Mr. URBAN,

IT

Bath, Sept. 25.

T is now something more than half a century since a quarto pamphlet was published, intituled, "The Petition of the unborn Babes to the Censors of the Royal College of Physicians of London." It was the purport of that satirical publication, partly serious, and partly ludicrous, to throw a stigma upon certain Members of the profession, who were alleged by its author to have been too free in the application of instruments, to the unnecessary slaughter, in many instances, of the unborn Babe; and, in some, to the fatal destruction of the unhappy Parent.

The writer of that publication justly complained, that, of all the practitioners who exercise the different branches of the healing art, Men-midwives alone (as such) gave no test of their learning, dexterity, or integrity---And yet that they were permitted, on their single opinions, avowedly and professedly to destroy children, and to treat the mothers in manner which frequently had a fatal termination.

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It is hoped and believed, that the mal-practices which excited the indig nation of that writer 50 years ago, either do not now exist, or that they are, in this enlightened age, very much lessened so that a republication of the Petition of the unborn Babes would, probably, now be a useless and an injurious measure; as it would have a tendency to revive prejudices against a most valuable class of the community---against men, who, often for very inadequate remuneration, labour night and day for the good of mankind. men, whose bodies and minds, on a multitude of occasions, are harassed in a manner which those unacquainted with the nature of the profession are unable to conceive.

--

Entertaining these favourable sentiments of the well-educated and respectable part of the male practitioners of Midwifery, I leave you, Mr. Urban, to judge what must have been my astonishment, when I read in the public papers an account of the conduct of a Physician and Man-midwife; of one, who, though self-elevated to the chair of instruction, and selfdignified with the title of a Teacher GENT. MAG. November, 1810.

of Midwifery, was generally believed to have been a skilful, a humane, and a regular practitioner. Little did the writer of the Petition of the unborn Babes imagine, that a time would arrive, when such an one would be publicly accused, and generally be lieved to have been base and wicked enough to apply the superior skill and science of the present age, to the destruction of the human species in embryo---of the human species in that state in which it is the honour and the glory of the humane practitioner to consider himself, in a peculiar manner, its guardian and preserver.

I speak freely, Mr. Urban, on this subject, because the flight and escape of the person to whom I allude, notwithstanding the affecting appeal of an afflicted Brother, leaves very little reason to doubt the truth of the charges which have been exhibited against him--charges which not only demand the animadversion of every Moralist, and every Medical mau, but which loudly call for the interference of the Legislature. It is high time that a stop should be put to some enormities, very nearly allied to that which has given occasion to this address.

The Petition of the unborn Babes is not the only work which has touched upon the crimes of Obstetrical Delinquents: the Author of "The Medical Spectator" has given one paper, the concluding part of which applies in a particular manner to this subject; and as the work is now scarce, and probably may not be soon republished, I think you cannot confer a greater favour on your numerous Readers, than by giving the following extract from the concluding num ber of the second volume of that valuable and interesting work; a new edition of which is much wanted; and which I have no doubt but your respectable Printer will be called upon, by the profession at large, to republish. It was ushered in by the following notice in the 42d paper of Saturday, Feb. 16, 1793:

With dreadful curses will I blast the fiends, [display; Their deeds of darkness to the world With sticks, with stones, a furious mob convene,

To hunt the murderers from the face of day. ***"

A writer in one of those Reviews having alleged that, "instead of holding up the abuses of the unprincipled part of the practitioners of the art, to a just and merited contempt, the Medical Spectator has not touched upon the subject;" it was expected by his readers, that the author of the 'Medical Spectator meant, from this introduction, to have vindicated himself by a furious recriminating charge; but, on the contrary, when his 43d paper appeared, on Saturday, Feb. 23, 1793, instead of an uninteresting, and unavailing, critical contention with the Reviewers, it commenced with a panegyric on their labours; and a profession of the highest respect for the candid and the liberal Reviewer; whom the author considered as the friend of merit, and the promoter of science; to whose decisions he was so far from objecting, that he kissed the rod, confessed, and promised to amend his faults. As a proof of his intentions, he adopted the suggestions of the Reviewers, by commencing an inrmediate attack upon the Advertising Practitioners of Physick, and some others, whom he con sidered as the most unprincipled part of the profession; exposing their mercenary practices with much humour ; and concluding with the following words:

"But these, when compared with the diabolical machinations of the ObstetricalTM Imurderers, are but the venial crimes, the petty-larceny offences, of Medical Advertisers who, safe from the pulpit and the bar, the halter, or the gibbet, securely participate the plunder of ignorance, and the contempt of wisdom. In vain will the Satirist apply his scourge, or the Moraliser his essay; for, so long as the public maw will gorge, there is little doubt that the unblushing Quack will supply it with materials. I shall, therefore, proceed to the more iniquitous examples of public Advertisements which have rouzed my indignation upon the present occasion.

"I believe there are few Medical men,

even amongst those of the best and fairest characters, who have not been sometimes insulted, either by open or deceptious requisitans, to perpetrate the base and abominable crime of attempting to procure Abortion: and such is my opinion of the principles of professional men, that I trust there are very few to be found, who would not reject the application with horror and detestation. I had at one period of my life even been so weak as to suppose, that it would be impossible to find one man who would be infamous enough voluntarily to subject himself to the horrid imputation. But it is evident, from the Lucubrations of the Loiterer*, that I had adopted too favourable an opinion of mankind; for, if I understand his meaning in the following passage, it must allude to the subject on which I am at present touching :

'In a corner of the same paper which contains the benevolent exertions of the supporters of the Bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, of Sir Joseph Andrews, Dr. Hawes and the Humane Society, for the comfort and preservation of mankindthe diabolical assassin of the human species in Embryo, to the eternal disgrace of the Police of Great Britain, is permitted to hold out an infamous temptation to the basest of murders; at the same time professing, that the strictest honour, delicacy, and secrecy, will, upon every occasion, be observed.'

"To which of the following Advertisements the Reverend Author of that work

was alluding, must be left to the determination of my Readers :

"To the Female Sex.

'A Physician and Man-midwife, who has devoted many years study to the dis

eases of Women, added to an extensive

practice, thus publicly tenders his ser

vices to the fair sex, for the cure of obstructions, irregularities, weaknesses, nervous diseases, the cruel effects of infidelity in husbands, and the complaints common to a particular period of life, as well as the general causes that prevent pregnancy, or occasion miscarriages, and every other disorder peculiar to the sex. The Doctor's hours of attendance at his own house

are from 10 to 12, and

from 4 to 7, every day, Sunday excepted. Whether consulted by the party or friends, he neither hears or reads a case, unless

The Loiterer consists of two octavo volumes of Essays, which were published at Oxford. The paper here alluded to, is the 22d, which, with the 15th, 16th, and several others under this signature ****, were written by the author of the "Medical Speutátor. EDIT,

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accompanied with a Guinea. Women labouring under Obstructions, from causes they are desirous of concealing, would, perhaps, consult their own interest in an im-, mediate application to the Doctor. The strictest honour, delicacy, and secrecy,' &c. &c.

'Pregnant Ladies,

Whose situations require a temporary retirement, may be accommodated with an apartment to lie in, agreeable to their circumstances, and depend on being treated with honour, attention, and secrecy; their infant put out to nurse, and humanely taken care of, by applying to Mrs. MMidwife, at the Square Lamp,

,

the North side,' &c. &c.

"So far there is nothing in this to be

objected to that the unhappy female,

under such circumstances, should have a secret asylum to fly to, is not inconsistent with a well-regulated Police. But the Hag, like the Physician, concludes with the offer of a Restorative Salo Pill, at 11. 2s. per box; au effectual remedy to remove all obstructions or irregularities.' ແ In another paper, we shall find that

Militia fuerat digna perire sua."ELEG.14. "Si mos antiquis placuisset matribus idem,

Gens hominum vitio deperitura fuit." Ib. "Tantùm artes hujus, tantùm Medicamina possunt, [necandos

Quæ steriles facit, atque homines in ventre Conducit." JUVENAL.

The author of the Medical Speciator may congratulate himself on the fact, that the above iniquitous Advertisements are now, in a great measure, banished from the corners of our public papers; and their authors compelled to take less audacious, and less barefaced modes of holding forth their abominable temptations; for there is reason to believe, that the prosecution which took place a few years after the publication of the Medical Spectator, originated in his exposure of the flagitious conduct of

Mrs. M

and Mr. W.

If the flight from London, and the acquittal at Liverpool, have developed new modes" teneros convellere Fœtus," "aut homines in ventre necare," it is hoped, that the writer of the above paper will re-apply his vindictive scourge, in devising new modes to rouze the guardian spirit of British Law; that its gracious and áll-protecting influence may be literally extended to the child unborn.

Mr. URBAN, Under Salisbury Plain, HAVE taken the liberty of offering to, the notice of your numerous Correspondents, a Plan, which will, I conceive, not only ameliorate the present condition of the Poor, but be a means of saving at least a third, or perhaps more, of the Poor's-rate, The Plan I am about to present, is by no means similar to the horrid traffick of Farming the Poor; though it may at first sight appear so, Believe me, Sir, I should shudder at the thought of encouraging such disgraceful means, My sole view is that of rendering their situation more comfortable. Any observations will be acknowledged with thanks, by

Yours, &c.

PLAN:

CLERICUS.

A certain number of acres to be allotted for the sole use of the Poor, and managed at the parish expence ; the produce to be kept in a Granary, and delivered out according to their

respective wants. The ground to be cropped with wheat, potatoes, peas, and vegetables. As this land will, in all probability, produce more than sold, and the money given them for will be expended, the overplus to be the purpose of buying tea, &c. &c. Every poor family to be put in possession of wheat, potatoes, &c. every month or quarter, as may be thought best. Rent of ground, cropping, harvesting, &c. would be the only expence incurred by the parish. The price of corn, &c. would be of no consideration, as this crop would be deposited solely for the use of the Poor. Each farmer to do his part in tilling the land, &c.

Mr. URBAN, Clapton, Sept. 21.

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vol. LXXX. p. 544, I referred your Readers, for a particular explanation of the several technical phrases used for Clouds, to Rees's Encyclopædia. It is indeed, to this branch of the science, to which I particularly wish to call the attention of your Meteorological Correspondents; not only because, till of very late years, it has been the least attended to; but because I am persuaded, that accurate observations of the several modifications of Clouds, and the ensuing changes of the weather, may be rendered highly useful to the Agriculturist, as well as interesting to the Philosopher. To be able to ascertain the approaching changes of the weather, appears always to have been considered as an object of importance; and, consequently, we find in the works of almost all the Antients who have written on Agriculture, rules for judging of the approach of rain, thunder, and other atmospherical phænomena, These rules were often drawn from the actions of animals, and the lofty or low flight of certain birds (particularly the swallow) but very often from the appearances of Clouds, but as the Antients possessed

has, indeed, in part removed this difficulty, and has gone a great way towards establishing a methodical nomenclature, to express their varied forms and combinations; but a great deal yet remains to be done: it is not sufficient that we give names to Clouds; we must attend to the state of the thermometer, burometer, wind and weather, which precede, accompany, and succeed each modification, before we can come to any useful results. It is for this reason that I should like to see Meteorologists particularly attentive to this part of Meteorology, which has been hitherto so much neglected.

Yours, &c. THOMAS FORSTER. P. S. I am induced, while on the subject of Clouds, to add an observation on a peculiar effect produced by the Cirro-stratus. It is well known to every observer, that a series of highly-coloured Clouds, disposed in parallel rows, are frequently seen to spread over a great portion of the Western sky about sun-set, presenting a very beautiful appearance. These Clouds are almost always of the modification of Cirro-stratus; but the most remarkable circumstance concerning them is, that their rich vermillion colour seems to be dependent upon the particular angle at which they refract the Sun's rays; for I have observed, when I have ridden on horseback a considerable distance, in the direction of the setting Suu, that the boundary of these coloured Clouds, and the blue aky, has never increased its angle with my eye, and the place of the Sun's descent. An additional proof of the peculiar property of this Cloud, as a refracting medium, may be drawn from the general prevalence of the Halo in this modification. T.F,

Mr. URBAN, Plumstead, Kent, Aug.2. HAVE read with admiration the Plan of a Country Rector, p. 12; and should be very glad to see our rulers, in addition thereto, adopting the plan of Cromwell, in seeking men for offices, instead of offices for men. Nothing, surely, could benefit the State so much, as Christian Ministers; and if those who apply for holy orders were not, as it is too much to be feared many are, on the one hand moved by vanity to distinguish themselves, and on the other by a

good living, but were really and truly moved by the Holy Ghost for the good of the souls of men, and care was taken that none but such should fill our Churches, a great and general blessing could not fail to follow. The want of this I consider to be the cause of the evil complained of; and which, I conceive, nothing but the State, under divine Providence, can rectify. It cannot be unknown, that prodigious numbers amongst us are, and have been, wholly destitute of religious instruc tion. The Methodists, whom I con sider to have first set off in finding those poor ignorant creatures, have, in many instances, been a great blessing to them; having, in their first setting out, I think, no other view but the good of their souls; which principle, I hope, still prevails amongst the greater part of them. But Methodism, like every thing else possessing original excellence, therefrom getting established, is liable hence to get corrupted, and (without due care of the State) to be productive of mischief as a consequence. Many will follow it for the sake of fashion; many for the sake of interest; its Ministers, like all others, will many of them come forward for the display of fine talents; and others, for a life of ease, as preferable to labour while others will build large places, and speculate for the sake of money; and hence will arise, as we see before us, a prodigious body of people, in opposition to that Establishment cons nected with the State; the final consequences of which may be more feared than calculated; and, possibly, can only be prevented by the State's exercising that policy I have already noticed.

Yours, &c. Mr. URBAN,

J. O.

Nov. 4.

dear, insomuch that the poor Ta time when Bread was very people where I live could hardly afford themselves half a meal a day, I endeavoured to find some cheaper method of making it, than of Wheatmeal,

Turnips were at that time plentiful: I had several of them pulled, washed clean, pared, and boiled: when they were become soft enough to mash, I had the greatest part of the water pressed out of them, and after