Dr. Blundell's third letter to his medical friends.

  • Blundell, Dr., 1790-1878.
Date:
[1834]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Blundell's third letter to his medical friends. 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.

    14/14 (page 14)
    his own solicitor, there occurs the following passage : “ It is hereby declared and agreed, that the introduction of the said Samuel Ashwell into the chair of the said lecture- ship, and the acceptance of him as such as- sociate, assistant, or successor, by the trea- surer of the said hospital, is intended to be, and shall be taken, as a condition precedent to all others,” &c. &c. &c. If this arrange- ment could not be effected without the per- mission of the treasurer (who might have been hostile), what becomes of any ques- tion as to “private property’’ in such a chair or lectureship! Dr. Blundell has, throughout this contro- versy, assumed an elevation of tone and sta- tion to which, as yet, he has not established a satisfactory claim. That it is right to aim high, all will allow; but when my prede- cessor voluntarily steps forth as the disin- terested and suffering advocate of the class to which he belongs, he ought to be nearly if not quite certain, that he has not over- rated his qualifications for such high duties. I am not sure, but I desire to express my opinion with diffidence, that the former ob- stetric lecturer of Guy’s Hospital has mis- taken his love of money for the love of a high-spirited independence. As 1 am quite certain, and the facts are well known, that for a pecuniary considera- tion asked for him by his friend, he would, nay, he must, had it been given, have sacri- ficed the magnanimous sentiments ci tained in these two epistles. Hinc i lachrymce. Dr. Blundell has amus himself at my supposed mistake in the La line, an error arising from the misquotati of his own letter, the sense, more than t measure of the verse, occupying mv min I may, perhaps, be allowed to say, that, u like my predecessor, I dislike quotatio of this kind ; there is -something like p dantry about them, and the fulness ai power of our own tongue, when well unde stood, disdain such illustrations. It is i small satisfaction to me to know, that no withstanding the high language of my pr decessor, the reputation of the Guy’s ol stetric school has in no way diminished ; c the contrary, the numbers and close alter tion of the class equal, if they do not e> ceed, those of former years. These lettei are not calculated to augment, scarcely t sustain, Dr. Blundell’s former reputatior 1 have, therefore, answered them with re gret and great reluctance, and I trust tha my predecessor’s friends will not advis him again to engage in so unprofitable ; controversy. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, S, A, . Nov. 4th, 1834. Printed by Mills, Jowett, and Mills. Bolt-court, Fleet-street.