford me pleasure, If could ad-
duce single instance where great dis,
coyery or invention has at once been received
as welcome guest by the human race Let
us 60 back TO the introduction Of Christianity,
and ask, how that was received, for il was
certainly.a subjecr Of paramount importance
to mankind How was the great, the divine
founder of our faith welcomed and treated by
mankind at his advent2 Vide the New Tes-
lament passim
At a time later and comparatively modern
period, that OF the time Of Luther and the early
refnrmers, let us ask how, their teachings were
received? | refer you, sir, to D'Aubgne's
history Of the Reformation, and other works
for the answer. How was Columbus, the
discoverer Of a new world, treated, both be-
fore and after the consummalon of his bold
and daring enterprise Read his history. that
will tell you. How was the cart preservalive
of all the arts, printing" received by the world
generally, and especially by the numerous
amanuenses OF that period Turn 10 the his
tory Of the ait, for the answer. How was
Galileo rewarded at Rome, when he taught
the doctrine Of the earth's rotation on its axis,
instead or the diurnal revolution of the sun
around il, producing day and night? Was
this great and sublime truth Ia astronomy ad-
mitted even by the wise and learned men of his
day? Let his chains and imprisonment in a
dungeon, until he recanted the heresy, answer
the question. With respect TO the sublime dis
coveries made by Mr.. Isaac Newton, both he
and they encountered obloquy and opposition,
and were they not founded on law of nature,
and therefore susceptible Of demonstration,
would still be questionable. s9
And how was this discovery received on its
FIRST announcement In the words of DR.. ChaLi
mers, "authoriiy scowled upon ii; and taste
was disgusted by it; and fashion was ashamed
of it; and all the beauteous speculation OF for
mer days was cruelty broken up by this new
announcement Of the better philosophy, and
scattered like the fragment Of an aerial vision
lover which the the past generations of men
had been slumbering their profound and pleas
ing reverie." For upwards Of ten centuries
had the false philosophy Of Aristotle enslaved
the minds Of all Europe, thus at last 10 perish
and pass away! The advent OF Newton's bet
ter philosophy is not thus described by x. "
The learned DIR. chalmers is so unfortunate as
not to agree with him on this subject. But
with respect to subjects less learned and intri-
cate, those more on level with the common
mind subjects Of utility merely, the public
will certainly receive them without any hesita-
lion and literally reward their authors To be
satisfied fully, whether mankind, or a nation
acts generously towards their benefactors, !
would refer you to the heirs of the ingenious,
lamentes bur neglected Fnlton, who have be-
seiged the halls of the American Congress
every session since his death for some small
pittance as remuneration for the ineslimable
advantages conferred upon his country by the
use Of The steam-engine. .Ex uno disco ON
nes.v But none Of these discoveries relate to
medicine. Physicians, certainly, because they
belong to one Of the so-caled liberal professions,
would not oppose any new discovery 10 medi-,
cine or medical science; but shall their advent
and treat their authors with the respect due to
superior greatness. Let us examine this class
Of benefactors and we will begin with Harvey,
who in the l7th century demonstrated the true
nature Of the arteries and the manner in which
the blood circulates through the body. He was
prosecuted through life; and his enemies in
derision styled him the circulator which in the
original latin signifies yagabond or quack. The
more immediate reward of his discovery was
calumny, Misrepresentation, and loss of his
professional practice. The same college of
physicians, that in after years opposed the inn
-of Montague and Jenner, made the
circulation Of the blood the subject Of their Bit
terest satire The most vile and venal Of his
medical brethren made it a pretext for declin-
ing to meet him in. consultation" In this in
stance, the reception Of animportant discovery,
which could easily havs been tested by expert
ment, does inno respect sharmonize with *.
Y.'s declaration. s
This wasisuch a large dose we thought best
to divide. Remainder -morrow.-ED. se
.sGlVE THE DEVIL HIS DUES"
have often heard this expression used, and
| really think it should be more praclised than
il is.
have no earthly desire TO see this old temp
Ter Of mankind, but really have a little sort OF
curiosity, sometimes, TO know what kind ia
back the old chap has for il were to judge
- u q. IL L. H.