Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-21
HISTORY OF A FAMOUS QUAcK.

One.
"a writer in the London Temple Bar
gives a Lively sketch of John Hill, one Of the
notorious personages Of the eighteenth CEN
tury 10 England, who was by turns apothe-
cary, actor, author. botanist, quack and man
of fashion; who was also the contemporary
of Johnson and Goldsmith. and who quar-
relied with Garrick, Fielding and Smart.
John Hill was born at Peterborough in
17l6, His father was clergyman. OF his
early life little is known. He was educated
as an apothecary, and was first heard Of in
London as carrying on that business in st.
Martins lane. At that time the fame of
Linn@us was resounding throughout
Europe, and Hill, finding the profits of his
business insufficient for his wants, COM
menced the study of botany, In the hope of
turning his knowledge to some profitable
use. The energy and ability he brought to
bear on this study caused him to make
rapid progress. he projected a scheme OF
a botanical journey throughout England.
Specimens of the rarest plants were to be
collected, and, after being dried in peculiar
manner invented by himself, were to be
published with descriptive letter press. This
novel plan failed for want of subscribers
Hill was in advance of his age.
Next he strove to obtain livelihood on
the stage, but failed, as his histrionic abil-
tiles were not equal to his aspirations. 1t
is related by him that performing with a
strolling company at Mayfair, In the scene
between Altdanont and LOtitdrio, when he,
dying, exclaimed, ss0hl Altamont, thy ge-
MUS is the stronger" the audience applaud
ed this sentiment so heartily and in such
manner as to leave no doubt Of their opin-
ion of his merits. @
Relinquishing the stage he returned to
bis old profession of apothecary, but find
ing no better success than before, be turned
bis attention to literature. His first work
was a translation of "Theophrastus on
Gems" which at once brought him into no.
tice, and obtained him the friendship of the
most eminent members of the Royal
Society. The publishers being now
anxious to employ him, bis great
energy and industry found vent, and
travels, plays, novels, translations,
and compilations of works on all subjects
flowed freely from his pen. The struggling
apothecary of St. Martins Lane was now
enjoying an income of FL 500 year. Oh
tanning diploma of medicine from the Col
Iege of st. Andrew, he set up his carriage,
and, as DR.. Hill,plaunched himselfinto fash
ionable society. ct Ranelagh, at the thea
tiers, at fashionable routs, he was always
present. For years he never missed any
public amusement, and yet, such was his
industry, he continued to produce volume
after volume, and at the same time carried
on paper war with several of the most en-
inent public men of the day. r i5
Hill became involved in a curious dispute
with Garrack. Having written farce call
ed "The Route" which was received by
the audience with storm of Kisses, the
doctor chose to consider its bad reception
the fault of Garrick; and reveDged himself
by publishing spiteful paragraphs against the
who replied to them with the fol-
lowing couplet:
f'For physc and farces his equal there scarce is;
His farces are physic; his physic a farce isl
The doctor next wrote paper attacking
Garrick's pronunciation Of the letters l
and U. ....-
Garrick's answer:
"If its true, as you say, that I've injured let
IN change my note soon, and hope for the bet
ter.
May the right use of letters, as well as of men,
Hereafter be fixed by the tongue and the pen;
Most devoutly wish that they both have their
due,
And that may be never mistaken for u"
This silenced Hill, who, though good in
attack, seems TO have been weak in defense.
His battles always ended in his defeat.
By quarrels, and the INSCRIPTIONS man.
ner in which he told falsehoods and in
vented anecdotes concerning his opponents,
he at last lost the literary character which
at first shone so fair and bright. He well
illustrated Bentley's remark, that "no man
can be written down save by himself" So
low did he fall that whenever he had a
work for publication his publisher stipula-
ted that his name should not appear. The
cookery book of the of-quOted Mrs. Glasse,
was probably written by him at this time.
The elder Disraeli says of this book, that
tradition preserved the name of DR.. John
Hill as the author. Boswell relates con-
versation at the house of billy, the pub
Usher, portion of which may be quoted
as bearing on this point, as well as showing
the universally of Johnson's reading and
knowledge.
Johnson-ssI could write better book
of cookery than has ever yet been written;
it should be book upon the philosophical
principles. Pharmacy is much more SIM
pie, Cookery may be made so too. A
prescription which is now compounded of
five ingredients had formerly fifty in it. So
in cookery, if the nature of The Ingredients
be well known, much fewer will do. Then,
IS you cannot make bad meat good, would
tell what is the best butchers meat, the best
beef, the best pieces; how to choose young
fowls; the proper seasons of different vege-
tables; and then how to boil and roast and
DillY-"Mrs. Classes cookery, which is
the best, was written by DIR. Hill. Halt
the trade know this"
JOhnson-"Well, sir, this shows how
much better the subject of cookery may be |
treated by philosopher. 1 doubt if the |
book be written by DR.. Hill; for in Mrs. |
Classes cookery, which have looked into,
saltpeter and sal prunella are spoken of as |
different substances, whereas sal prunella is |
only saltpeter burnt on charcoal; and Hill !
could not be ignorant of this. However, as |
the greatest part of such book is made by !
this mistake may have been |
carelessly adopted. But you shall see what |
a book of cookery shall make. 1 shall |
agree with Mr.. Oily for the copyright" |
A very curious work, entitled STravels |
in the East" attributed to noble lord, is |
placed by Winston, the bookseller, in his |
manuscript catalogue of Hills books. A |
passage from work of great merit, en- |
titled "Observations on the Greek and |
Roman Classics" is quoted by Smart as a
specimen of Hills putting himself.
In 1775 Hill was seized with the govt, |
and, In spite of his specifics, died of that |
disease on the 2lst November of that year.
The wits had one last fling at him, in the
following epigram:
''Poor DIR. Hill is deadl"-"GoOd lack!
OF what disOrder2r-''An attack
of govt. 90 Indeed! thought that he
Had found a wondrous remedy"
''Why, so he had, and when he tried
He found it true--the doctor died." |
EXTRAORDINARY BRIDGE.
The railroad bridge which is to extend |
across the harbor of San Francisco from |