More facts, or a reply to a pamphlet [by J. Hodgson] entitled A state of facts, &c / [John Heysham].

  • Heysham, John, 1753-1834.
Date:
1783
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: More facts, or a reply to a pamphlet [by J. Hodgson] entitled A state of facts, &c / [John Heysham]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fubje& of abortions, into the Englifh language, for the perufal and entertainment of Pjjg * * *##*«#. The third and lad, though not lead eminent in the group, is Mr. Wm. Thompfon an ingenious and 'worthy fchoolviajler in Carlifle. Each, as it may be fuppofed, had his particular department allotted him. It was the late Surgeon's bufinefs to inftiudt Hugh Sutherland the barber, and Mary his fpoufe, not only what to fay, but what to conceal, and in this manner he collected and furnilhed the materials; thefe materials were in part arranged and digeded by the learned Doflor ; but it was the province of the Schoolmader, as being better acquainted with the rules of grammar, and the arts of compofition, to revife, correct, and fmooth the language, and in fhort to give it that elegant andpolijhed drefs, with which it has made its appearance in the world. So much for the State of Fa&s previous to its delivery from the prefs. The fird obfervation that mud drike anyone who is not acquainted with the circdm- danccs which have preceded its publication is, that this mud be the fird time Dr. Heyfham has been thus courtcou/ly addrejfed by Mr. Hodgfon. 1 o undeceive fuch, it may be neceffary to inform them and the Public, that this is neither the fird, the lecond, nor the third time that Mr. Hodgfon has wantonly attempted, in the mojl malicious and hefiile manner, to ruin my charafler. But hitherto all his attacks have availed him little, they have been nothing more than “ the barking of a cur without its bite ; the reptile s «« fwell without its lting ; or the hiding of the viper without its venom. From each of his affaults, which he vainly and wickedly hoped would have over- whelmed me with infamy and difgracc, I have obtained, what is my utmoji ambition, and what will be ever dear to me, the praife and approbation of good men. To convince my readers of the truth of what I have advanced, 1 fliall. now acquaint them with the particulars which occurred relative to this bufinefs, not only in the Mon y Committees, but alfo at the General Meetings of the Governors of the Carhfle Difpenfay. On the 7th of May Mr. Hodgfon attended the Monthly Committee , and altho he knew I was at Lancader, yet with hi, ufual candour, he took the advantage of my fence; he then iniinuated many things to my prejudice, ahd mifreprefented the affair concerning II,Kd, Sutherland, in fuel, a manner as to leave a disagreeable but tranfitory impreffon a gam it me, on the minds of fome of the Gentlemen of the Committee ; the? however had too much regard for their character to enter upon the bufinefs during my able nee, an properly recommended him to drop it until my return f. , niTn-nfarv 1 On my return from Lancader, Mr. Watfon, who was Apothecary to the D fp^ at that time, told me what had puffed in the Committee about Sutherland, I therefore benefit of his friends and mankind in general. It is thought he-never kept a fecret, however delicate or important, longer than till he had an opportunity of revealing it. His only foible feems to be too much credulity, by which he is often expofed to the impertinence * 'at this Committee the following Gentlemen were prefent, viz. Mr. Melbourne, \Ir; Elbvood, Mr. Mitchinfoh, and Mr. Elliot. Mr. Milbourne was in the Chair. f He alio on that day accufcd me of total ignorance in Surgery and Anatomy, and indanced the cafe of Ann Liddell in proof of it; but this crcumdance I only became acquainted with fincc the Anniverfary Meeting, which was on the 23d ot July.