Part 1

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NIMMO'S SERIES OF COMMONPLACE BOOKS.

CLERGYMEN AND DOCTORS.

CLERGYMEN AND DOCTORS:

Curious Facts and Characteristic Sketches.

Edinburgh: W. P. Nimmo.

CLERGYMEN AND DOCTORS:

Curious Facts and Characteristic Sketches.

EDINBURGH:

WILLIAM P. NIMMO.

MURRAY AND GIBB, EDINBURGH,

PRINTERS TO HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Abernethy and the Duke of York, 61; Anecdotes of, 83; Conquered by Curran, 151

Abstinence, Precept and Example of, 21

Agricultural Defence of Bigotry, An, 138

André Boulanger, Father, 70

Angel-Worship, 110

Antics of the Fanatics, 66

Application, A Too Personal, 124

Archbishop's Installation Feast, An, 76

Archdeacon? What is an, 99

"Atterbury's Pad", 16

Awkward Association, An, 81

Baptism, A Sanitary View of, 40

Barrow, The Exhaustive, 15; his Rhymes with Reason, 63

Barrowby, Dr., Anecdotes of, 126

Baxter, Addison's Introduction to, 13; Cromwell and, 131

Berkeley's (Bishop) Bermuda Scheme, 33

Bishops and the Poor, 150

Blomfield's Rebuke to Non-Resident Rectors, 85

Blood-Jewels, Queen Elizabeth's, 22

Bloodletters, Blunders of, 149

Bottle-Blind, 104

Bourdaloue, Bold Application of, 146

"Breaking-up" before the Holidays, 104

Bunyan's Successful and Persistent Preaching, 111

Burgess, Daniel, Pulpit Jokes of, 86

Burnet, Bishop, Against Pluralities, 151

Capacity of an Abbé, The, 100

Charles II. and his Chaplain, 30

Christian Names among the Puritans, 98

Civil to the Prince of Evil, 113

Clergy, Benefit of, 101

Commonwealth Preachers, South on the, 45

Cooper's (Sir Astley) Night-Cap Fee, 11

Crabbe, George, The Apothecary Poet, 144

Cucumber, How to Dress a, 18

Curate and the Duke, The, 23

Cure of Souls, A Desirable, 127

Dangers of Too Good Company, The, 82

Da Vinci a Great Anatomist, 77

Devotion of a Catholic Priest, 85

Diffidence in the Pulpit, 97

Donne's (Dr.) Prayerful Pun, 143

Drubbing-in Religious Feeling, 121

Fees, Ancient, of Magnitude, 89; Early English, 89; in the Reign of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, 90; After the Revolution, 91; Large Royal, in Later Times, 92; For a Political Consultation, 94; Generous Refusal of, 95; Sticklers for, 95; Collectively Irresistible, 96

Flavel's "Day of Heaven", 24

Footscrapers Reproved, The, 17

Garrick's Precepts for Preachers, 147

George II. as an Amateur Surgeon, 148

Gibbon's Retort on the Physician, 51

Gilpin and the Northumbrian Brawlers, 19

Gospel, The, A Novelty, 34

Gregory, Dr., Generosity of, 73

Harvey and the Circulation of the Blood, 35

Herrnhuters, the, Extravagances of, 78

Hill, The Rev. Rowland, 157

Hour-Glasses in Church, 49

How to be Kept in Health, 64

Hunter (William) and Cullen, The Partnership of, 14

Hunter, John, the Anatomist, 139; Routing the Rout, 65

Iconoclastic Zeal in the North, 137

Indian Commerce, Origin of our, 122

Intercessor for Himself, An, 71

Interpolation, A Significant, 27

Jebb, Sir Richard, 40

Jenner, the Discoverer of Vaccination, 107

Kennet, Bishop, on Late Repentance, 42

Kirwan, Dr., Dean of Killala, 55

Knox, John, Fearlessness of, 105

Leighton, Archbishop, on Time and Eternity, 159

Lettsom's Liberation of his Slaves, 112

Licenced Lay Preaching, 62

"Make the Most of Him", 158

Mal-apropos Quotation, A, 43

Masses Transferred, 21

Massillon, Eloquence of, 12

Mathews on his Deathbed, 32

Mayerne, Sir Theodore, 92

Medicine, A Royal, 25

Methodist Dog, The, 50

Mild Criticism, A, 48

Monsey, Messenger, his Dying Jests, 132

Nash's (Beau) Treatment of a Prescription, 128

Pacific She, A, 158

Paley's Career, Turning Point in, 81; Economy of Conscience, 97

Perkins' "Tractors" Exposed, 113

Perversion of Scripture, A Clever, 136

Peter the Great as Dentist, 47

Physicians and their Fees, 86; and Clergymen, 159

Playing-Cards, Puritan Re-Christening of, 139

Pope's Last Epigram, 68

Prayer, A Loyal and Fata, 124

Preacher, A Popular, 16; A Witty French, 130

Preaching for a Crown, 54

Preaching to Purpose, Latimer's, 124

Preparing for the Worst and Best, 143

Prescription in Disguise, A, 18; Prescription for Long Life, A, 61

Promotion, The Way to, 145

Pulteney's Cure by Small Beer, 128

Radcliffe's Enmity to Hannes, 30

Radcliffe and Kneller, 58

Revival of "Prophesying," Lord Bacon on the, 141

Revolution, The French, and the Bible, 107

Rude Truth for a Queen, 75

Saint's Bell, The, 39

Seaman Bishop, The, 27

Sermon Reading, Charles II. on, 44

Servant and Master, 126

Shedding his Blood for his Country, 54

Slaps for Sleepers in Church, 59

Sloane, Sir Hans, 154

Smith, Sydney, Bon-Mots of, 121

Sterne, A Home Thrust at, 34

Stillingfleet, Charles II. and Bishop, 123

Sunday Sports, James I. on, 37

Swift's (Dean) Contributory Dinner, 102

"Tapping" a Toper, 100

Tar-water, The Power of, 22

Taylor, Jeremy, on Marriage, 57

Tillotson, Archbishop, Charity of, 120

Transfusion of Blood, 68

Trump Cards, 52

Two-Edged Accusation, A, 58

Two Gates of Heaven, The, 51

Unconcern in Presence of Death, 137

Unlucky Coincidence, An, 61

Unmistakeable Identity, 134

Unpreaching Prelates, 28

Wasdale's (Dr.) Long Ride, 136

Wesley and Beau Nash, 106

Whately, Witticisms of Archbishop, 152

Whitfield, Persuasiveness of, 52; his Influence on the Church, 72; "Improving" an Execution in Edinburgh, 117; Dr. Johnson's Opinion of, 118; and the New York Sailors, 135; and the Kingswood Colliers, 153

Wolcot, Dr. ("Peter Pindar") in Jamaica, 119

NOTE.

Clergymen and Doctors are so frequently associated, in connection with the most pleasant and the most grave necessities and occurrences of actual life, that if any apology is needed for uniting them on the present occasion, it is only because the abundant fund of anecdote and interest relating to both professions can therefore be drawn upon to the smaller extent. In this, as in the other volumes of this little series, the only plan followed has been that of striving to be brief and interesting in each selection or summary. Much of the charm and value of a collection of this kind consists in the large admixture of personal incident, and liberal display of individual character--which the nature and duties of the clerical and medical professions render so easy. But it has also been sought to present, not of course in order or in complete series, a number of such curious facts as throw a side-light at once on professional and social history; and it is confidently hoped that thus the collection will not only amuse, but inform.

CLERGYMEN AND DOCTORS.

_CURIOUS FACTS AND CHARACTERISTIC SKETCHES._

SIR ASTLEY COOPER'S NIGHTCAP FEE.

Living as he long did in the City,--in Broad Street,--Sir Astley Cooper, the most distinguished surgeon of his time, made a very large income; which, however, naturally enough rose and fell somewhat in sympathy with the state of the markets. In one year he made 20,000 guineas; and for many years his income was over £15,000. From one Mincing Lane merchant, whom he usually visited at Croydon, Sir Astley derived for a long period an annual revenue of £600. Large individual fees, of course, were also paid by the wealthy traders and financiers on special occasions; and once, and once only, Sir Astley received--and received in a very whimsical fashion--the splendid _honorarium_ of a thousand guineas. A West Indian millionaire, of the name of Hyatt, during a painful and critical operation which he had to undergo, was attended by Drs. Lettsom and Nelson as physicians, and by Sir Astley Cooper as surgeon. The operation was successful, and the patient speedily felt in himself the promise of recovered health and spirits. He did not wait for his complete recovery to evince his sense of gratitude and joy; but promptly rewarded his physicians with a fee of 300 guineas each. "As for you, Sir," the millionaire said, sitting up in bed and addressing himself to Sir Astley,--"you, Sir, shall have something better than that; there, Sir, take that!"--and he flung his nightcap at the great surgeon. Sir Astley picked up the nightcap, saying, "Sir, I pocket the affront;" and on reaching home he found in the cap a cheque for 1000 guineas. In his younger days, however, Sir Astley Cooper had sowed, by anxious and ill-rewarded waiting, the seeds of his subsequent great renown and revenue: in his first year of practice his profits were but five guineas; in his second, twenty-six pounds; in his third, thirty-four; and only in the ninth year did his income mount above a thousand pounds.

ELOQUENCE OF MASSILLON.

Jean Baptiste Massillon, born in 1663 at Hyères, was one of the greatest pulpit orators of France. At the age of seventeen he entered the congregation of the Oratory, at Paris, and won very high favour; but, being enviously accused of some amours, he went into retirement for a short time. The eloquence by which his funeral sermon, at his retirement at St. Fonds, on the Archbishop de Villars was characterized, led to his reluctant but triumphant return to Paris. The applause with which his oratory met there, even at the Court, was almost unparalleled. When he preached the first Advent sermon at Versailles, Louis XIV. paid the following most happy and expressive testimony to the power of his preaching: "Father, when I hear other preachers, I am very well satisfied with them; when I hear you, I am dissatisfied with myself." The effect of his first delivery of the sermon "On the small number of the Elect," has been described as almost miraculous. At a certain powerful passage in it, the entire auditory was seized with such violent emotion, that almost every person half rose from his seat, as if to endeavour to shake off the horror of being one of those cast out into everlasting darkness. He spoke with that strong, earnest simplicity which is the surest key to the hearts of all but the utterly devoid of feeling. When asked once where a man like him, whose life was dedicated to retirement, could borrow his admirable descriptions of real life, he answered, "From the human heart; let us examine it ever so slightly, we find in it the seeds of every passion. When I compose a sermon, I imagine myself consulted upon some difficult piece of business. I give my whole application to determine the person who has recourse to me to act the good and proper part. I exhort him, I urge him, and I quit him not until he has yielded to my persuasions."

ADDISON'S INTRODUCTION TO BAXTER.

Addison says that he once met with a page of Mr. Baxter under a Christmas pie. "Whether or no the pastry-cook had made use of it through chance or waggery, for the defence of that superstitious _viande_, I know not; but, upon the perusal of it, I conceived so good an idea of the author's piety that I bought the whole book."

THE PARTNERSHIP OF HUNTER AND CULLEN.

Dr. William Cullen, the celebrated physician and medical writer, and Dr. William Hunter, the brother of the great anatomist, when young men formed a copartnery of as singular and noble a nature as any to be found in the records of their profession. They were both natives of the neighbourhood of Glasgow, and Hunter studied for the church at that university. But he accidentally became acquainted with Cullen, who was some years his senior, and had settled in a medical practice at Hamilton; and this friendship, strengthening his natural inclination, drew Hunter away from the study of theology to that of medicine. He went to reside with Cullen, and entered into partnership with him--neither of the young men being well to do, and both stimulated by the impulse of genius to take this step in order that they might the better overcome the obstacles presented by the narrowness of their fortunes to the prosecution of their studies. It was stipulated that each partner alternately should be allowed to study during the winter at what college he pleased, the other meantime conducting the joint business for the common advantage. Cullen, as the senior partner, had the first winter, and he went to Edinburgh. But next winter Hunter's turn came: he preferred London to Edinburgh, went thither, and did not return to Scotland. His excellence as a dissector, singular dexterity in making anatomical preparations, assiduity in study, and agreeable manners, won him the warm regard of Dr. Douglas, to whom he had an introduction from Foulis the printer; and in two or three years Hunter became a lecturer on anatomy, and laid the foundations of a great fame and fortune. The scientific partnership was of course dissolved by Hunter's success in London; but Cullen freely consented to renounce his claim on his junior, and ever afterwards maintained a very cordial and friendly correspondence with Hunter--though the two friends are believed never afterwards to have seen each other.

THE EXHAUSTIVE BARROW.

Charles II., in his humorous fashion, was wont to say about his chaplain--that distinguished philosopher and divine, Dr. Isaac Barrow--that he was the most unfair preacher in England, because he exhausted every subject, and left no room for others to come after him. This was indeed too much the doctor's characteristic; when he had once got hold of a topic, he knew not how to leave anything unsaid upon it. One of his best discourses, on the duty and reward of bounty to the poor, actually occupied between three and four hours in the delivery. Although, however, his sermons are unusually long, they so abound in matter, that his language sometimes labours in the utterance of his thought; hence his style is at times involved and parenthetical, though passages of sublime and simple eloquence frequently occur. It is related that, in preaching the Spital sermon before the Lord Mayor and Corporation, he consumed three hours and a half. Being asked, after he came down from the pulpit, if he was not tired, he replied, "Yes, indeed, I begin to be weary in standing so long."

A POPULAR PREACHER.

When Father Thomas Conecte, who was afterwards burnt at Rome, preached in the great towns of Flanders and Artois, the churches were so filled that he used to be hoisted in the middle of the church by a cord, in order to be heard!

"ATTERBURY'S PAD."

During the debates on the Occasional Conformity and Schism Bills, in the House of Lords, in December 1718, these measures were very warmly opposed by Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester; who said "he had prophesied last winter that this bill would be attempted in the next session, and he was very sorry to find that he had turned out a true prophet." Lord Coningsby, who always spoke in a passion, rose immediately after Atterbury, and remarked that "one of the right reverends had set himself forth as a prophet; but, for his part, he did not know what prophet to liken him to, unless to that famous prophet Balaam, who was reproved by his own ass." The Bishop, in reply, with great calmness and wit met the attack of Lord Coningsby, thus concluding: "Since the noble Lord has discovered in our manners such a similitude, I am well content to be compared to the prophet Balaam; but, my Lords, I am at a loss to make out the other part of the parallel. I am sure that I have been _reproved by nobody but his Lordship_." From that day forward, Lord Coningsby was known by the sobriquet of "Atterbury's Pad."

THE FOOT-SCRAPERS REPROVED.

When a preacher was very obnoxious to the students at Cambridge, it was the custom for them to express disapprobation by scraping with their feet on the floor. A very eloquent but intriguing preacher, Dr. James Scott--known as a political partisan by the pamphleteer and newspaper signatures of "Anti-Sejanus" and "Old Slyboots"--being one day saluted thus, signified his intention to preach against the practice of scraping; and fulfilled his promise very shortly afterwards, taking for his text, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil." On the text being read out, the galleries became one scene of confusion and uproar; but Dr. Scott called to the proctors to preserve silence. This being effected, he delivered a discourse so eloquent, as to extort universal approbation, even from those at whom the text was aimed.

A PRESCRIPTION IN DISGUISE.

General D---- was more distinguished for gallantry in the field than for the care he lavished upon his person. Complaining, on a certain occasion, to Chief Justice Bushe, of Ireland, of the sufferings he endured from rheumatism, that learned and humorous judge undertook to prescribe a remedy. "You must desire your servant," he said to the General, "to place every morning by your bedside a tub three-parts filled with warm water. You will then get into the tub, and having previously provided yourself with a pound of yellow soap, you must rub your whole body with it, immersing yourself occasionally in the water, and at the end of a quarter of an hour, the process concludes by wiping yourself dry with towels, and scrubbing your person with a flesh-brush." "Why," said the General, after reflecting for a minute or two, "this seems to be neither more nor less than washing one's self." "Well, I must confess," rejoined the judge, "_it is open to that objection_."

HOW TO DRESS A CUCUMBER.

Dr. Glynn, of Cambridge, being one day in attendance on a lady, in the quality of her physician, took occasion to lecture her on the impropriety of eating cucumbers, of which she was immoderately fond; and gave her the following humorous receipt for dressing them: "Peel the cucumber with great care; then cut it into very thin slices; pepper and salt it well--and then throw it away."

GILPIN AND THE NORTHUMBRIAN BRAWLERS.

Bernard Gilpin, the great Northern apostle, did not confine his labours to the church of Houghton-le-Spring, of which he was minister; but at his own expense, and with great risk and hardship, visited the then desolate churches of Northumberland once every year, usually about Christmas, to preach the gospel. The Northumbrians about that time retained so much of the customs of our Saxon ancestors, as to decide every dispute by the sword; they even went beyond them, and, not content with a duel, each contending party used to muster what adherents he could, and began a kind of petty war, so that a private grudge would often occasion much bloodshed. In one of his annual tours, Mr. Gilpin found a quarrel of this kind raging at Rothbury. During the first two or three days of his preaching, the contending parties observed some decorum, and never came to church both at the same time. At last, however, they met; one party had come early, and just as Mr. Gilpin began the sermon the other entered. They did not stand long quiet, but, mutually enraged at the sight of each other, began to clash their arms. Awed, however, by the sacredness of the place, the tumult somewhat fell, and Mr. Gilpin could proceed with his sermon. In a short time, however, the combatants anew brandished their weapons, and approached each other. Mr. Gilpin now came down from the pulpit, went between the two parties, and, appealing to the chiefs, stayed the quarrel for the time, though he could not perfectly reconcile them. They promised that until the sermon was over there should be no further disturbance. Mr. Gilpin then remounted the pulpit, and devoted the rest of the time to endeavour to make the combatants ashamed of their behaviour; and his courage and earnestness so much affected them, that at his further entreaty they agreed to abstain from all acts of hostility while he continued in the country. Another time, when he entered the church, Mr. Gilpin saw a glove hanging up, and was told by the sexton that it was as a challenge to any one that should take it down. The sexton refusing to take it down, because he "dared not," Mr. Gilpin procured a long staff, took it down himself, and put it in his breast. When the congregation assembled, he went into the pulpit, and took occasion severely to rebuke these inhuman challenges, and especially this fashion of hanging up the glove in church. "I hear," said he, "that there is one among you who even in this sacred place hath hanged up a glove to this purpose, and threateneth to enter into combat with whosoever shall take it down. Behold, I have taken it down myself!" and, plucking the glove out of his breast, he held it up before them all, and again proceeded to condemn such barbarous fashions, and to commend the practice of love and charity. So much did his faithfulness win for him respect, and soften the stern mood of the country folk, that so often as he came into the parts where he had administered these rebukes, if any man was in fear of a deadly foe, he resorted usually where Mr. Gilpin was, supposing himself to be more safe in his company than under an armed guard.

MASSES TRANSFERRED.

Bernal Diaz relates, that while Cortes was absent on his expedition against Christoval d'Oli, his death was reported by men who assumed the government at Mexico; they ordered ceremonies and masses for his soul, and paid for them with his effects. When he returned in safety, Juan de Caceres, "the rich," bought all these acts of devotion for his own benefit--like some modern buyer of shares, expecting a regular entry of the transfer to be made in the books of the concern in which he invested.

PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE OF ABSTINENCE.

John Wesley having learned that a wealthy tradesman of his neighbourhood indulged to excess in the pleasures of the table, paid him a visit, and, discussing the subject with him, urged every argument and every passage of Scripture he could against the sin of gluttony. Observing the tradesman silent and thoughtful, Wesley flattered himself that he had gained his point and produced the desired reformation. The dinner cloth was by this time spread, and sumptuous elegance decorated the board. Mr. Wesley was asked to dine; and having consented, was thus addressed by his host: "Sir, your conversation has made such an impression on me, that henceforward I shall live only on bread and water; and to show you that I am in good earnest, I will begin immediately." The dinner was then ordered to be removed, and bread and water introduced; to the disappointment of the preacher, who, although an abstemious man, wished for something better than an anchorite's fare.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S BLOOD JEWELS.

In the _Parliamentary History_, under date of 1601, the Lord Keeper is reported to say: "I have seen her Majesty wear at her girdle the price of her blood; I mean, jewels which have been given to her physicians to have done that unto her which I hope God will ever keep from her. But she hath rather worn them in triumph, than for the price, which hath not been greatly valuable."

THE POWER OF TAR-WATER.