Manchester Memoirs, Vol. xliv. (1900), No. 14. 23 



splendor, wou'd you have me drop you a line when I hear of one certain to 

 a good one, for these tilings are pretty generally known some days before- 

 hand. It is said D"" Currie and Miss Wallace are to form a Junction next 

 month (but I l)eg you will not mention my name as your Author for family 

 reasons), on which occasion we doubi not all that is polite will be collected 

 together, and wou'd lie a glorious opportunity for the purpose. Certain 

 EvoUitions have occurred since you were here. 



The Miss Wallace referred to here was the daughter of 

 Mr. William Wallace, an Irish gentleman established as a 

 merchant in Liverpool, and lineally descended (as well as his 

 wife, who was his cousin-german and the daughter of Mr. 

 Plans Wallace, of Waterford) from the Scottish hero of that 

 name. The son of this marriage, William Wallace Currie, 

 says, in his " Life of Doctor Currie " : " Satisfied after an 

 intimate knowledge of some years that he might safely 

 intrust his child's happiness to Dr. Currie's care, Mr. 

 Wallace with generous and open heart bestowed her upon 

 one whose personal character and rising reputation con- 

 stituted nearly all he had to offer in return." The fact that 

 Mr. Wallace was an Irishman calls to mind a remark 

 made by Derrick, Master of the Ceremonies at Bath, 

 respecting Liverpool in 1760, that "The great increase of 

 their commerce is owing to the spirit and indefatigable 

 industry of their inhabitants, the majority of whom are 

 either native Irish, or of Irish descent, a fresh proof that 

 the Hibernians thrive best when transplanted." There 

 are, of course, frequent references to Dublin in these letters. 



Dr. Currie himself, who was M.D. of Glasgow, 

 devoted inuch attention to the study of fevers. It was he 

 who insisted, in si:»ite of much opposition, that fever 

 patients should not be treated in the Liverpool Infirmary, 

 but should be isolated in a separate building. In 1797 he 

 published a pamphlet, " Medical Reports on the Effects 

 of Cold and Warm Water in Febrile Diseases." In 1793, 

 under the novi de plume of " Jasper Wilson," he issued a 



