Memoirs of Erasrmis Bar ivirjy M. D. 41 



he learned doctor attempted the following cx[iedient as the 

 cure. He reasoned thus :• that he had acquired this defect 

 probably from that strong propensity which all children ha.ve 

 to imitate those with whom they associate. With that wis- 

 dom which marked the doctor's observations on the habits 

 of life, and with that decision of conduct which always in- 

 stantly followed the conviction of his mind, he sent his 

 eldest boy, Charles, to France, in the belief that in the pro- 

 nunciation of a foreign language hesitation would be less 

 likely to recur than in speaking his native language ; nor 

 was he disappointed in the event: the habit was thus broken, 

 and two years afterwards, on his return, he was able to speak 

 his mother tongue with ease and fluency. 



Lichfield seemed admirably suited to such a genuis as was 

 Dr. Darwin's. It appeared to be the favourite spot of the 

 Mr>es, and of men of science; and we would recommend 

 our readers who would wish for information respecting the 

 literati* settled at Lichfield, to consult Miss Seward's 

 *' Memoirs of Dr. Darwin." 



During his residence at Lichfield Dr. Darwin met with 

 an accident which had nearly cost him his life. Being obli- 

 gated to travel much, he wished, if possible, to obviate the 

 inconvenience of quartering, so distressing to horses; and 

 tor this purpose, having a mind above ridicule, he con- 

 structed a very singular carriage. It was a platform, with 

 a seat fixed upon a very high pair of wheels, and supported 

 in the front, upon the back of the horse, by means of a 

 kind of proboscis, which, forming an arch, reached over the 

 hind quarters of the horse, and passed through a rinsr placed 

 on an upright piece of iron, which worked in a socket fixed; 

 in the saddle. The horse could thus move from one side- 

 qf the road to the other, quartering, as it is called, at the 

 will of ihe driver, whose constant attention was necessarily 

 employed to regulate a piece of machincrv contrived, but 

 not quite adapted, for that purpose. From this whimsical 

 carriage the doctor was several times thrown, and the last- 

 time he used it, had the misfortune, from a similar accident, 



• Wiilosophers — F.dgewortK, Watt, Boulton ; poets — Dav. 3ir Brook Booth- 

 by, Anna Seward, (<c. 



to 



