THE POLYANTHOS. MAY, 1806. SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE, M. D. Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physick in the University of Cambridge. "TH WITH A PORTRAIT. HE great object of biography is to hold up the benefactors of mankind, to the view of that society, which they have benefited; to endeavour to appreciate their talents, and thereby to excite a sense of gratitude, in the minds of the publick, to their best friends." That this remark is applicable to the subject of the present memoir, no one will doubt, who has paid attention to the meritorious and successful labours of the AMERICAN JENNER. The lives of literary and medical men seldom afford any great scope for biographical remark. The practice of physick very much G...VOL. 2. resembles the events of ordinary life, where he is most noticed, who makes the most money; where he, who devotes his time to plans of a publick nature, is less regarded. But the subject of the following sketch forms an exception to this remark. The life of a private person, who has, by his assiduous application and uniform judicious conduct, raised himself to eminence among his cotemporaries, tends to excite emulation in the mind of the reader; especially the young, and bids him " go and do likewise." He claims the first of honours, who, by diligent and successful exertions of his talents, effectuates a publick good, by which posterity will be benefited. Among the distinguished literary and professional characters of our country, it would be difficult to select one, who has evinced more zeal, in the cause of science and humanity, than the subject of this memoir. Dr. BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE was born at Newport, Rhode-Island, where he received the ground-work of a good classical and medical education; the first chiefly in a school founded by the celebrated Dean Berkley; and the latter under a skilful Scotch physician. The eminent and very learned Dr. Arthur Browne* and Mr. Stew * Arthur Browne, L. L. D. Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin; King's Professor of Greek and of Law; Vicar General of Kildare and Prime Sargeant; Member of Parliament for the University, and author of many learned works. See a sketch of his life in the Monthly Anthology. He died last year in Dublin, highly honoured and universally lamented. art the celebrated painter, and Dr. Waterhouse, were about the same age, and at the same school; all three had an invincible desire to visit Europe; and they all obtained their wishes. Dr. Waterhouse was encouraged to visit England by his kinsman, the famous Dr. Fothergill. He arrived in London in April, 1775, and in the autumn of the same year, repaired to the University of Edinburgh, when Cullen, Black, and Monro, were at the zenith of their reputation. During the year, he remained at that celebrated medical school. On his return to London, the next season, he reentered the hospitals and attend ed the most noted anatomical, surgical, chemical, and medical lectures, given at that time in the metropolis of Britain. Dr. W. had not been long in London, be-. fore his old friend Stewart arrived there also. We find in a copious journal, whence many particulars of this memoir are taken, many anecdotes of this distinguished artist. It is manifest that there was an uncommon friend. ship existing between these two RhodeIsland men; and that Waterhouse regarded Stewart as a man of transcendant talents in almost every department of ordinary knowledge. The condition of these two young Americans, in a foreign land, were very dissimilar-Waterhouse was in the house of Dr. Fothergill, in the sunshine of a noble and generous patronage, and caressed by the first |