to direct his studies; it was, however, at length concluded, that he should attend a seminary in Liverpool, to learn merchant's accounts, preparatory to admission into a mercantile house. This plan was pursued until he had reached his 15th year, when an event occurred which diverted him to another pursuit.

"He had a distant relation in Tortola, named John Pickering, whose two youngest sons, Isaac and Josiah, by his last wife, were sent to the care of Samuel Fothergill, who placed them at Penketh school; but, on its dissolution, they were removed to a school at Shelborne.

"John Pickering had by his first wife a son, named after himself, who, on his return to Tortola, married the daughter of Bezaliel Hodge, of the same island. John Pickering visited England for cu riosity and improvement. On his arrival at Liverpool, he was met by Samuel Fothergill, who always appeared to feel great interest in promoting Lettsom's happiness; and he proposed to him to join in his guardianship. This being settled, it was concluded to send him apprentice to Abraham Sutcliff, a surgeon and apothecary at Settle in Yorkshire. Accordingly, a pack-horse that used to pass from Lancashire to Yorkshire was hired, and upon it Lettsom travelled to Settle. This was in April 1761. The little classical knowledge he had attained at Penketh was dissipated during the time he spent in acquiring the mercantile routine. Thus prepared, he was to be qualified for the most important professional duties, and that too in an obscure part of the country. Mr. Sutcliff was distantly related to S. Fothergill, at that time Lettsom's guardian, and who, no doubt, entertained a favourable opinion of his new tutor, who proved, happily for Lettsom, a man of no ordinary talents. Sutcliff was an excellent classic, although self-taught; and so attached was he to Latin, that he never would permit Lettsom to read an English book in his presence, and often would instruct him in his favourite language.

"When Lettsom arrived, Sutcliff possessed an amiable wife, the mother of two children. Her condescension and kindness added much to his comfort, during the whole of his residence at Settle.*

"Dr. Lettsom was ever exceedingly grateful to Abraham Sutcliff for the attentions he received from him. The latter having, in 1780, accumulated by professional industry a sum of money (about 10,000l.) was anxious to retire from the more arduous parts of professional exertion in favour of his son. Dr. Lettsom's flourishing condition in London at this period did not obliterate the esteem and gratitude so justly due to Sutcliff. He was urged and even offered 100l. by the Doctor, to pay his expences in coming to London to visit his old apprentice. It was not till after the lapse of several years that Mr. Sutcliff paid this visit, which continued fourteen days. Against his arrival Lettsom had procured for him a diploma of

« Sutcliff received a fortune of 5001. by his marriage. He had eight children, some of whom are at this time living."

Doctor

Doctor of Medicine. He addressed him by observing, that he was now old, that he had a son qualified for his profession, and that he ought to retire and enjoy the easier earnings of a physician. Sutcliff replied, that he had designed it, but was at a loss to apply for a diploma, as his old teachers were no more. Dr. Lettsom presented one to him. How surprised and delighted was the good old man to find that he was already one of the diplomatic body: My lad,' said he, with his eyes suffused with tears of joy, this is more than I know how to acknowledge!

"About the second year of Lettsom's apprenticeship, he began to visit patients, when his master was out of town or engaged by midwifery; but, never having heard a lecture, nor seen any anatomical figure, except a skeleton, he could but be ill qualified to discharge the functions with which he was intrusted. He had, however, read much, and had, by that means alone, acquired some knowledge of comparative anatomy. In Sutcliff's library he was assisted by Keil's Anatomy, Monro on the Bones, Douglas on the Muscles, and Winslow's Anatomy. In medicine, were some of Boerhaave's works, and Shaw's Practice of Physic: a very incompetent medical library, it must be acknowledged!

"Lettsom was so early sensible of the want of a good memory, that at this time (being in his 18th year) he availed himself of notes, and constructed tables, to assist it; and by often reverting to them, the impressions that he wished more particularly to retain, were rendered so strong as rarely to elude recollection. Thus, with mo derate powers of mind, he was enabled to supply, by industry and art, what nature had denied him. By the construction of tables, he surmounted many difficulties which occurred in the course of his attention to anatomy, and was thus prepared the better to understand what he had collected by reading.

"By the attention to his master, aided by his own application, he recovered his knowledge of the Latin language, and was then anxious to acquire such a proficiency in the French tongue, as would qualify him to read an author. To effect this, a party of his acquaintance, of both sexes, united in expence to procure a French master from London; and, by due application, in three months they could read the language with facility, and both speak and write it so as to be understood. Soon afterwards Lettsom procured a few Greek books, and, with Stackhouse's Grammar, acquired a little knowledge of this language also; but he never could overcome the early neglect of his classical education.

"His most favourite study, indeed, was botany. To assist him in it he borrowed Gerard's Herbal; and in his excursions in the vicinity of Settle, he collected many good specimens of rare plants, with which he composed an Hortus Siccus. From other specimens he made impressions on paper, which resembled drawings, and may be done with very little trouble.

"After having completed the five years' apprenticeship in Settle, under the superintendance of Sutcliff, Lettsom determined to emerge from a small market-town, to enter the metropolis of England,

without

without having a relation, or knowing a friend in it. Many worthy people in Settle, whose good opinion he had secured, advised him against his intended journey, in consequence of four apprentices from the same house having died soon after their entrance into London. Lettsom, however, was not to be diverted from his intention; and his guardian, Samuel Fothergill, seeing no obstacles, recommended him to his brother, Dr. John Fothergill, one of the most celebrated physicians in Europe. Lettsom arrived in London, and waited upon him in the summer of 1766.

"The distance of his apartment in Gracechurch-street was convenient for attendance at St. Thomas's Hospital, where he entered as a surgeon's dresser, under Benjamin Cowell, Esq. The other surgeons were Mr. Baker and Mr. Smith, men of no great eminence. The physicians were Akenside, Russell, and Grieve. Lettsom was early fond of poetry, and had read the Pleasures of Imagination' with admiration. He anticipated great pleasure in coming under the author's notice; for, by a small premium, a surgeon's pupil is admitted to the practice of the physicians of the Hospital.

.

"Great, however, was his disappointment, in finding Dr. Akenside the most supercilious and unfeeling physician that he had hitherto known. If the poor affrighted patients did not return a direct answer to his queries, he would often instantly discharge them from the Hospital. He evinced a particular disgust to females, and generally treated them with harshness. It was stated that this moroseness was occasioned by disappointment in love; but hapless must have been that female who should have been placed under his tyranny. Lettsom was inexpressibly shocked at an instance of Dr. Akenside's inhumanity, exercised towards a patient in Abraham's Ward, to whom he had ordered bark in bolusses; who, in consequence of not being able to swallow them, so irritated Akenside, as to order the sister of the Ward to discharge him from the Hospital; adding, he shall not die under my care.' As the sister was removing him, in obedience to the Doctor, the patient expired.

"One leg of Dr. Akenside was considerably shorter than the other, which was, in some measure, remedied by the aid of a false heel. He had a pale strumous countenance, but was always very neat and elegant in his dress. He wore a large white wig, and carried a long sword. Lettsom never knew him to spit, nor would he suffer any pupil to spit in his presence. One of them once ac

cidentally did so, yet standing at some distance behind him. The Doctor instantly spun round on his artificial heel, and hastily demanded, who was the person that spit in his face? Sometimes he would order some of the patients, on his visiting days, to precede him with brooms to clear the way, and prevent the patients from too nearly approaching him. On one of these occasions, Richard Chester, one of the governors, upbraided him for his cruel behaviour: 'Know,' said he, thou art a servant of this Charity.

"On one occasion his anger was excited to a very high pitch, by the answer which Mr. Baker, the surgeon, gave to a question the Doctor put to him, respecting one of his sons, who was subject to

epilepsy

To

epilepsy, which had somewhat impaired his understanding. what study do you purpose to place him?' said Akenside to Baker. I find,' replied Baker, he is not capable of making a surgeon, so I have sent him to Edinburgh to make a physician of him.' Akenside turned round from Baker with impetuosity, and would not speak to him for a considerable time afterwards.

"Dr. Russell was as condescending, as Akenside was petulant. Akenside, however, would sometimes condescend to explain a case of disease to the pupils, which always appeared sagacious; and, motwithstanding his irritable temper, he was more followed than Russell by the pupils. Dr. Russell resided at No. 1, Church-court, Walbrook.

"Dr. Grieve lived in the Charter House, to which he was physician. He was an amiable man, and an unassuming scholar. He was the translator of Sydenham.

"The pecuniary circumstances of Lettsom did not enable him to continue longer than twelve months in London, and excluded him from the school of Edinburgh. He, accordingly, devoted his time incessantly to the Hospital, and the lectures which London afforded. He was a constant attendant of the physicians in their walks through the wards, and embraced as many opportunities as he possibly could to avail himself of the advantages arising from it. In the morning, early, before any attendance was given, he usually visited many select patients, wrote out the symptoms, and afterwards examined the prescriptions of the physicians. On some particular cases, he compared the writings and practice of authors, and gradually acquired a considerable degree of precision in anticipating both the practice and the remarks of the faculty. If he thought himself much at a loss, he repeated his visits to the hospital in the afternoon; and this not only confirmed the little knowledge he had acquired, but likewise gave him a frankness and ease of demeanour at the bed-side. During all his attendance, however, no other pupil adopted this system, which he found so highly interesting to his advancement. At the same time, he continued to take notes of, and make reflections.upon, what he saw; and thus acquired a method of investigation and decision, which ever afterwards proved of the highest use in determining his medical conduct and practice. Until his return from the West Indies in 1768, he never could claim the advantages of any other lectures than those afforded by a course of midwifery and anatomy. His private clinical practice was a substitute for the

rest.

"During Lettsom's attendance at the hospitals, no person was more kind to him than Richard Chester. At the same time that he maintained the orthodox friend, he possessed an affectionate and liberal mind, which led him to view the failings of others with a forgiving disposition. He was very cheerful and pleasant in company, steady in his friendships, and open-handed to the poor.

"The time now arrived when Lettsom was to bid adieu to those few, but highly-valued, acquaintances. In the interviews he had with Dr. Fothergill, and the opportunities of witnessing his wonderful NO. 222. routine

R

routine of professional employment, he could not avoid feeling an ambition to settle in the metropolis. There seemed, however, to be an insurmountable obstacle opposed to such an event, in his pecuniary situation, and in the wide distance from Europe of his native island.

"On the 8th of December he arrived at Tortola, and remained there until July 1768.

"Lettsom's object in returning to his native island was to take possession of the little property left him by his father, which then consisted of a small portion of land, and about fifty slaves. At this time he was not possessed of 501. in the world; but, viewing the traffic in living blood as wicked and unlawful, he immediately -emancipated them, and became a voluntary beggar at the age of 23. He never repented of this sacrifice; indeed, Heaven soon repaid it, by conferring upon him innumerable temporal blessings; and, what must be estimated still more highly, a grateful heart to diffuse them among his poorer fellow creatures. He did not liberate his slaves from any advice of the Society to which he belonged —he did not do it from religious motives, merely as such, but he had early read much; he had considered the tenets of different religions and professions, and he thought there was only one true religion, consisting of doing unto others as we wish they should do unto us. A demure face, and all the sanctimonious exteriors of individuals, he apprehended as nothing, where beneficence was wanting. Impressed with these sentiments, as he lived, so he died. But he lived to correct his opinion as to the mode by which the emancipation of slaves should be effected. In a letter to the Rev. Dr. Madison of Virginia, dated September 24, 1804, he observes, There is one subject which I have slightly hinted at, the toleration of slavery in America; and, after perusing the excellent pamphlet on the emancipation of your slaves, with which thou some months ago favouredst me, I feel a difficulty in determining upon any plan adequate to the magnitude and urgency of the object.

"To sell them to others for future slavery would be the height of cruelty; and to continue them with yourselves, in perpetual slavery, is impolitic and dangerous, as you have recently experienced, as would also be their immediate and complete freedom. I conceive, with every dispassionate writer, that a gradual emancipation is alone feasible, and, in my opinion, easily practicable. It requires, however, a considerable length of time to teach a slave to be free: therefore, emancipation should be gradual; for were it immediate and general, slavery would degenerate into sloth and unbridled licentiousness. The example of the late Prime Minister, Count Bernstoff, of Denmark, should be adopted. He liberated his slaves with the most scrupulous caution and parental attention. He first allotted to each of them a piece of land, and instructed them to plough, sow, and otherwise cultivate the soil. He obtained for them tools and utensils of every requisite kind, at a considerable expence; and, during this course of instruction, he supported them under every exigency or want, to which such a novel state had introduced them.