A discourse delivered before the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at the semiannual meeting twelfth of June, 1798 / By William Walter, D.D.

  • Walter, William, 1737-1800.
Date:
1798
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A discourse delivered before the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at the semiannual meeting twelfth of June, 1798 / By William Walter, D.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    To a mind wanned by a general philanthropy, humanized by philofo* phy, and enlightened by Chriftianity, there cannot be a nobler object to contemplate, than that of the rehoration of a fellow-creature to the blef- lings of exiftence ; befides the fignal advantage conferred upon the indi¬ vidual by fo tranfcendent an aft of benevolence, it advances in an eminent degree the Medical Science. May your efforts in the caufe of Humanity be crowned with fuccefs; and the Society, of which you are fo worthy a member, continue to abridge the triumphs of death.—I have delayed fending the annual Report, on purpofe to embrace the opportunity of prefenting your Society with Dr. Gregory's Sermon on a fubjed of the utmofl importance to individuals and the public.-^You will have the goodnefs to difpofe of them according to your judgment, and permit me to wifh you and the benevolent friends of the Maffachufetts Humane Society, every happinefs which this world can afford. I am. Reverend Sir, Your very humble fervant. Rev. Dr. Parker. WILLIAM HAWES. II. The following Communication was made to the Truflees by fever al r e/p e sl¬ ab U Gentlemen, fome of whom wereJpedators of the melancholy Scene. THE Proprietors of the Bofton Pier, finding it would be'conve¬ nient for the fhipping to be fupplied with water on the fpct, undertook to have a Well dug on faid Pier, and had advanced to the depth of 30 feet** July 27, 1797, one of the workmen coming out of the well, as the tide began to make into it, complained of faintnefs, and fup- pofed it proceeded from having overworked himfelf. The well was then covered over, and heavy weights laid upon the top to prevent the curb from rifing. Soon after Mr. Timothy Tileflon, the mafler-workman, went down into the well, contrary to the advice of fome perfons prefent, who appre¬ hended danger from the flowing in of the tide. But fuppofing his ftay would be but fnort, he proceeded, and had not been down mere than a minute or two, than the mephitic air of the well fuffocated him, and he fell fpeechlefs. Samuel Bunting, one of his workmen, finding Mr. Tileflon thus* affe&ed, let himfelf down by a rope, and as he was making it faft to Tileflon's body, was feized in the fame maimer. William Hancock, a failor from Penobfcot, palling by and feeing the two unhappy men in this fitua- tion, inftantly let himfelf down by the fame rope that Bunting did, and had $xo fooner reached the bottom, than he met the lame unhappy fate ; and all * The firjl Jlratum, of about 15 feet, was through the made ground of the wharf. The next of 12 feet, coiiflfied of clay and earthy then a Jlratum of marjh mud, unconfumed roots, intermixed will: Jhells and marine productions, which f on being difturbed] yielded an uncommon foetid fmelh