2o3 Letter from Dr. Thornton 



rested in the general adoption and success of Pneumatic 

 Medicine: of the advantages of which the author (for he 

 has drawn from the facts of others his own conclusions, and 

 incorporated his own observations) entertains almost un- 

 bounded expectations, showing evidently that temperament 

 which accompanies genius." (English Review.) Afterwards, 

 when dining at the veterinary professor's, the Doctor ac- 

 knowledged he did not know at the time who was the author, 

 but imagined it to " have proceeded from the masterly pen 

 of a Beddoes or a Darwin. I am proud that the late Dr. 

 Cruickshank proclaimed this work as one " that would do 

 credit to the knowledge of the first medical character in 

 England," (see his work on Perspiration;) and he was asto- 

 nished at my period of life, when I afterwards informed 

 him I was the author. I am proud that this work still 

 continues to be recommended from the chairs in the dif- 

 ferent universities. I am also prOud that my earliest pro- 

 duction, the Philosophy of Politics, or Political Extracts, 

 was handsomely spoken of in the Critical Review. " When 

 we took up this work, we expected," say they, " to find 

 it an ephemeral production, devoted, as usual, to some party 

 or other, and we were agreeably disappointed in our expec- 

 tations, and with pleasure discovered it to be a work planned 

 with the best designs possible, executed with the greatest 

 propriety ; and noticed throughout the traces of a sound, 

 discerning mind, neither led away by the delusive theories of 

 modem times, nor yet a slave to antiquated prejudices. The 

 author has made a very excellent use of the writings of the 

 best politicians, and brings the most valuable parts of their 

 several ivcrks to bear on the subjects most deserving poli- 

 tical inquiry ; thus constituting, upon the whole, a most 

 excellent compendium of general political science." I am 

 even proud that I have stemmed, in part, the difficulties of 

 the most adverse times, aud though greatly reduced in my 

 patrimony from my works, and hourly sinking yet more of 

 my principal in my unprofitable, yet grand, Dofanical un- 

 dertaking, that under these losses I still persevere*, and ul- 

 timately 



* Afrer the publication of the Annual Review, every one cried out that 

 my work was ruined, — as Linna±us reports, '• That it w?s in the mouth 

 of every one, that Sigesbc k hud overthrown him/' " He has been un- 

 fprtunaxe enough," says Dr. Smith, president of the Linnean Society, 

 " to be always held forth as the botanic Zoilus; but I think there have 

 been some critics, even in our own country, who for futility, ignorance, 

 and malevolence, would have much greater claims to that title, if they 

 were of consequence enough to claim any title at all." It is unfortunate 

 for science when such men can influence the public opinion and guide 



their 



