LETTER CCIX. Dr. LETTSOM to P. COLQUHOUN, Esq. Dear Mr. Colquhoun, Feb. 12, 1807. Accept my thanks for your excellent performances on education and indigence. I have read the latter twice with renewed gratification and instruction. The mass of useful information it contains, renders it one of the most interesting and useful performances in political œconomy on the means of political and moral reform that I ever perused, and ought to be annually read by the Statesman and the Magistrate, and indeed by every person interested in the welfare of the community. You have raised to your memory a monument more desirable than marble or brass, and ennobled your character among the distinguished benefactors of mankind. Accept again the renewal of the thanks, as you have already the admiration of J. C. LETTSOM. 1 LETTER CCX. Dr. CLEGHORN to Dr. LETTSOM. My Dear Sir, Kilcarty, Dec. 29, 1786. On reviewing my conduct for these last twelve months, I must acknowledge myself to blame for not writing to you so often as I ought to have done. Be assured, Sir, that I value your correspondence as it deserves, and that my silence was not owing to want of respect, but to bad health in the beginning of the year, and the unsettled way I have been in, shifting from place to place, throughout the whole of it. If I rightly remember, I told you in a former letter, that early in April asthmatic fits and swelled legs had obliged me to leave Dublin, and retire to the country, with a fixed resolution never again to resume the practice of physic in the metropolis, having learned by dear-bought experience, that I was no longer able to climb up two or three pair of stairs to bedchambers and nurseries, supporting a weighty corporation of nineteen stone and a half on a pair of œdematous legs, and panting like a wind-broken horse, before I get half way up. I thank God, that rural amusements, constant exercise in the open air, in a carriage, and freedom from the cares of an anxious profession, gradually removed all my pressing complaints, insomuch that I passed through the summer and autumn much better than I had reason to expect. About the middle of October I was under the disagreeable necessity of returning to Dublin, in order to begin the anatomical lectures, which I was unwilling to give up, until my nephew should be further advanced in his studies, and have a better chance for the professorship, when it shall be declared vacant. I went through the public lectures to the gentlemen of the University as usual; and opened the public course for students of medicine, with a few introductory lectures, and at the same time informed them that I meant to superintend the course. I could not promise constant attendance, and must trust this laborious task to the care of my two nephews, whose activity, directed by my experience, I had good reason to believe would enable them to acquit themselves to the satisfaction of their pupils. Accordingly, Dr. Clarke has gone through the general lectures and the osteology; and we every day expect James's return to carry on the dissections, pursuant to an advertisement in the newspapers, before my return to Dublin. I have steadily declined all business of my profession, out of doors (except that of the theatre), and only see such patients as come to my house on three days in the week. I was glad to take the opportunity, which the holidays afford, of paying a visit for a few days to this retreat, which I consider as my home, and where I have every conveniency that can contribute to my health or to my amusement. During the frost I was proud to find myself able to walk abroad for hours together without fatigue; and when it thaws, I drive myself all over the country in an open chaise, which is much pleasanter than to be led about, which was the only mode of exercise I could take last spring, on my coming to the country. I have constantly a number of labourers at work here, in ditching, draining, planting, &c. &c. I have always been of opinion, that to employ the poor in useful labour, is the best way of bestowing charity, and it is no small pleasure to behold the face of the country gradually improving, whilst the fertility of the fields is increased. My garden is a curiosity, and on a plan altogether It contains about nine English acres, surrounded by a stone wall ten feet and a half high; its form is an irregular pentagon: a circle on the middle cuts off about six acres for an orchard, from the angles and borders which, properly speaking, are the garden, and cultivated by the spade. The beds are planted with 204 fruit-trees of different sorts, the orchard contains 853 apple and pear-trees, planted in concentric circular lines, each line at 30 feet distance from another; so that the large intermediate spaces are cultivated by the plan, and may be cropped with potatoes, cabbage, turnips, beans, lucern, red clover, or any such vegetable as is the ordinary food of man or beast. But it is impossible, without a plan, to have an idea of this singular inclosure, and it is new. full time to quit this subject, and finish this letter, as I ought to have began it, by entreating a continuance of your correspondence, and thanking you for all favours: your two copies of Dr. Fothergill's Life; your Letter of the 14th instant; your good offices to my nephew James, who, I flatter myself, will profit by your example and good advice, as he mentioned your civilities in the most grateful and respectful manner. I wrote to Dr. Cuming three months ago; we are both greatly indebted to you for handing us down to posterity in such good company. Our late amiable friend, Dr. Fothergill, was a most exemplary character. I flatter myself you will reap credit with the public for the pains and expence you have been at, in setting it in a proper light. May the rising generation copy after him, and merit the high encomium Dr. Franklin has bestowed on him, of being a great doer of good, &c. Adieu! my Dear Sir, and believe me ever Yours most affectionately, P. S. I have this day completed my seventieth year, and have the pleasure to tell you that I am in better health than I have been for a year or two past. With added years if Life bring nothing new, POPE. |