ried a lady with a confiderable for tune, which placed additional means within his reach for filling the throbs of helpless disease, smoothing the brow of haggard poverty, and railing the forlorn hopes of expiring merit. At all times, Dr. Lettfom has been found the effective and prompt friend of diftrefs nor has he, like many reputed generous perfons, waited to be folicited, or fat in fupine apathy, until objects of wretchednefs were pointed out to him: the amiable energies of his bofom, always alive to the woes of fuffering humanity, have ever prompted him to feek the abodes of want and mifery, have prompted him to explore the glooms of poverty, and wipe the tear of difconfolate wretchednefs from the cheek of affliction, and illume the dim eye of defpair by his advice, his exertions, his fkill, and his generofity. Numberlefs inftances might be adduced of his philanthropy, and we could dwell upon them with all that fondnefs which the recording of good actions excites in every feeling bofom; but we know that Dr. Lettfom's is not an oftentatious but a heart-felt generofity; and, as fuch, we know that he loves to brood over his actions in the luxurious filence of his thoughts, without expoling them to the inquiring eyes of mankind." Dr. Lettfom was a ftaunch oppofer of Dr. Mayerbach, the famous Water-doctor; and in this point of view he may perhaps be confidered as having performed a really acceptable fervice to his country. nu His publications on moral and medical fubjects are very merous, but in the whole of them, he has alway kept in view the great end of all human labour,---public good. It would be needless to enumerate them, as they are all defervedly popular, and confequently known to our readers. His uniform exertions in behalf of the general community, have not escaped that honourable notice which they deferved, and many literary focieties, in various parts of Europe and America, have in confequence enrolled the name of Dr. Lettfom among their members; in addition to which, he has been chofen, at different times, to the vice-prefidencies, and delegated to the treafuries of various public charities and other benevolent inftitutions. But where is the man who can fay to himself, "Now is my cup of happiness full!" In the midft of all these splendid homages to his virtues, and when he bore "His blushing honours thick upon him," the death of his eldest fon, a moft accomplished young man, and endowed with every virtue which can gladden a father's heart, was cut off from this life in his very prime. This heavy stroke was long feverely felt by his father, and for a time, clouded the pure gaiety of that mind, which was heretofore wont to diffufe around a pleasing and an amiable hilarity. Dr. Lettfom is confiderably advanced in life, but has not in any refpect diminished the sphere of his active benevolence and profeffional skill. His difpofition is cheerful and mild; he is not averfe to fociety, though he lives more in his carriage than in his house. He rifes early, and is generally in his carriage by nine in the morning, and does not fometimes quit it finally till the fame hour in the evening. It is here that he reads and writes, carries on an extenfive correfpondence, and thus holds an intercourfe with many parts of the globe. His rural retreat near Camber well, called Grove Hill*, is delight * When Dr. Lettfom was a pupil in the hofpitals, he once rambled in a walk with a friend to the fummit of this Hill, then rude uncultivated spot, and, standing where his houfe has been fince erected, viewing the furrounding fcenery, he exclaimed, as we have heard, "Here my ambition would lead me to live and die." fully fituated, and commands a moft extensive and captivating profpect. The pens of various cotemporary poets, friends of the author, have done juftice to this beautiful spot in language not inferior to the fubject. Here he ufually retires every day after his profeffional labours. It is enriched with a valuable library, and a very curious mufeum of natural hiftory. One day in the week he devotes to this blissful spot, where he enjoys the happiness of a felect fociety, a fmall circle of literary friends, in the midst of whom he freely unbends his mind, and regales them with various anecdotes, and characteristic defcriptions of things, which have been impreffed upon his mind in the courfe of a long, an honourable, an ufeful, and an active life. Dr. Lettfom has not, however, paffed through his career without engaging in the bitterness of controverfy. This is not the place, however, either to difcufs the merits of the cafe, or to state the respective arguments. The "Critical Reviewers," with whom he differed, and to whom he addressed various remonftrances, did not obferve that decorum which is the characteristic of liberal minds. Nay, we think, Dr. Lettfom would have hewn more prudence, had he conducted himself with a dignified contempt, defpifing at once the weakness of their arguments, and the pitiful infolence of their language. An injured author can gain little by oppofing a concealed enemy: he may detect his ftupidity, or he may expofe his fallacy. Cui bono? The man is unknown, and he may ridicule in fafety, because his fecrecy conveniently covers his ignorance. In the prefent inftance, the Critical Reviewers have defcended to the most fhameful meannefs: they have not been content with oppofing the arguments of Dr. Lettfom in a coarfe and vulgar manner, but they have adopted an unfeemly ridicule, by conveying their fentiments in certain expreffions peculiar to the religious fect to which Dr. Lettfom belongs, Such pitiful conduct was furely fufficient to ftamp contempt upon the writer and his arguments, and to render both beneath the attention of the worthy character they oppofed. We certainly never confidered this journal as remarkable either for the erudition or the abilities of its conductors; but we did think they would not fo far commit the credit of the work, as to render its pages fubfervient to low and unnecessary abuse. We cannot in justice to the character of Dr. Lettfom omit to copy the account of a learned foreigner*, who paid him a vifit while on his travels in England. "This celebrated phyfician has a collection of birds, infects, and minerals, fome of which are very curious; but of all the objects that are to be feen and admired at his house, the most interesting is, with out contradiction, himself, "This friend of humanity, this virtuous Quaker, was the first to give the example of emancipating the negroes from flavery, by setting at liberty all that were employed in his rich poffeffions in America. "He finds the most delightful recompence for this act of justice in the fenfations of his own heart, and in the tender and filial attachment of those whofe chains he has broken. They have become more infeparable from him fince they have had the liberty of leaving him when they pleafe. Happy is the man who places his felicity in doing good to others! We love to meet with fuch men. They confole us for the injuftice and the cruelty of fo large a portion of our fpecies. St. Fond, now Director of the Na Inftitute. tional Garden in Paris, and a Member of the "All the family of Dr. Lettfom participate of his amiablenefs and candour; every perfon with whom he affociates is of the fame description. "After employing a part of the day in administering comfort to his numerous patients, he returns home, to fhare in the enjoyments of friendship, and affembles around him perfons whom he loves, and by whom he is beloved. "I fupped one evening with him, when some of the most lovely women of London were of the party. It is true they were neither powdered nor perfumed, and had not, like most ladies, heads full of feathers or artificial flowers but their beautiful hair floated with becoming gracefulness on handkerchiefs uncommonly white and fine. Their fimple but elegant dress was remarkable for the excellent quality of the stuffs which compofed it, and its only ornament was the charming countenances and unaffected graces of those who wore it. "Every thing in this house correfponded with that neatnefs and exquifite fimplicity which characterifes the Quakers. A young widow, of an elegant perfon and highly cultivated mind, was one of the company; her agreeable vivacity formed a pleafing contraft with the mild and tranquil fenfibility of the other ladies, all of whom, however, poffeffed information and talents. "We fupped without napkins, a circumftance which is not uncommon in many houfes in England; but the best kinds of beer, plain though exquifitely flavoured meats, and the choiceft vegetables, were ferved up in proper veffels of the moft elegant form. The cloth was removed, and the defert, and fruits, comfits, and other delicacies, with a variety of wines in cryftal decanters, were placed on a table of the fineft mahogany. This is the luxury of the English. We drank more than once in champaigne and claret to the health of our fair companions, and they pledged us in madeira and constance*. A lively but decorous gaiety, a frank and pleafing fimplicity, animated this fcene. "Tea, punch, and other liquors, came in their turn. We should have paffed the whole night at table, had we yielded to the preffing invitations of the Doctor. But notwithstanding his folicitations the party broke up at one o'clock. During the remainder of the night I meditated how I fhould become a Quaker; for, if happiness can be found any where on earth, it is among thefe worthy men." As a philanthropist, Dr. Lettfom muft ever ftand high in the regard and efteem of all good men. The writer of this article cannot boaft the happiness of an acquaintance with Dr. Lettfom, or even a perfonal a perfonal knowledge; but he has long confidered him, in the privacy of his own thoughts, as one of thofe truly great men, whofe eulogy is written in the hearts of the grateful, and whose benevolence is recorded in the fmile, which chafes away the gloom from the tear-moistened cheek of affliction. Whether we contemplate him in his profeffional or in his moral character, he is alike estimable; alike calculated to give repofe to the enfeebled body of the anxious valetudinarian, and to infpire with confidence the hopes of the half-doubtful yet half-refolved philanthropift. Ön whatever fubject he employs his pen, it affumes intereft and importance from his forceful, clear, and impreffive manner of treating it; and, if thefe qualifications were wanting, the objective scope of his intentions must infpire a degree of This hively defcription of Monf. De St. Fond might imprefs upon the mind of the reader, that the Doctor is a bon vivant; but we know that his temperance is almost proverbial. ferious respect in the minds of his readers. We need only refer to his "Hints," a work which stands as a noble monument of the liberality of his principles, and the benevolent ardor of his mind. The reader who has perufed thefe "Hints" will fcarcely deem it poffible that any man could not only cenfure the performance in general, "but alfo in a particular manner the defign of the Charitable Inftitutions recommended in it, as well as the promoters of them!" This alone must convince every unprejudiced reader that the conductors of the "Critical Review" are influenced either by a moft unworthy perfonal acrimony, or that they labour under a deplorable and, we fear, incurable stupidity. If this were a convenient place, we would gladly raise our feeble voice in defence of the amiable object of these memoirs; we would expofe the glaring fallacies of his oppugners, and confound their pitiful evafions, and artful prevarica * See Dr. Lettfom's "Appeal, addreffed to the calm Reflection of the Authors of the Critical Review, &c." A fpirited, liberal, and praiseworthy performance. tions. But this task has been already ably and juftly performed by the Doctor himself, to whom perhaps this revival of the remembrance of the controverfy may be unpleafing. But truth and justice are fuperior confiderations; and on their shrine no facrifice, in our opinion, is too great. We have thus endeavoured to trace the principal events of Dr. Lettfom's ufeful and active life with as much accuracy as poffible, adhering candidly to facts, without indulging in the fruitful fuggeftions of fertile fancy. We are willing to hope nothing is erroneously stated: fhould there, however, be any thing in which we have been deceived, we shall be happy to fupply deficiences, and to correct inaccuracies. It having been unjustly infinuated by one of the Reviews, that Dr. Lettfom was the author of an anonymous memoir of himfelf, published fome time fince, we think it neceffary to state, that in the prefent inftance, we have on the contrary to regret, that we could not derive any information from the Doctor, owing to total want of perfonal knowledge. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Our fation, the pangs of abfence, and the fears of jealoufy; by this, the anxious parent may convey his falutary counfels to his youthful fon, immerfed in the toils of business; by this, refined intellects may communicate the refults of laborious refearches, and the beneficial effects of philanthropic ftudy; by this, commerce is enlarged, nations preferved, and armies defeated. The importance of epiftolary writing has been frequently acknowledged: rules for its compofition have been laid down, and its excellencies have been defined by writers of tafte and eminence. But wherein its beauties confift, yet remains to be decided. I cannot, however, think, with Johnfon, that the reafon why fo few volumes of epiftolary correfpondence, except thofe of bufinefs and in the difcharge of public truft, have appeared in this country, is to be attributed" to our contempt of trifles, and our due fenfe of the dignity of the public." Surely the importance of epiftolary writing is fufficiently great to place it upon a level with the innumerable tales, romances, and idle poetical effufions which daily iffue from the prefs; and it may be allowed to advance as fair a claim to the public attention or efteem as the other defultory lucubrations of eminent writers; even the Rambler, of Dr. Johnson! It is not here fuppofed, that every idle letter which fondnefs may dictate, or idlenefs propofe, to relieve the ennui of a rainy morning, is to be fubjected to the public ordeal; but the epiftolary correfpondence of men of genius, in which enquiries are purfued, hints ftruck out on important topics, and moral fentiments conveyed (not to mention the fatisfaction which the mind receives in reading, as it were, the man diftinct from the author,) would, I conceive, anfwer every purpose for which books are writ ten. In confirmation of this opinion may be advanced the letters of Walfb, Pope, Voiture, Shenftone, &c. &c., though perhaps thofe of Pope contain too much of felf in them; yet in many of his letters there are numberlefs paffages which deferve to be admired for the harmony of the language, the depth of the obfervation, and the foundness of the criticism *. Yet perhaps, without too much harshnefs, it may be afferted, that the letters of Pope were fo many facrifices to his vanity. He appears in them to be under an uniform fruggle to conceal what he manifeftly adored---Praife. His letters to Wycherly betray all the faftidioufnefs of a young "Letters written from the heart, and on real occafions (obferves an elegant writer), though not always decorated with the flowers of eloquence, must be far more useful and interefting than the studied paragraphs of Pliny, or the pompous declamations of Balfac; as they contain juft pictures of life and manners, and are the genuine emanations of nature." It is very certain that the advantages arifing from epiftolary writing are manifold, for many valuable hints, many disjointed ideas, and unconnected opinions, which are too trivial to form a diftinct publication, are thus preferved, and tranfmitted to pofterity. Nothing, in thort, which comes from the pen of a man of genius and learning can be totally useless; fome entertainment or fome inftruction it must infallibly prefent. Of the precife ftyle which ought to be adopted in this fpecies of compofition, nothing can with any certainty be faid. It embraces fuch a variety of objects, and is written under fuch peculiar circumftances, that the ftyle muft inevitably be diverfified. The only general rule which can be given, is, to ftudy the propriety of the language you adopt; a rule which, indeed, is equally applicable to every kind of writing. It is not however requifite, as fome imagine, that a negligent, loofe manner of compofition fhould be observed, for this can never afford any genuine fatisfaction to a reader of taste; it were, indeed, better to err on the fide of elegance and ftudied phrafeology, for that would at least impress more strongly the object of your letter, and interest more the paffions of author, who, delighted with flattery, endeavours to allure it ftill ftronger by artful and reiterated reprehenfions. It may indeed be afferted, with fome degree of confidence, that no man ever fought praise with greater avidity, and yet feemed to repel it with more apparent disgust, than did Pope. |