CONTENTS. 203, 204 The JOURNAL of a Learned and Political SPEECH Of P. Curiatius in favour of the Mr. Murray's cavalcade on coming out Of publishing his Cafe SPEECH of T. Sempronius Gracchus a- That authority does not depend upon Of Cromwell's government ibid. C, D. His remark on the family of Stuarts His remarks on K. William's war, and His account of Janfenifm, and story of Serious thoughts on death ibid. E. Dreadful confequences of corruption 227 The poor influenced by the example of Account of the act for amending the ftile Addrefs of the commons of Ireland to The lord lieutenant's fpeech to both houfes More curious extracts from Voltaire 223 N. B. The Summary of the most im rant off. irs in laft feffion of parliament will be continued We have received feme mathematical quefiions, a Latin ede, and other pieces of poetry, which THE LONDON MAGAZIN E. MAY, A Letter from STAFFORDSHIRE, enclosing a genuine One of Dean SWIFT's when be was but Twenty-five, containing fome remarkable Particulars relating to that Gentheman, whofe Life and Writings bave fo much engaged the Publick Attention. H A 1752. which I have fent you is his anfwer; and GAVING lately read the earl of Orrery's letters, concerning the life and writings of Dr. Swift, and obferving his lordfhip's remarks, in his fecond letter, upon one that the doctor wrote to his uncle, foon after his leaving the univerfity (in which his lordihip fays, we fee nothing of that peculiar turn of phrase that is fo vifible in his other writings; and from whence he seems to infer, that Swift's faculties had not then begun to exert and difplay themfelves) I recollected that I had a letter in my poffeffion of a fomewhat earlier date than that which lord Orrery has published, and withal more C perfect; in which his lordship may fee, that Dr. Swift was much the fame man, with regard to the peculiarity of his turn of fentiment and phrafe, at 25, as he was, when his lordfhip converfed with him, bating his improvements in the after part of his life. The letter, I can affure you, Sir, is genuine, and was carefully tran- D fcribed by myself fome years ago, from the original under the dean's own hand. I find, by lord Orrery's account of him, that he fometimes vifited his mother at Leicester. There, it feems, he had talked to a young lady in a ftrain, which, tho' ufual with him, was thought fomewhat particular by herfelf and her friends. Upon which the gentleman, to whom E A LETTER from Dr. SWIFT, to the this letter was written, who was Dr. Swift's near relation, and had been with him at the university, was applied to, to write an expoftulatory letter to him on his behaviour to them; and who, either in his mirth or his anger, would never I am, Sir, Yours, &c. W -1, Staffordsh. March 11. Rev. Mr. Kendall, Vicar of Thornton, SIR, Feb. 11, 1691. any thing made me wonder at your his conduct towards her after his depar-letter, it was your almost inviting ture from Leicester; to which letter this May, 1752. Cc a me 200 A remarkable LETTER of Dr. SWIFT. B me to do fo in the beginning, which in- D May go to choose for a wife, and think that I am, good coufin, *There feems to have been a word omitted bere through hafte. 1752. Importance of Health, and Dignity of Medicine. 201 COVENT-GARDEN JOURNAL, May 12. VIRG. SIR, HE defire of health was fo early A Timplanted in man, and fo originally interwove with his very nature, that it may be faid to be the genuine child of that all-ruling principle, felf-prefervation. We fee the impulfe for continuing the fearch, not only diffufed thro' the human race, but the brutes, from amidst an exuberance of vegetable variety, can select B with the niceft skill, their peculiar phyfick from the fields and woods. It is faid, that in fome inftances, mankind have been their pupils, and indebted to them for inftruction; that they have not only led us to the knowledge of fome ufeful difcoveries and operations, but whilft their lords, boafting of fuperior reafon, have been employed in the labo- C rious task of diftinguishing the outward characteristick of plants, and ranging them as matter of curiofity, with no little parade, the humble beafts have taught us better leffons; have fhewn a fhorter way to the virtues of feveral fimples, by making them at once the fubject of their cure, and thereby evincing their proper-D ties. No doubt, the ftill lower claffes of the creation, reptiles, as well as infects, have the power given them to exercise this medicinal art. That the practice of the brutes hath fuffered lefs mutations than that of erring. man, is a circumftance I fhall not here enlarge upon, but could have wished, that E in the fyftems of the latter, their changes had always been attended with more fubstantial views of real foundation. Whatever tendency to evil this has produced, whatever neglect and indignity have been offered to fimple remedies, and what attachment we have given to a uselefs farrago of drugs, the imputation however cannot fairly be charged upon the profeffion, but the profeffors. The fcience itfelf is highly worthy the pursuit of the moft rational enquirer, tho', perhaps, not altogether of thofe great liberalities and diftinctions, which from the remotest antiquity have been paid it. Kings, as well as peasants, have at all times from choice or neceffity become its votaries: But this is feeble evidence of its ufe, when compared to the fanction given it by the facred writings of the fon of Syrac, or the divine authority of apoftolick function. Proofs, which confpire to own its F noble origin, tho' it must be confeffed, that nations amongst the wifer heathens were guilty of the most extravagant excefs. We read, that amongst phyficians, crowns and apotheofes, were the attendant honours of their life and death; and Macrobius fpeaks of Hippocrates in fuch applauding ftrains, as can only be applied to infallible wifdom. qui tam fallere quam falli nefcit. This univerfal perfuafion, this general acknowledgment of the excellency of the healing art (which was then, and indeed till late, in all its branches, jointly exercifed) will ferve to demonftrate how natural, how effential it is for every individual, the leaft folicitous for its prefervation, to apply to thofe reftoring remedies, which God in his infinite munificence has fo plenteously created and ordained for the use of man: And that focieties employed for the advancement of medical learning, fhould at all times be encouraged by the publick fuffrage. The various feminaries of the medical kind, both here and abroad, muft neceffarily give a liberal mind very affecting pleasure. G Those who have already availed themfelves by the powers of fuch skill, may feelingly difplay its ufe and importance; and those who by unfkilful treatment, or empirick ignorance, have too unhappily fuffered, will have the greater reafon to approve any inftitution, calculated for avoiding error, and promoting the good of their fellow-creatures. A good, no lefs than that of recovering health, that ineftimable gem, always the most valued when the leaft poffeffed, and which no temporal bleffing can be put in competition with; for without that comfort, no enjoyment can have its relifh. Our fummer's funfhine would be Zembla's winter, and terreftrial paradife a dreary defert. That phyfick has yet its perplexities and defects, its rocks and fhoals, is a truth I believe the warmest advocate for its perfection will not venture to deny. To explore thofe tracks, to make difcoveries, and point out dangers in the regions of that fcience, is a tafk, however formidable, yet meritorious in those who attempt it, and of confequence to our own fpecies. It is with no fmall fatisfaction that I view the laudable endeavours of the medical fociety of furgeons of the royal navy, directed to this falutary end. A fet of gentlemen, from whofe peculiar fi-. tuations, and from thofe perfonal vifits which its members are conftantly paying to various and diftant climates, the publick may reasonably expect improvement, I as 202 Medical SociETY of the Navy SURGEONS. as they must be more immediately enabled B veniently procure. But to prevent the multiplicity of volumes, without adding to the stock of ufeful knowledge, it is agreed, that no other cafes or obfervations in phyfick or furgery fhall be publifhed, but fuch as may be inftructive in their own nature, or rendered fo, by judicious and extenfive reflexions deduced from them, in order to the establishment or confirmation of general axioms." Such is one article, of feven, of which their plan at prefent confifts. A plan, which as ufefulness first formed, so propriety feemingly continues to direct. In conformity to this, they have laid a foundation, on which an ample fuperftructure is to be raifed; and as they have diftinguished a good judgment in the affortment of fome materials for their building, it is not to be queftioned but the fociety will proceed in the fame method towards its farther completion. "I. That as one confiderable purpose of this undertaking is to pursue, particularly, fuch branches of medical knowledge, as fall more immediately under the obfervation of the navy-furgeons, who may be reasonably prefumed to have advantages, for fome particular difquifitions, peculiar to their fituation; fuch as C -an opportunity of enquiring into the nature of fea difeafes, and any specifick or material difference between them and those at land;-of obferving any particular effects of medicines at fea ;-the common effects of the principal operations of furgery on that element; efpecially where any remarkable diversity occurs from their general events on thore; and any diffe. Dy may retain and still advance in know rent fuccefs of the fame operations in dif- F In order to render it as worthy their defign as poffible, I am very credibly informed that no expence within their fphere is fpared, that can contribute to its advancement. Anatomy and Materia Medica, the two eyes of phyfick, are encouraged and publickly professed amongst them, by perfons defervedly of the firft character in their refpective claffes. So that the more ingenious part of that bo ledge; and the lefs qualified may refort to it as to a school or nursery, whenever convenience and the defire of improvement prompt them. Great advantage and luftre might be derived to the fociety, from the mention of fome honorary members and encouragers of it. Perfons whofe candour, ingenuity, and learning, do honour not only to this, but to fociety in general. Indeed it may fuffice at once to fay, that of whatever is praiseworthy and of real eftimation, thofe perfons are the true and rightful patrons. Sordid partiality, and narrow intereftedness, may feek shelter and protection, but feek it too in vain; for names in this age, however dignified, tho' they may greatly cherish the tender shoots of defert, yet they do not, neither can they, fupport the offspring of superficial knowledge. BENEVOLUS. To the AUTHOR of the LONDON SIR, furnish themselves with the beft collectinfequence of what is faid in your on of fuch productions, as they can con laft, I fend you what occurs to me on the heads of the poors bill, which you fay |