290 G L A N D E R S. 



even the bafis of confiilency for a founda- 

 tion. 



To take this bufinefs a little methodically, 

 it may not be inapplicable (without any of- 

 fence to M. La Fosse or the Royal Academy 

 of Sciences, who fo generonfly patronized his 

 great difcoveries) to introduce a fhort ftory, 

 many years in circulation, of the celebrated 

 witty dean of St. Patrick, who, holding in 

 great contempt the learned acquifition of 

 F. R. S. addreffed a letter to the president, 

 " requefting him to take the fenfe of the body 

 ** upon the peculiar properties of hemp^ that it 

 *' fhould, upon application, immediately cure a 

 ** fraftured leg!" This letter (from fo great 

 a man), being communicated to the *' fel- 

 " LOWS," in full affembly, was produdive of 

 fequeftered ftudies, nodlurnal lucubrations, 

 and various experiments to almofl every indi- 

 vidual numerous meetings Vv^ere heldy but 

 confultation and emulation producing no dif- 

 covery, at the end of three weeks a fccond 

 letter arrived from the dean, ^' foliciting par- 

 ** don for an omifTion in his laft, which was 

 *^ to inform the fociety that the leg ivas of 

 " WOOD." I introduce this circumftance not 



4 33 



