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(seq. 91)
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(seq. 92)
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(seq. 93)
[upside down page] B. DeWitt, M.D., Albany
In [strike]your letters of the [4? or 7? or 9?] inst. [INSTANT] on the subject of regulating the practice of physic & [pergevy?] by law, has just come to hand.[/strike] Agreeably to your request I lost no time in answering [strike]it[/strike] your letter of the 4th inst. [INSTANT] on the subject [underline]"of regulating the practice of physic & [purgery?][/underline] [underline]by law"[/underline]. The whole subject is of no small importance to the profession, it is incalculably so to the public. There are few places in America but what groan under the desolating domonion of quackery, yet it is not easy to remedy the cure. The people of Canada [strike]long[/strike] suffered long, when, about 10 years ago, the government established a board of examiners composed of gentlemen in the cure, as well as professional department & rejected entirely members, & prohibited [strike]their[/strike] from practicing unless the obtaining more information & recommended such to repair to Cambridge for further instruction. Several came to us & were afterwards admitted with applause, so that [was?] the profession is on a respectable footing in that region were over government as arbitrary we could do so likewise; but as we dwell in the most democratic region on earth we must wait for the impulse of the gale of popular opinion rather than to rely on the stroke of the oar against that and the tide of ignorance. In NEn'd. [NEW ENGLAND], a public education has great weight on the minds of all classes & both sexes. In order to get bussiness, young men find it expedient
(seq. 94)
[upside down, torn page] ...I have lately spoken my opinions unreservedly to several neighbors of the Corporation in Boston, I thought it no more than proper to express them as freely to you, and to say to you [is? or as?] I have said to some of them that I had rather again resign my professorship than see our Institution languish for want of a vigorous cooperation immediate & remote [strike]as well as[/strike] remote [strike]as well as[/strike] as well as a regular organization of it [strike]into[/strike] [under?] the form of a faculty [strike]in which[/strike] our power & privileges shall be [strike]defined[/strike] recognized I defined [regarded?].
at present we med professors, are more segregated particles, By the organization [hinted?], we shall feel what we now lack, a principle of union pervading & animating our institution
P.S. [POST SCRIPT]: In order that you may understand what is said in my note to Dr. P., I must inform you that when I closed my Lectures this season, Dr. P. asked for the key. I told him I wished to occupy that cool & [retived?] room in the hot weather to write in, at w'c [WHICH] he seemed displeased. Yesterday I was informed that Dr. P. said he sh'd [SHOULD] have [strike]attended[/strike] completed the care of the vax [VACCINATION?] preparation [underline]but could not get the key of the room[/underline]. at w'c [WHICH] I was not a little surprised seeing he must have known they were at his service whenever he was ready to use them. To obviate [3dottriangle] [THEREFORE] all objections, I have relinquished a desirable scheme & sent him the keys and live in hopes that the object committed to his care will be accomplished before commencement.
(seq. 95)
But wh... [page torn] ...sume to conserve, I may name [Lenue W Cameil?] [page torn] ...ther? [the gent?] scope [rather?] [igr?] any particular phrase or ... [page hidden by newspapers] Letter Book May 19th 1790 Jon'a... [page hidden by newspapers] The area of this common is near [page hidden by newspapers] Distance from this house to Her [page hidden by newspapers] Hall, 1121 feet or a greater [page hidden by newspapers] [NEWS1:] NOVEMBER 21, 1804. General Miscellany. FOR THE CENTINEL Professorship of Natural History. I WAS pleased with the disposition which dictated the remarks in your last paper, respecting the neglect of choosing a Professor of Divinity. I think with that writer, that the original and important design of a Newspaper is best answered by discussing important things, and general conce4rns with decency and candor. Happy is that people, who dwell in a country like our's, and like that of England, where, in the bosom of Liberty, the Citizen or Subject can safely discuss in a public and impartial paper, any topic interesting to his country, whether, it be its commerce, its government, its science, or even its religion, provided the discussion beconducted with strict decorum, perfect fairness and undeviating rectitude. When any important question is examined under the influence of such a spirit, the cause of honor, truth and justice is always a gainer.
The sugject to which aI hope to draw the attention of the scientific part of your readers, at this time, is the contemplated establishment of NATURAL HISTORY in the [UNIVERSITY?]. I am led to [?] by a Subscription paper offered to me for this purpose. After listeningt to much that was said in praise of the plan -- and noticing several respectable and liberal signatures, I added mine to the number.
Not being much conversant with Natural History in general, or Botany in particular, I was induced to inquire of some gentlemen connected with Cambridge, respecting the utility of this, as I thought, new establishment, when I learnt that NATURAL HISTORY was very far from being a new branch of study in the University, and that it had been cultivated there between eighteen and twenty years, and that from a very small beginning it had been carried by the uninterrupted efforts of a single individual to a high pitch of respectability; and that lectures were given every year on Natural History, with increasing eclat. I confess I was surprised that no mention was made, or hint given of this circumstance; therefore I made it my particular business to converse with several other subscribers, and found them equally ignorant, and equally surprised as myself, when made acquainted with the circumstances I had gathered. In short, there appeared something in the affair not clearly understood, and the matter has made much talk in private circles, and created some uneasiness from an apprehension that there is some partial views, not sufficiently explained, or generally understood.
This communication is not made to embarrass or obstruct a useful design, but to draw forth information that the writer of this, with others, in his situation, may act understandingly. I would accordingly request, in a respectful manner of those gentlemen, who are soliciting subscriptions, for the purpose before mentioned, that they would lay the whole of their design before the public, in your paper; that rising difficulties may be removed, and disputes obviated. I would not trouble the gentlemen with this request, were I not convinced, that without a clear, public understanding of this business in all its parts, a noble design will be in danger of being defeated; and I can assure them, that this request is the with not of one, but, Oct. [OCTOBER] 15, SEVERAL SUBSCRIBERS. FOR THE CENTINEL.
[NEWS2:] It is very generally regretted, says a correspondent, that in giving to the public a portion of Sir JOSEPH BANKS'S Letters to Dr. WATERHOUSE, that part should have been omitted which contained his observations on the Canker Worm. No part of the correspondence, that has appeared, can be equally interesting to us. Dr. W. indeed, may have supposed, that Mr. PECK'S admirable essay on that subject rendered any further communications respecting it superfluous. But different views of the same subject exhibited by ingenious men, are interesting and instructive. Ut Spargam is the Doctor's favorite motto. He would assuredly gratify the public by communicating the information on that destructive insect which he sent to his learned corresondent, together with the dissertation which that eminent naturalist so long since transmitted.
[NEWS3:] from Italy and Germany. [handwrit:]Nov'r. [NOVEMBER] 24 [?][/handwrit] Miscellany. FOR THE CENTINEL. MR. RUSSELL, A WRITER in your last paper has offered some strictures on the manner of obtaining subscriptions for the establishment of a Professorship of Natural History in the University at Cambridge. The production has the appearance of coming from a Subscriber, and the writer professes not only to disclose his own disatisfaction, but to exexpress [EXPRESS] the sentiments of "Several Subscribers."
Outlines of the plan were long since printed, and have been perused by every Subscriber. It is believed, that the object is well understood, nor is the necessity perceived of bringing the subject, at present, before the Public. It is well known that it is contemplated not merely to establish a Professorship but to connect with it a Botannic [BOTANIC] Garden, and a Museum. The Committee for soliciting subscripytions are not conscious of any concealment or misrepresentation in the execution of the duty assigned to them; and they are unwillingto believe that they are censured or suspected by any of those gentlemen, who have honored the plan with their patronage. They have ever been disposed to give any explanations that may be desired, and unless dissatisfaction, if any exists, be personally communicated, they will be compelled to believe, that some unauthorized individual has used an unworthy disguise, and impertinently assumed the signature of "SEVERAL SUBSCRIBERS."