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Society, in which he took great interest. Mr. Tooke was also one 

 of the early promoters of the London and Birmingham Railway ; 

 and the celebrated Merchants' Petition in favour of Free Trade 

 emanated from him. At that period (1821), he projected and 

 founded the Political Economy Club, which still exists. 



Thus, the active sphere occupied by Mr. Tooke was of scarcely 

 less importance than his pursuits as a philosopher, and his name will 

 be always associated with the great social improvements of this cen- 

 tury, as for nearly fifty years he applied his high mind and great 

 acquirements to purposes of practical legislation, which have been 

 conducive of much public good. Mr. Tooke died at his residence, 

 31 Spring Gardens, on the 26th of February, 1858, in his 84th 

 year ; and it was only within the last few months prior to his de- 

 cease, that he manifested very sensibly the decay of powers generally 

 incident to his extreme age. 



BENJAMIN TR AVERS, Esq. This eminent surgeon was born in 

 London, on the 3rd of April, 1 783, so that he was ten years old 

 when John Hunter died. In his sixteenth year he betook himself to 

 the great Hospital School of Anatomy and Surgery in the Borough, 

 then superintended by the elder Cline and Astley Cooper. 



In the year 1800 he was apprenticed to Sir Astley at Guy's Hos- 

 pital. This connection at once secured for him all the advantages 

 and best privileges of a student's life. His career was early marked 

 by great ardour and diligence, and a sojourn at Edinburgh during the 

 Session 1806-7 (after passing his examination at the London College), 

 was always spoken of by him, as a period of unbounded delight, and 

 keen interest, in all that pertained to the prosecution of his medical 

 studies. Here he formed many lasting friendships ; and the names 

 of Thomson, Barclay, and Gordon, amongst others, might be men- 

 tioned as being descriptive of the eminent men whose society he 

 more especially sought and appreciated at this important epoch of his 

 educational career. 



On his return to London he quickly gathered about him a large 

 class of pupils to attend the anatomical demonstrations which he 

 delivered at Guy's Hospital, and in this practice he persevered for 

 several successive seasons. 



Mr. Travers obtained no professional employment until the year 



