While he drooped all obscure and forlorn, He poured his wild sweets on the wind? The first two stanzas of 'The Lass of Liverpool' present a variety of rich and lively images: 'Where cocoas lift their tufted heads, And orange blossoms scent the breeze, And moves with soft and wanton ease. And I have kept my bosom cool, The softest tints the conch displays, And the sea breeze midst burning rays, AUTHORITIES: Monthly Review-Belfast Magazine-Liverpool Mercury. P THE LIFE OF HUGH JAMES, M. D. THE BLIND PHYSICIAN OF CARLISLE. "Oh! lost and lamented, whose steps knew the door, HUGH JAMES, M. D. youngest son of the Rev. John James, D. D. Rector of Arthuret, and Kirkandrews, in Cumberland, was born at St. Bee's in the same county, in July, 1771. Having completed his education, and finished his medical studies in London and Edinburgh; in the spring of 1796, he settled in Whitehaven, as a surgeon. Two years afterwards he had a very severe illness, attended with excruciating pain in his head, and violent inflammation in his eyes, which so impaired his sight, that he was obliged to give up all ideas of practising as a surgeon. After several years of much suffering, which he bore with exemplary patience and fortitude, his sight was so far improved as to enable him, in 1803, to graduate in Edinburgh, and then to fix in Carlisle as a physician. Still, however, he was subject to violent attacks of inflammation in his eyes, which induced him several times to go to London, for the purpose of consulting the first oculists there. But the disease baffled all their skill; and in the winter of 1806, his sight was totally lost. But, notwithstanding this great privation, he pursued his profession even with increased success. By the eye, it is true, the physician learns the attitude of his patient, the expression of the countenance, the state of the tongue, and the colour of the skin; and these signs often indicate the nature of the disorder. How, then, can a blind man be a good physician? A blind physician can acquire a tolerable knowledge of all these signs, with the exception of the colour of the skin, by the sense of touch; and this sense being in him more acute and refined, he is perhaps able to judge more correctly of the state and condition of the skin, which is considered a matter of great importance in the practice of the profession. External diseases, particularly cutaneous diseases, are seldom attended with danger, and are chiefly distinguished by the eye, internal complaints, on the other hand, which are very numerous and more dangerous, are frequently discovered by the sense of feeling; a blind physician has the advantage of a more acute sense of feeling, and is able to form a very correct opinion of the seat and nature of these complaints Dr. James practised in Carlisle many years, during which, his skill was manifested on many important occasions. But, however important the station he occupied in society, the grand sphere of his usefulness, was in his capacity of physician. Disregarding personal emolument, he was ever as ready to hasten to the relief of the poor as to the rich, and thousands can testify how carefully, how anxiously, he enquired into their maladies and necessities; and how readily relief followed his knowledge of distress; and if his patients were unable to go to him, no sooner was the intimation given, than they found him at their bedside. It was in his attendance on a poor patient, that he contracted the malignant distemper which terminated his valuable life in a few days. A monument was erected to his memory by his fellow citizens with the following inscription. "To the memory of Hugh James, M. D. who practised physic with eminent skill, for many years, in this city. Providence largely recompensed the loss of sight in early life, with talents which raised him to distinguished reputation in his profession, and more abundantly blessed him with a disposition ever prompt to succour poverty and pain. The study of his art, which shewed him the weakness and uncertainty of life, taught him to meditate deeply on the works of God, and animated his faith in a merciful Redeemer. He died the 20th of September, 1817, in the 45th year of his age, and was interred in the parish church of Arthuret in this county." AUTHORITY: The Carlisle Patriot for 27th September, 1817. THE LIFE OF REV. RICHARD LUCAS, D. D. "Ana as a bird each fond endearment tries, THERE is no period of our history, that has produced such a number of polemic writers, as appeared in the 17th century. Among the burning and shining lights of those spirit stirring times, lived Richard Lucas. This eminent divine was of Welsh extraction, the son of Mr. Richard Lucas, of Presteign, in Radnorshire, and was born in that county, in the year 1648. After a proper foundation of school learning, he was sent to Oxford, and entered a student of Jesus College, in 1664. Having taken both his degrees in arts, he entered into holy orders, about the year 1672; and was afterwards master of the free school at Abergavenny; but being much esteemed for his talents in the pulpit, he was chosen vicar of St. Stephen's, Coleman-street, London, and lecturer of St. Olave, Southwark, in 1683. His sight began to fail him in his youth, but he lost it totally about this time. This |