The New York herald., 1851-11-22

you OF those that pertain 70 the natural, and We,
those that belong to the social world In this respes
| you enjoy the more elevated position. You al
led to the investigation and contemplation OF thos
fixed, certain and dimmutable laws which the Cres
tor has impressed upon the nsterial universe, whic
enter into the delicate organization Of plant 9
the complex mechsnism Of the human frame; while
| We have to do with those more imperfect perform
| ances which are of mans creation; and although
the contemplation Of laws equally immutsble, and
that there Is always right, am sorry to say that
| We are not always successful in finding it, Then
again, we have mutually to do with the treatment
OF diseases To the whole social world is great
patient, and We 90 about the treatment Of its dis
eases pretty much as you go about those Of the in
| diyidual body When We lind diseased part, tho
existence Of which msy destroy the constitution of
the whole body We Gus it out-that is, we send it to
the peniten,iary But there is this distinction be-
tween usthat you labor for the preservation of life,
whffs we find 1t necessary, occasionally, to take it
away though, perhaps it sometimes happens that
your course OF treatment, though the opposite be
intended, leads to the same result. (Grsst laugh
ter) Perhaps may be In error, foe great autho-
water cure was il high vogue in his day Try the
water In pailfrls If necessary 1t is universal dis
solvenk and lquifes the salts and, if the patient
dies, be assured that his death is attributable to
the mode Of treatment" We are, therefore, CO.
labore,s In the treatment Of disease. celebrated
modern writer has put this point Of comparison in
less complimentary way--" Lawyers and doe.
tors," said he, "may be compared to birds of prey
that feed upon carrion the one lives by the moral,
the other by the physical, rottenness of mankind"
And don't know, sit, bat that our theological
brother is to bs taken in as q oo-lab,rer in this
great sick chamber of moral and physical disease,
for, az it is his high Office to minister CON
solatioR in beth cases, ne may be regarded
But there IS another point of comparison in
which think We gentlemen of the legal profess
sion have decided advantage. | doubt if as good
an n1erstanding sabsists among members of the
m a. m nf fha ala0al alprO and
this, think, may be attributed TO the different
manner in which they parsue their different voca-
tions. The lawyer is always pitted against
adversary; he is broughs at into collisisu with
a sEilful and well armed opponent, in a mutual
struggle for victory For the display of his powers
and the exercise of his talents he comes into
combat Nov, the effect of this collision is highly
beneficial and healthfui As nothing is more dan
gerous than pent up passion or long nursed animosi
tics, an opportunity is here found to give them
words, and. whatever sharp things lawyers rublcly
cay of each other, tie matter ends with healthier
feeling and a better understanding. "We always
have better feeling for man." says an ofd G Greek
dramatst, after we have wrest.ed with him." and
su,h is the effect Of this legal wrestle 1t Is a kind
OF purgng process stirring up all the bils and ill
humors Of the system, and throwing than off by
means OF this healthy agitation There is, more
over, great advantage IN having somebody
to act as an umpire between them,. to decide
the matter, and put an end 20 the strife But, says
doctors disagree, Consequently, Mr.. Ch airman,
it is difficult to find more social ses when they
como together than mast of lawyers. Now, the
case ofshe Pm ysician is very different He is q;
between himself and his patient. He is, conse-
quanty, more exposed to the carping of profession
envy, and to the Misrepresentation of professional
easily de ended He is powerless himself for he he
cannot champion his underwater to the lists, and
overthrow him in the contest of professional skill.
He has no shrewd and keen adversary to take sd-
vantage of his faults, Or what may be Of Eaore
lue to him, to appreciate and feol his ability There
are no echoing plaudts to hail the triumphs of his
genius For tbs developement, therefore, Of those
social feelings that grow from professional inter
course, his position is far less advantageous than
that of his legal brother But allew me to say thai
think you have nov found means of overcom-
ing the dfculty-that, in the creation of this in
stutit n, You have disco excellent substi.
tste-that nothing could be more appropriate
than to agree to come together, and mi.
nister IN unison at the common altar Of
charity and benevolencs. And allow me to
ing revision for the widow and fatherless, comes
naturally from you, for you areipre-eminent,y dis
tmguisheo as Profession for the extent of your
services in the great field of charity. (Cheers and
| applause For though lawyers like yourselves,
| give professional aid gratutousy although it is
| the custom OF c'urts, where a man charged With
criminal offence is without counsel, TO assign to
him and though IT is greatly to the honor Of the
legal profession that through the long record of
its history man charged with criminal offence
has ever gone there ia no compari
son between the gratuitous services rendered by
medical men, and those of all other pursuits put
gether In hospitals, in infrmsries, and in the still
wider rarge of private professional practice, they
have done more for suffering hum anity than any
other body OF men. To sum tue points Of COM
psrison, therefore, in which have INDUCED, and
assuming for moment the judicial vocation, think
must decide upon these last points, that the sase
| is decidedly with the doctors (Cheers) that
the existence OF this institution must be regarded
turning point. inasmuch rs the doctors have
| thus made provision for the wido VS. and chill.
! dren Of less fortunate brothers, which the law
yers bave not Such institutions common
| IN other lands. The regret is that they are
not more common with us IL cannot be said that
we are lot in want Of them for there is no country
in the world-despte its activity and property
where the mutations of fortune are more frequent.
Let bo man in the funess Of profe ssionsl practice,
suppose there is antidote against the chances Of
fortune, and that he may not be left like strand
ed vessel, in helpless old age. A man whose name
| once filled Europe, and whose riches out Weighed
the treasures OF princes, lately died in garrct in
Paris. But II is not from any selfish consideration
OF prospective benefit TO yourselves, that saoh an
institution should have claims upon you Ii is the
aid II administers to those in want OF IT, that enti
tlts ii TO your support and services Merit in every
profession may ultimately hope for its deserts but
there are many melancholy instances, es oeciay in
the practice Of medicine, where goes unrewsrded.
Dr. Johnfon has sad in OF his Gne antithetical
sentences, that "a ysic an. 10 great city is the
mere play thing Of fortune. Those who en ploy him
are unable to Judge of his excellence, and those who
will not, are incapable Of understanding his do
iects. Now in the profession of the law IL is diff
bcu for any man TO rise who Is destitute of learn
ing or great natuIsl ability. The error Of the ig
norant doctor may be buried in the grave Of his pa
tent. The error Of the ig gnorant lawyer is public
ly exposed, In the anshation of his case. In the
case, exposure Is certain and fatal 10 the other
| there is shelter for incapacity. The modest man
Of merit, therefore, in your profession, who will
| not cannot learn the little arts by which the
world is imposed upon, or whom no lucky accident
hes lifted into the pa hway of fortune, may pass
tie whole circle OF his life, barely securing sub
sist,poe. and then leave those who, in life, we're
dear 20 him, altogether dependent upon n busy,
.efoccuri,d, ard uncsring world When a man
mutt tuin his eyes towards the setting sun, and
feels that the Of darkness is coming fast upon
bm can conceive no spectacle more dc solaie than
this-the purposes Of life uRreaiized, the aooumu-