1810.] 
whom a similar anxiety brought to his door, 
Every morning, and also at a late hour every 
evening, when his physicians and surgeons 
attended, several apartments in his house 
were filled with friends, who anxiously 
waited to receive the latest an: mos’ accurate 
accounts of the progress or avatement of his 
disorder.. This sympathet'c feeling extended 
almost through every class, and even reached 
the throne, for his Majesty frequently en- 
quired concerning the state of his nealth, 
pronouncing on him this high eulogy, that 
‘¢ he was a genuine patriot, and a truly 
honest man.’ Of the fatal malady which 
put an end to his invaluaite life, such erro-» 
neous accounts fave deen published in the 
newspapers, that it may not be improper to 
give an acturate statement of t at most cis- 
tressful eve t. An idle story his been pro- 
pagated that the Hon. Friderick North, on 
his last going acroad, left his Library and 
MSS. in the care of Mr. Windham, and had 
requested him to remove his books to Mr. 
W indham?s house in Pa'}omall; that he had 
neglected this charge, and thence had the 
stronger incucement to exert hiv self ta save 
them. In all this circumstantial detail there 
3s not one word of truth. The fact is, that 
on the 8th of last July, Mr. Windham, re- 
turning on foot at twelve o’clock at night 
from the house of a friend, as he passed by 
‘the end of Conduit street, saw a house on fire ; 
and, with the same gallantry of spirit which 
‘on a former occasion induced him te exert him: 
4elf to. save a part of che venerable abbey of 
Westminster from destruction, he instantly 
hastened to the spot, with a view to assist 
she sufferers; and soon observed that the 
house of Mr North was not far distant from 
that which was then on fire. He therefore 
immediately undertook to seve his friend’s 
library, which he knew to be very valuable. 
With the most strenuous activity he exerted 
himseli for four hours, in the midst of rain 
and the playing of the fire engines, with 
such effect that, with the assistance of twoor 
three persons whom he hat selected from the 
crowd assembled on this occasion, he saved 
four paris out of five of the library; and 
‘before they could empty the Afth book room, 
the heuse took fire. ‘he books were iinme- 
diately removed, “not to’ Mr. Windhem’s 
house, bur to the houses of the oppesit 
neighbours, who tock great care of them, 
In removing some heavy volumes he acciden-. 
tally fell, and suffered a° slizlit contusion 
on his hip; byt}: made so httie impression 
on his mind, thet, not beimg apt to conipiain 
ef any distr:ss belonging to himself, in 
giving ap account of the transaction the next 
day, he did not even mention this circum- 
stance, nor for sonie months did he take 
notice of it to any friend. When he after- 
wards did m.ntion it, 1¢ was in soshght a 
Manner, that nw hardly attracted any attens 
tion fiom those who loved him best. By 
this accident, however, an indolent insisted 
Account of the late Mr. Windham. 
177 
tumour was formed in the part affecteds 
For several months it was attended with no 
pain whatsoever; yet even in that state he 
had medical advice, and some slight applicae 
tions were employed, with no great effect. 
At length, about the beginning of May, the 
tumour beg2n to increase, and in certain 
posi ions of the body, to give him some little 
pain; and on mentioning these circume 
stances to a friend, he strongly exhorted him 
to have the best surgical advice. Accor 
dingly, on the next.day, the 6th of May, Mr. 
Cline, who had been censulted about two 
months before, was again called in, to view 
the part affected; and he then pronounced 
t: e tue our te be of such a nature, that Mr. 
Wincham’s life might be endangered, if it 
was not cut out. 
decision, Mr. 
utmost prudence, propriety, and fortitude. 
He first consul.ed his own physician, Dr. 
Blane, who coincided in opinion with Mr. 
Cline. He then resolved, before he sub- 
mitted to the operation, to consult six emis 
nept surgeons separately, besides Mr. Cline; 
In consequence of this 
Dr. B. having previously given all of them’ 
{except one who, it is believed, was: con- 
sulted without his knowledge) an accurate 
accuunt of his constitution and habit of body 5 
and four out of the six thus consulted, were 
desidediy of the same opinion with Mr. 
Ciine; that is, five -were clearty for- the 
operation, and two againstit Mr. Wind- 
ham, having taken these precautions, acted 
as every wise man would have done, and 
resolved to submit to the operation. And sa 
far was he from rashness or precipitation, 
which have been most untruly imputed te 
him, that after these opinions were obtained, 
Dr. Bailie, whose great anatomical skill is 
universally acknowledged,» was also cone 
sulted; and he too agreed in opinion with 
Dr, Blane, and the five surgeons already 
alluded to. Here there ore was nochoice, 
Mor any time for that preparation, which it 
has been idly supposed was rashly neglected, 
‘“trom the quickness and vivacity of his 
decisiuns.” With that manly  fertitude 
which distinguished him through lite, he’ 
now prepared to submit to the requisite opee 
ration; and after making acodicil to his will, 
he visited his friend and conemporary at 
Oxford, the Rev. Dr. Fisher, Master of the 
Charter-House; and as sppears from one of 
his Diaries, rece'ved the Sacrament from his 
hands, Mrs. Fisher being the only other 
communicant. He bore the operation with 
the most heroie fortituse; and even when 
th: pain was most exquisite, exhibited a vivid 
proot of the strength ot his mind, by a plays 
ful allusion to the language of the vulzar 
in Similar situations. With the mest kiad 
and anxious tenderness he had taken care 
that Mrs. Windham, who was in the country 
at this time, should notehave the slg: tese 
suspicion of what was going on; nor ws 
sae apprised of the operation, til, on her 
airiyal 
Windham acted with the 
