Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-07-09
PERSONAL.

gentlemen to his Exhibition on the Fair
grounds on Saturday.
Personal.
The Lowell " Daily Citizen and News" of
June 18th, contained the following item:
BAD REcoLLEcTIoN.-Th Burlington Free
Press contains an article intended to iniure
DR.. Walter Burnham of this city, it con-
cludes as follows
We have been informed also that he claims to
he a graduate of the Medical department of the
University of Vermont, but record crisis to sub
stantatc the truth Of such statement
We have before us the diploma of M. D.,
given DR.. b. by the University Of Vermont
on October IA, 1929, and it is a curious fact
that it is signed by "Geo. w. Benedict"
now the senior Editor of the Free Press itself,
he having then been professor Of chemistry.
Comment is needless.
The object of the above item IA number of
the Citizen and News with the item ostenta-
tiously marked having been sent to us few
days after its appearance,) was easily seen
by us. Presuming that every man of sense
who might see the article would conclude
that whether there was more or no more in
the matter than met the eye, it was of no in
terest to the public whatever, but private
affair between two individuals who would
best know how to take care Of it, we gave it
no farther thought.
We see, however, that tho Sentinel (Which,
we presume, received a marked copy also,)
finds great mares nest in it and breaks out,
Enthusiastically, on its " neighbors !" for
what it calls their attempts " to do an injury
to private and public character, for which
orable amend" by the bye, VIC must print
again that remarkable demand made by the
owner of the Sentinel on the owners of the
Free Press for S50O0-it is inquired for.
To relieve its great distress at our imputed
delinquencies, we will state a fact or two
connected with the case, by way of showing
things besides the statements of Z" The Blue
Book
Mr.. G. w. Benedict received letter from
DR.. Walter Burnham, soon after the article
iSiviiCu w uppCshNOu Ill Viz 1|Fe L 1000, in
which he said he had Diploma from the
University, and that Mr.. Benedict's name
was attached to it. There was an intimation
also that retraction in the Free Press Of its
previous statement would be very acceptable
to the gentleman aforesaid.
Mr.. Benedict replied Immediately to the
letter-saying, in substance, that if any
wrong had been done in the statement of the
Free Press, it was unattended and should be
cheerfully corrected as soon as it was made
known. That he had no recollection of Mr.
Burnham, which, if he ever knew him, was
not remarkable, because of the lapse of time,
(about 20 years, it will be noticcd) THAT if
Mr.. Burnham did receive diploma, its ac-
cidental omission from the proper record was
no reason why it should not be acknowledged
now-that if he would send the diploma to
Mr. Benedict, or to some person here Of Mr.
Burnham's selecting, it should be brought
Immediately to the notice of the proper Off
GERS of the University, and if correct, his
WOulu Dc luocIttu Ill tilc OluCldl GAIA
logue, and the diploma returned to him forth
with-that it was desirable that this should
be done without delay, because new Irienn,al
Catalogue (the catalogue which purports to
contain the names of all who ever have re-
ceived degrees of any kind from the Institu-
tion) was then in process of completion and
would reprinted very soon-that the previous
omission, when so corrected, would be noticed
Immediately in the Free Press also.
In reply to this, Mr. Benedict received
another letter from Mr.. Burnham, in which
he declined to send his diploma Just now,"
as it was the first time in his life that he
had occasion to present it," He offered,
however, to 'show it to gentlemen Of char
acter, and capable of tran,lating it, and send
their certificates. 1t has been stated to us,
on authority which VIC sonfide in, that re-
peated calls have been made by medical men
in regular standing in the profession, on DR..
Burnham, for his diploma, that it might be
seen whether he was entitled to the position
ofa regularly authorized physician. but some
how, it was never rth-coming-always said
to be in existence, but never at hand-so that
among regular practitioners it is believed to
be very mythical affair. On that point we
have no opinion to express. The letter was
chiefly occupied with very liberal statement
of the writer's eminence and ability as u lee
turer and surgeon, to which nothing need
be said, and no moro to the demand with
which the letter concluded The mode of
authenticating a diploma proposed by DR..
B. struck MIR. Benedict, and probably it will
strike most people, as very norel one. Lest
the Senf'nePs obtuseness should lead it to con-
slider it reliable as well as novel, wo barely hint
that such things as fictitious diplomas have
been heard of in the world, and that GER
titled translation of an instrument drawn up
in the Latin language can be no proof that
the instrument itself is genuine and trust
worthy. An inspection of the instrument
itself by those competent to decide on its true
character is needed for decision. Mr..
Benedict's proposal to Mr.. Burnham
stands as it did when i. was made, and
that is all that needs to DO said about it.
We hope that the Sennners extreme solicit
tude for the - honor of the town as well as
the interests of that charity which thinketh
no evil will be quicted by what we have
said, or at least turned in direction where
there is a real occasion for it.
ARREsrs.-A despatch from Potsdam, n.
Y, was received by our indefatigable and
excellent Sheriff. Mr.. n. b. Flanagan, Tues
Jay d;raot;n, liz, 20 ...o,. 80.