Professional sketches. No. V. Mr. Lawrence.

Date:
[1829]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Professional sketches. No. V. Mr. Lawrence. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    5/14 (page 375)
    Again. “ And here I take the opportunity of protesting, in the strongest terms, in behalf of the interests of science, and of that free discussion which is essential to its successful cultivation, against the attempt to stifle an impartial inquiry by an outcry of pernicious tenden- cy ; and against perverting science and literature, which naturally tend to bring mankind acquainted with each other, to the anti-social pur- poses of inflaming and prolonging national prejudice and animosity. Letters have been called the tongue of the world ; and Science may be regarded in the same light. They supply common objects of interest, in which the selfish, unsocial feelings are not called into action, and thus they promote new friendships among nations. Through them dis- tant people become capable of conversing ; and, losing by degrees the awkwardness of strangers, and the moroseness of suspicion, they learn to know and understand each other. Science, the partizan of no coun- try, but the beneficent patroness of all, has liberally opened a temple where all may meet. She never inquires about the country or sect of those who seek admission; she never allots a higher or a lower place from exaggerated national claims, or unfounded national antipathies.* Her influence on the mind, like that of the sun on the chilled earth, has long been preparing it for higher cultivation and farther improve- ment. The philosopher of one country should not see an enemy in the philosopher of another ; he should take his seat in the Temple of Science, and ask not who sits beside him. The savage notion of a na- tural enemy should be banished from this sanctuary, where all, from whatever quarter, should be regarded as of one great family; and, be- ing engaged in pursuits calculated to increase the general sum of hap- piness, should never exercise intolerance towards each other, nor assume that right of arraigning the motives and designs of others, which belongs • only to the Being who can penetrate the recesses of the human heart:— an assumption which is so well reprobated by our great poet:— “ Let not this weak, unknowing hand . Presume thy bolts to throw. And deal damnation round the land On each I judge thy foe.” There are two points to be considered as connected with this dispute. Firstly: Was Mr. Lawrence guilty of the offence with which he was charged? Secondly: Was he sincere in the opinions which he advo- cated? We can only judge of the tree by its fruit; nor can we com- pletely comprehend a man’s motives except through the medium of his actions. Now, we have no right to assume any knowledge of Mr. Lawrence’s motives in this matter ; neither do we know any thing of his history, beyond that which he himself has forced upon us, and upon the public generally, through the medium of the press. To say that we do not know him personally would be wrong; because Lawrence being a public character—public, that is, as the deputed reformer of alleged abuses—is well known to the majority of his professional brethren: but this we will say, that Mr. Lawrence has not only never seen us, but is most probably unconscious of our existence. We think it neces- * The reader should be acquainted that Mr. Lawrence was suspected of partici- pating in the opinions and doctrines of the French Materialists; while Mr. Aberne- thy was a vehement advocate of the principles of his countryman John Hunter-