網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

means, by which he succeeded, was by applying a cool regimen in the small-pox; and his cure of Lady Spencer finally established his credit. In 1684 he settled in London, whither his fame had preceded him. In that city his practice became so great, that in less than a year it produced him more than twenty guineas a day: the truth of this was averred by Mr. Daudridge, his apothecary, who himself died worth 50,000l. obtained through the Doctor's means. In 1688 he was appointed principal physician to the Princess Anne, of Denmark; but he forfeited that situation, by refusing, when over his bottle, to attend the Princess: on being sent for a second time, he swore that the disorder of her Highness was nothing but the vapours, and that she was in as good a state of health as any woman breathing, could she but believe it. King William the Third, being ill at Kensington, sent for Dr. Radcliffe, who found him reading Sir Roger L'Estrange's new Edition of Æsop's Fables. The King told him he had once more sent for him, to try the effect of his great skill; though, added he, my body physicians, who are not sensible of my inward decay, tell me I shall do very well, and live many years. The Doctor having put some interrogations to the King, begged leave to turn to the book before him, and read to him in these words: "Pray, Sir, how do you find yourself?" says the Doctor to his patient.-Why truly, says the patient,

I have had a most violent sweat."Oh! the best sign in the world."In a little time he sees the patient again. Pray how do you find your body?

-Alas! I have just had such a terrible fit of horror and shaking upon me!Why that is just as it should be; it shows a mighty straight of Nature. -The Doctor again puts his questions. Why, I am all swelled, as if I had a dropsy. Best of all, quoth the Doctor, and goes his way. Shortly after, comes in one of the sick man's friends, who puts the same question, how he felt himself.→→→→ "Why, truly so well, that I am even ready to die of I do not know how many good signs and tokens." Such, he said, was precisely the King's situation.

He then assured his Majesty, that he could relieve him for the present, if he would adhere to the prescriptions, and perhaps prolong his life for three or four years: in the end, the King recover ed so well, as to be enabled to visit Holland. He lost his Sovereign's favor by a rude reply: on the King's showing him his swollen legs, and asking what he thought of them, Why truly, said the Doctor, I would not have your Majesty's two legs for your three Kingdoms.

He was a man of ready wit, with a great command of temper. On Dr. (afterwards Sir Edward) Hannes settling in London, an acquaintance, to teaze Radcliffe, told him of the great business

obtained

obtained by the former, and that his merit had occasioned him to be appointed a principal physician at court; to which the Doctor coolly replied, "So much the better for him; for now he has a patent for killing." But, rejoined the other, to try if it were possible to ruffle his temper,. "What is more surprising, he has two pair of the finest horses that ever were seen.". "Then they will sell for the more," said Dr. Radcliffe, with the utmost indifference.

I cannot resist giving the following anecdote, as it serves strongly to illustrate the Doctor's private virtues. About the year 1704, one Jonathan Savil, who had robbed the Doctor's country-house, lay under sentence of death for a similar offence. In this dreadful situation he formed the resolution of writing to the Doctor, who received the letter from the criminal, while in company with a party of nobility and gentry, at the Mitre Tavern, in FleetStreet. The letter specified the injury done, expressing great shame for it, and withal intreating for pardon and intercession, with strong promises of restitution, should it ever be in his power. The company were amazed on hearing the contents of the letter, and expected something witty from the person it was addressed to. On the contrary, the Doctor very seriously bid the messen ger to call at his house for an answer in two days. Then taking Lord Grenville into another room, he declared,

1

declared, that the letter he had received, had given him great satisfaction, in clearing an innocent man from his suspicion; and that he must become a petitioner to his Lordship, to use his interest with the Queen in the criminal's behalf. The application was successful; a reprieve was granted, and the culprit was transported to Virginia. The Doctor's humanity did not stop here; he gave him letters to the Governor; and Savil, who was alive in the year 1715, in flourishing circumstances, had actually made the Doctor restitution of 1501. the computed amount of the loss.

In 1713, Dr. Radcliffe was returned Member of Parliament for the town of Buckingham, and on this occasion he gave up much of his business in favor of Dr. Mead. He died on the first of November, in the year 1714, and was buried in St. Mary's Church, Oxford, leaving the bulk of his fortune to found the noble Library there; a work that will render his name dear to society as long as a taste for literature shall prevail, and which can only be extinguished with time itself, in the destruction of the universe.

From Wakefield to Leeds, a distance of about ten miles, the country will be found black with coal-pits, and the smoke of various engines; many large manufactories having been established here.

LEEDS

LEEDS

Is a large and populous town, situated on the river Aire, and full of bustle and trade. It appears to be chiefly composed of one large street, with others branching from it. Its size is daily increasing, and the new buildings are formed with an attention to both elegance and convenience; the modern parts being uniform and genteel. Leeds is rendered rather unpleasant by the smoke arising from the furnaces of smitheries, and other works. It may be called the Metropolis for that great staple manufacture the woollentrade, which furnishes a source of wealth more certain than the mines of Peru.

A charter of incorporation was granted to this town by Charles the First. Its present charter was granted by Charles the Second. In Leeds are four Churches, and several Chapels for Dissenters; besides the Halls for the sale of the various sorts of cloths: the total number of houses, in the year 1793, as counted from the workhousebook, amounted to 6691. This town was garrisoned for Charles the First, at the commencement of the troubles in that reign; but was taken by storm, by the troops under Sir Thomas Fairfax. Not the least vestige of the Castle is remaining;

[blocks in formation]
« 上一頁繼續 »