119 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL MEDICAL AND 

 SURGICAL ASSOCIATION. 



In resuming the consideration of the papers contained in this 

 valuable publication, we propose to direct the attention of our 

 readers to the Essays upon the subject of Topography in the 

 second volume of the Transactions. The Essays referred to are 

 three in number. — I. A very elaborate paper on the Topography 

 of the Hundred of Penwith, comprising the district of the Lands- 

 end, in Cornwall, by Dr. Forbes. II. An Essay on the Medical 

 Topography of Bristol, by Dr. Carrick and Dr. Symonds, and III. 

 A Topographical Account of Stourport, Worcestershire, and its 

 immediate neighbourhood, by Mr. Watson. Without professing 

 to enter into a close examination of the very curious and impor- 

 tant particulars brought before our notice in these valuable papers, 

 we shall endeavour to lay before our readers such of them as bear 

 a more especial relation to the peculiar features of our own county. 

 Topographical and Statistical inquiries, notwithstanding their 

 acknowledged importance, are usually considered as dry in detail, 

 and as affording httle to interest the general reader. But it is the 

 same with this as with every other branch of valuable knowledge ', 

 the first steps are along a path thorny and difficult of ascent, and 

 the progress of advancement therein may indeed be wearisome, 

 but a rich harvest of reward is ultimately obtained in the gradual 

 accumulation of facts, and the examination and comparison of 

 these facts with a view to the elucidation of their relations with 

 each other, and the investigation of the causes to which they owe 

 their origin, constitute inquiries of the highest interest. We 

 have, indeed, been told that such subjects are not fitted for the 

 superficial reading and frothy literature of the present age — that 

 unless our pages contain a free s|)rinkling of scandal, or are graced 

 with the spiceries of metropolitan lore, our undertaking cannot 

 succeed, but we argue better things from the good sense and good 

 taste of our readers. As we do not believe that any of them would 

 be guilty of stealing the trash of this world's lucre, neither will we 

 suppose them capable of the deeper dye incurred by filching a 

 good name, which nought enriches them, but makes the loser 

 of it poor indeed. We will not therefore stoop to pander to the ap- 

 petite of a vitiated taste, nor insult alike the morality and the intel- 

 lect of our readers by supposing that they can relish nothing but 

 that which is impure in itself, or the forced production of an 

 excited and unrestrained imagination ; but it shall be our endeavour 

 to shew that the libations offered to the Muse which presides over 

 the midnight lucubrations of the Analyst are disgraced by no such 

 impurities, and we pledge ourselves that if we cannot drink deeply 

 of the Castalian Fount, no spring less pure than the sparkling 

 waters of Helicon shall satisfy us. 



