by such laborious methods as this, may be easily conceived. His powers of memory were remarkable-as well for their capacity as tenacity; and the presence of mind and judgment with which he availed himself of his acquisitions, convinced his opponent that he had undertaken an arduous, if not hopeless task, in rising to reply to him. It was impossible not to see, even in a few minutes' interview with him, that AMBITION had "marked him for her own." Alas, what a stormy career is before this young man!-I have often thought, while listening to his impassioned harangues and conversations, and witnessing the twin fires of intellect and passion flashing from his eyes. One large ingredient in his composition was a most morbid sensibility; and then he devoted himself to every pursuit with a headlong, undistinguishing enthusiasm. and energy, which inspired me with lively apprehensions, lest he should wear himself out and fall by the way, before he could actually enter on the great arena of public life. His forehead was already furrowed with premature wrinkles!-His application was incessant. He rose every morning at five, and retired pretty regularly by eleven.

Our acquaintance gradually ripened into friendship; and we visited each other with mutual frequency and cordiality. When he left college, he entreated me to accompany him to the continent, but financial reasons forbade it. He was possessed of a tolerably ample fortune; and, at the time of quitting England, was actually in treaty with Sir

for a borough. I left Cambridge a few months after Mr Stafford; and as we were mutually engaged with the arduous and absorbing duties of our respective professions, we saw and heard little or nothing of one another for several years. In the very depth of my distress-during the first four years of my establishment in London-I recollect once calling at the hotel which he generally made his town quarters, for the purpose of soliciting his assistance in the way of introductions; when, to my anguish and mortification, I heard, that on that very morning he had quitted the hotel for Calais, on his return to the continent!

At length Mr Stafford, who had long stood contemplating on the brink, dashed into the tempestuous waters of public life, and emergeda member of Parliament for the borough of. I happened to see the gazette which announced the event, about two years after the occurrence of the accident which elevated me into fortune. I did not then require any one's interference on my behalf, being content with the independent exercise of my profession; and even if I had been unfortunate, too long an interval had elapsed, I thought, to warrant my renewing a mere college acquaintance with such a man as Mr Stafford. I was content, therefore, to keep barely within the extreme rays of this rising sun in the political hemisphere. I shall not easily forget the feelings of intense interest with which I saw, in one of the morning papers, the name of my quondam college friend, " MR STAFFORD," standing at the head of a speech of two columns' length— or the delight with which I paused over the frequent interruptions of "Hear, hear!"-" Hear, hear, hear!" "Cheers!"—"Loud cheers!" which marked the speaker's progress in the favour of the House." We regret," said the reporter, in a note at the end, "that the noise in the gallery prevented our giving at greater length the eloquent and effective maidenspeech of Mr Stafford, which was cheered perpetually throughout, and excited a strong sensation in the House." In my enthusiasm I purchased that copy of the newspaper, and have it now in my possession. It needed not the enquiries which everywhere met me, "Have you read Mr Stafford's maiden-speech?" to convince me of his splendid prospects, the reward of his early and honourable toils. His "maiden-speech" formed the sole engrossing topic of conversation to my wife and me as we sat at supper that evening; and she was asking me some such question as is generally uppermost in ladies' minds on the mention of a popular character," What sort of looking man he was when I saw him at

Cambridge?"-when a forcible appeal to the knocker and bell, followed by the servant's announcing, that "a gentleman wished to speak to me directly," brought me into my

patients' room. The candles, which were only just lit, did not enable me to see the person of my visitor very distinctly; but the instant he spoke to me, removing a handkerchief which he held to his mouth, I recognised-could it be possible?—the very Mr Stafford we had been speaking of! I shook him affectionately by the hand, and should have proceeded to compliment him warmly on his last evening's success in the House, but that his dreadful paleness of features, and discomposure of manner, disconcerted me.

"My dear Mr Stafford, what is the matter? Are you ill? Has any thing happened?" I enquired anxiously.

"Yes, Doctor-perhaps fatally ill," he replied, with great agitation. "I thought I would call on you on my way from the House, which I have but just left. It is not my fault that we have not maintained our college acquaintance-but of that more hereafter. I wish your advice-your honest opinion on my case. For God's sake don't deceive me! Last evening I spoke for the first time in the House, at some length, and with all the energy I could command. You may guess the consequent exhaustion I have suffered during the whole of this day; and this evening, though much indisposed with fever and a cough, I imprudently went down to the House, when Sir

SO

shamefully misrepresented certain portions of the speech I had delivered the preceding night, that I felt bound to rise and vindicate myself. I was betrayed into greater length and vehemence than I had anticipated; and on sitting down, was seized with such an irrepressible fit of coughing, as at last forced me to leave the House. Hoping it would abate, I walked for some time about the lobby-and at length thought it better to return home than re-enter the House. While hunting after my carriage, the violence of the cough subsided into a small, hacking, irritating one, accompanied with spitting. After driving about as far as Whitehall, the vivid glare of one of the street lamps happened to fall suddenly on my white pocket handkerchief, and, oh God!" continued Mr Stafford, almost gasping for breath," this horrid sight met my eye!" He spread out a pocket-handkerchief all spotted

and dabbled with blood! It was with the utmost difficulty that he communicated to me what is gone before.

"Oh! it's all over with me-the chapter's ended, I'm afraid!" he murmured, almost inarticulately— and while I was feeling his pulse he fainted. I placed him instantly in a recumbent position-loosened his neckerchief and shirt-collar-dashed some cold water in his face, and he presently recovered. He shook his head, in silence, very mournfully

his features expressed utter hopelessness. I sat down close beside him, and, grasping his hand in mine, endeavoured to re-assure him. The answers he returned to the few questions I asked him, convinced me that the spitting of blood was unattended with danger, provided he could be. kept quiet in body and mind. There was not the slightest symptom of radical mischief in the lungs. A glance at his stout build of body, especially at his ample sonorous chest, forbade the supposition. I explained to him, with even professional minuteness of detail, the true nature of the accident-its effectsand method of cure. He listened to me with deep attention, and at last seemed convinced. He clasped his hands, exclaiming, "Thank God! thank God!" and entreated me to do on the spot, what I had directed to be done by the apothecary-to bleed him. I complied, and from a large orifice took a considerable quantity of blood. I then accompanied him home-saw him consigned to bedprescribed the usual lowering remedies-absolutely forbade him to open his lips, except in the slightest whisper possible and left him calm, and restored to a tolerable measure of self-possession. One of the most exquisite sources of gratification, arising from the discharge of our professional duties, is the disabusing our patients of their harrowing and groundless apprehensions of danger. One such instance as is related above, is to me an ample recompense for months of miscellaneous, and often thankless toil, in the exercise of my profession. Is it not, in a manner, plucking a patient from the very brink of the grave, to which he had despairingly consigned himself, and placing him once more in the busy throng of life-the very heart of

society? I have seen men of the strongest intellect and nerve, whom the detection of a novel and startling symptom has terrified into giving themselves up for lost, in an instant dispossessed of their apprehensions, by explaining to them the real nature of what has alarmed them.* The alarm, however, occasioned by the rupture of a bloodvessel in or near the lungs, is seldom unwarranted, although it may be excessive; and though we can soon determine whether or not the accident is in the nature of a primary disease, or symptomatic of some incurable pulmonary affection, and dissipate or corroborate our patient's apprehensions accordingly, it is no more than prudent to warn one who has once experienced this injury, against any exertions or excesses which have a tendency to interfere with the action of the lungs, by keeping in sight the possibility of a fatal relapse.-To return, however, to Mr Stafford.

His recovery was tardier than I could have expected. His extraordinary excitability completely neutralized the effect of my lowering and calming system of treatment. I could not persuade him to give his mind rest; and the mere glimpse of a newspaper occasioned such a flutter and agitation of spirits, that I forbade them altogether for a fortnight. I was in the habit of writing my prescriptions in his presence, and pausing long over them for the purpose of unsuspectedly observing him; and though he would tell me that his "mind was still as a stagnant pool,”—his intense air-his corrugated brows and fixed eyes, evinced the most active exercise of thought. When in a sort of half dozing state, he would often mutter about

:

"Tis

the subjects nearest his heart. "Ah! must go out-the Bill, their touchstone-ay-though, and his Belial-tongue." cruel-'tis tantalizing, Doctor," he said one morning, "to find one's self held by the foot in this way-like a chained eagle! The world forgets every one that slips for a moment from public view! Alas, alas! my plans-my projects-are all unravelling!"-"Thy sun, young man, may go down at noon!" I often thought, when reflecting on his restless, fierce, and ardent spirit. He wanted casehardening-long physical training, to fit him for the harassing and exhausting campaign on which he had entered. Truly, truly, your politician should have a frame of adamant, and a mind "thereto conforming strictly." I found Mr Stafford one day in high chafe about a sarcastic allusion in the debate to a sentiment which he had expressed in Parliament-" Oh-one might wither that fellow with a word or two, the stilted noodle!" said he, pointing to the passage, while his eye glanced like lightning.

"You'll more likely wither your own prospects of ever making the trial, if you don't moderate your exertions," I replied. He smiled incredulously, and made me no answer; but continued twisting about his pencil-case with a rapidity and energy which shewed the high excitement under which he was labouring. His hard, jerking, irregular pulse, beating on the average a hundred a minute, excited my lively apprehensions, lest the increased action of the heart should bring on a second fit of blood-spitting. I saw clearly that it would be in vain for him to court the repose essential to his convalescence, so long as he con

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tinued in town; and with infinite difficulty, prevailed on him to betake himself to the country. We wrung a promise from him that he would set about" unbending"-" unharnessing," as he called it-that he would give his constitution fair play." He acknowledged that to gain the objects he had proposed to himself, it was necessary for him to "husband his resources;" and briskly echoed my quotation-" neque semper arcum, tendit Apollo." In short, we dismissed him in the confident expectation of seeing him return, after a requisite interval, with recruited energies of body and mind. He had scarcely, however, been gone a fortnight, before a paragraph ran the round of the daily papers, announcing, as nearly ready for publication, a political pamphlet, by Charles Stafford, Esq., M.P.;"—and

in less than three weeks sure enough a packet was forwarded to my residence, from the publisher, containing my rebellious patient's pamphlet, accompanied with the following hasty note:-" AxλEven with you!-you did not, you will recollect, interdict writing; and I have contrived to amuse myself with the accompanying trifle.Please look at page

and see

the kind things I have said of poor Lord, the worthy who attacked me the other evening in the House, behind my back." This "trifle" was in the form of a pamphlet of sixty-four pages, full of masterly argumentation, and impetuous eloquence; but unfortunately, owing to the publisher's dilatoriness, it came "a day behind the fair," and attracted but little attention.

His temporary rustication, however, was attended with at least two beneficial results-recruited health, and the heart of Lady Emma — the beautiful daughter of a nobleman remotely connected with Mr Stafford's family. This attachment proved powerful enough to alienate him for a while from the turmoils of political life; for not only did the beauty, wealth, and accomplishments, of Lady Emma -render her a noble prize, worthy of great effort to obtain, but a powerful military rival had taken the field before Mr Stafford made his appearance, and seemed disposed to move heaven and

earth to carry her off. It is needless to say how such a consideration was calculated to rouse and absorb all the energies of the young senator, and keep him incessantly on the qui vive. It is said that the lady wavered for some time, uncertain to which of her brilliant suitors she should give the nod of preference. Chance de cided the matter. It came to pass that a contested election arose in the county; and Mr Stafford made a very animated and successful speech from the hustings-not far from which, at a window, was standing Lady Emma-in favour of her la dyship's brother, one of the candidates. Io triumphe! That happy evening the enemy" surrendered at discretion:" and ere long it was known far and wide, that-in newspaper slang-" an affair was on the tapis," between Mr Stafford and the "beautiful and accomplished Lady Emma," &c. &c. &c.

It is my firm persuasion, that the diversion in his pursuits effected by this " affair," by withdrawing Mr Stafford for a considerable interval from cares and anxieties which he was physically unable to cope with, lengthened his life for many years; giving England a splendid statesman, and this, my diary, the sad records which are now to be laid before the reader.

One characteristic of our profession, standing, as it were, in such sad and high relief as to scare many a sensitive mind from entering into its service, is, that it is concerned almost exclusively with the dark side of humanity. As carnage and carrion guide the gloomy flight of the vulture, so MISERY is the signal for a medical man's presence. We have to do, daily, with broken hearts, blighted hopes, pain, sorrow, death! and though the satisfaction arising from the due discharge of our duties, be that of the good Samaritan-a rich return-we cannot help counting the heavy cost, aching hearts, weary limbs, privations, ingratitude. Dark array! It may be considered placing the matter in a whimsical point of view, yet I have often thought that the two great professions of Law and Medicine, are but foul carrion birds-the one preying

on the moral, as the other on the physical, rottenness of mankind.

"Thou who art well, need not a physician," say the Scriptures: and on this ground, it is easy to explain the melancholy hue pervading these papers. They are mirrors reflecting the dark colours which are exposed to them. It is true, that some remote relations, arising out of the particular combinations of circumstances first requiring our professional interference, may afford, as it were, a passing gleam of distant sunshine, in the developement of some trait of beautiful character, some wondrous "good, from seeming ill educed:" but these are incidental only, and evanescent-enhancing, not relieving the gloom and sorrow amid which we move. A glimpse of Heaven would but aggravate the horrors of Hell. These chilling reflections force themselves on my mind, when surveying the very many entries in my Diary concerning the eminent individual whose case I am now narrating-concerning one who seemed born to bask in the brightness of life-to reap the full harvest of its joys and comforts, and yet "walked in darkness!" Why should it have been so? Answer-Ambition!

The reader must hurry on with me through the next ten years of Mr Stafford's life, during which period he rose with almost unprecedented rapidity. He had hardly time, as it were, to get warm in his nest, before he was called to lodge in the one above him, and then the one above that, and so on upwards, till people began to view his progress, with their hands shading their dazzled eyes, while they exclaimedfast for the top of the tree!" He was formed for political popularity. He had a most winning, captivating, commanding style of delivery, which was always employed in the steady consistent advocacy of one line of principles. The splendour of his taients his tact and skill in debatethe immense extent and accuracy of his political information-early attracted the notice of Ministers, and he was not suffered to wait long before they secured his services, by giving him a popular and influential

The words" whole" and "special" were thrice underscored; and this, added to the very unusual illegibility of the writing, betrayed an urgency, and even agitation, which a little disconcerted me. The abruptness of the application occasioned me some trouble in making the requisite arrangements. As, however, it was not a busy time with me, I contrived to find a substitute for the morrow in my friend Dr D—

It was a lovely Sabbath morning, in July 18-, that, in obedience to the above hurried summons, I set off on horseback from the murky metropolis; and after rather more than a two hours' ride, found myself entering the grounds of Mr Stafford, who had recently purchased a beautiful villa on the banks of the Thames. It was about nine o'clock, and nature seemed but freshly awakened from the depth of her overnight's slumbers-her tresses all uncurled, as it were-and her perfumed robes glistening with the pearls of morning dew. A deep and rich repose brooded over the scene, subduing every feeling of my soul into sympathy. A groom took my horse; and finding that neither Mr Stafford nor Lady Emma were yet stirring, I resolved to walk about and enjoy the scenery. In front of the house stretched a fine lawn, studded here and there with laurel bushes, and other elegant shrubs, and sloping down to the