Neurology. : An account of some experiments in cerebral physiology. By Dr. Buchanan, of Louisville. Communicated to an American newspaper, at Dr. Buchanan's request. / By R. D. Owen.

  • Robert Dale Owen
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Neurology. : An account of some experiments in cerebral physiology. By Dr. Buchanan, of Louisville. Communicated to an American newspaper, at Dr. Buchanan's request. / By R. D. Owen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/16 page 14
    rare among us; but one having taken place, as I think, since you settled in our town. And lastly, Sabbath-breaking. On this point, too, there are various opinions. Some of our citizens think it no offence against God or man, occasionally to work in their gardens, or otherwise occupy themselves in some useful pursuit during a portion of the first day of the week.—But no one, so far as I know, interrupts or disturbs those who choose to employ the day differently. Each follows the dictates of his own conscience, and interferes not with that of his neighbour. I am aware, sir, that this is not in accordance with your own opinions ; but yet I will ask you whether it is charitable to charge with depravity those who honestly differ from you on this point ? Next in order comes the charge, that the influence of our family has entailed this depravity on the town. You and I, sir, are but partially acquainted with each other. I should have given you a general invitation to my residence, whenever your leisure was not more pleasantly occupied, had I believed that the invitation would be agreeable to you, and would be received without misconstruction. As it is, you must, I should imagine, know something of my habits and demeanour and that of my brothers; seeing that it is some sixteen years since we first settled in this place. If yon do, I ask you, sir, in plain, direct terms, if our habits are those of profligacy, in any single respect whatever ? If you cannot answer that question, what is the jus¬ tification for the heavy charge you have endorsed? No man of sense or modesty chooses to speak of his own merits, except in reply to a direct accusation, responsibly endorsed. Such an ac¬ cusation is endorsed by you. I meet it in the face ; and I speak in the presence, and under the correction, of hundreds wrho have known me for half a life-time. I say then—since I must speak for myself—that I never was, even for an instant, intoxicated, during my life. I say, that I never gambled; no, not for one single evening; nor ever made a bet of a dollar, at cards or any other game. I say, that I have not half a dozen times, in as many years touched a card at all.—I say, that I am not, nor ever have been, guilty of profane swearing, or any unseemly language whatsoever. And, since your correspondent must needs taunt me as the author of a book*, which his grossness cannot appreciate, I add, that I never, since the day of my birth, crossed the threshold of a house of ill fame. Let it not offend you, sir, when 1 say, that let your own habits and principles in each and every one of these respects be what they may, they are not better, or stricter, than my own. And what I here say for myself, I may say, so far as I know or believe, of my brothers also. In all this, do I vaunt myself, vain-gloriously ? Far from it, sir. St. Paul asks us: “ What hast thou that thou hast not re¬ ceived ?” Now, if thou hast received it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ? To my father, Robert Owen—the * Moral Philosophy.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3