of credulity still remaining, with regard to the medicinal powers of various substances, which are actually inert and powerless This is kept up by the occasional occurrence of cases of disease, which could only be removed by time, apparently giving way to very simple means.. There are many disorders which are not to be cured at once by the mere agency of medicinal substances, and bid defiance to the best efforts of the medical practitioner; the patient, fiuding his disorder obstinate, and disappointed at the fruitless endeavours made for its removal, becomes wearied with the use of medicine, as prescribed by the regular practitioner, and gladly catches at the offered remedy with the greater eagerness, as being so much the more strange. The patient, after the trial of a variety of means, gets well, which he does by time and the natural powers of the constitution; and the remedy last used, whatever it may have been, obtains the credit of having worked a cure, of which, in reality, it is perfectly in

nocent.

It may be alleged, that the means usually recommended in this way, can do no harm, if they do no good; and therefore, where other more powerful remedies have failed, these are deserving a trial. So far they may be allowable, where a placebo, to keep the patient's mind amused, is all that is desired; until those changes take place, in the natural operations of the human frame, by which a healthful state is induced, and the patient recovers: but the mischief to be apprehended is, that, in acute diseases of rapid progress, much valuable time is lost in the use of means without efficacy or power; and when they are found to be without avail, the time is gone by, when the patient might have been rescued from destruction by judicious and well applied remedies.

A patient, for instance, in the early period of true pulmonary consumption, trusting to the use of partridge's eggs, will be woefully deceived in the result; and when convinced of the error, have recourse to medicine, when unhappily the disease is no longer to be cured, or even arrested in its progress.

The common mistake of ascribing results to causes which are obviously inadequate, comes under the daily observation of medical practitioners, and pre-, vails more or less in other forms, whereever ignorance and superstition sway the decisions of those who suffer themselves

to be guided by false and partial views or modes of reasoning.

This fact is treated of in the following correc: and elegant manner, in a tract on a different subject, published some time ago by the brother of a late most able and ever, to be lamented military officer. "The evidence that is requisite to prove, or disprove, any proposition in the science of medicine, is of a peculiar kind. It differs entirely from that species of proof, which satisfies a court of law. Both direct and circumstantial evidence, which would leave no doubt in the breasts of judges and juries, have often not the slightest tendency to render a medical fact even probable. The declarations, and even the oaths, of the most conscientious, disinterested, and able men, are all insufficient.

"The reason of this is, that few men, even those of considerable capacity, distinguish accurately between opinion and fact.

"When a man asserts he has been cured of a particular disease, by a certain drug, he is apt to think he is declaring a fact which he knows to be true; whereas, his assertion includes two opinions, in both of which, he may be completely mistaken. The first is, an opinion of his having the disease specified; the second, that the medicine employed removed the disease. Most people are convinced, that they are acquainted with the malady they are afflicted with; they consider it as a mere matter of fact, and when they are cured, they have as little doubt of the remedy that accomplished it. This belief is often strengthened by the confident declarations and specious behaviour of the person who exhibits the remedy: and if the patient also possesses gratitude, this also heightens the delusion. He is thus easily prevailed upon to swear positively, both to the disease and the remedy, as if they were plain facts, obvious to the senses; whereas, both the one and the other are frequently beyond the reach of human knowledge."

My object in the above statement, and quotation, is to caution your readers against placing any dependence on popular remedies, from their supposed virtue in particular cases; the peculiarities of constitution, and the infinite variety in the forms of disease, preclude all reasonable hope from the use of such means. Your's, &c. T. M.

Reigate, May 11, 1809,

To

To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine.

I

SIR,

SHALL be much obliged to you to insert in your Magazine, the following most excellent receipt for a cancer; as I have recently known two cases, in which it has effectually cured that most dreadful and fatal disorder, even in almost its latest stage. I consider the accompanying letter of Dr. Bacon to be so direct a proof of its efficacy, that I cannot but feel an earnest wish, that through the medium of your valuable Magazine, the receipt may become universally circulated.

As the Cleavers, (or Goose-grass) cannot be procured in the winter, (unless it is very mild,) I would recommend a strong distillation being made of it, in the summer, that there should be no interruption to the continuance of the medicine. Your's, &c.

A CONSTANT READER.

February 27, 1809.

An extraordinary cure for a Cancer, by the Rev. Dr. Bacon, by the use of Cleavers, (or Goose-Grass,) in a letter to a friend.

An aged woman, in my parish, who had what she called a Bloody Cancer, continuing to eat away the flesh several years, had a relation at Abingdon, to which place she went, for the sake of a surgeon, who could not come to her. His visits were an act of charity; and while she was near him, he often called on her, and gave her his medicines, without any good effect; when at last, despairing of a cure, she was sent home with the comfortable assurance, that she would be eased of her misery in a fortnight, or less.

On her return to my parish, I was sent for, to pray by her, and never met with a more deplorable object in my life; nothing could be so offensive as the smell, and nothing so terrible as her shrieks! Just at that time, I had been desired to write Dr. Dillenius's diploma (our professor of botany); and to acquaint myself with some botanical expressions, referred to some books of that kind in our library, at Magdalen college; and after I had finished my compilement, I

TH

ACCOUNT of the late MARQUIS D'ARGENS, HE Marquis D'Argens was one of those literary characters of the last century, who have rendered themselves more remarkable than illustrious by their opinions, their adventures, and the reputation of their works.

Like Saint Evreinond, the Marquis D'Argens passed one part of his life in gallantry, and the other at the court of a Prince, and in the circle of the great world. But the former possessed talents, and a rank in society above the latter. Some fragments of St. Evremond, such as, for instance, "Considerations on the Roman People," evince a taste and genius, not to be found in the Author of the Philosophy of Good Sense," or the "Jewish Letters."

The writings of the Marquis D'Argens are not however without considerable merit-they had a rapid circulation they were read with great avidity; and in that they resembled those of St. Evremond; but posterity will find less to preserve in the one, than in the other.

The first years of the life of Saint Evremond are unknown; at least, even to the present day, we have no authentic account of them. The Marquis D'Argens wrote the Memoirs of his Life, which are read with pleasure-contain many pointed facts; and the narrative pleases, notwithstanding some apparent negli gences of the style, and some of those inconsiderate reflections, which at that time were termed 66 philosophical," though, to speak more correctly, they should be called those of a young man. He commences at that period when the passions are in full force and vigour; for it is by the influence of one of the most powerful that he enters on his subject, without acquainting us with the place of his birth, or the condition of his parents.

Information, however, collected since, supplied that deficiency. He was born at Aix in Provence, in 1704, being the son of M. Boyer, Marquis D'Argens, Procureur General of the Parliament of that city. It was natural, that his father, who held one of the first situations in the Magistracy, should intend him for this his honourable profession: but the ardour of youth, an impatience to be employed, and the idea that the military line afforded him greater opportunities for pleasure, made him prefer the pro

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the siege of Kehl, where he was slightly wounded: in 1734, after the siege of Philipsbourg, he got a fall from his horse, which so disabled him, that he was never able to mount afterwards, and he was obliged in consequence to renounce the service.

It appears, that it was at the time of his refusal to embrace the profession his father wished him, when he returned from Constantinople, that his father disinherited him, not being able, owing to the smallness of his fortune, to sustain with credit the expensive life his son led.

He was compeiled, when he retired from the service, to go to Holland to seek resources from his pen. The liberty of the press, which then existed in that country, allowed him to make choice of any subject his fancy suggested. He published successively, the "Jewish, Chinese, and Cabalistic Letters." They were admired, and brought him some money; most of them turning on subjects of morality, politics, manners, religious customs and ceremonies, and the events of nations. The lively manner in which they were written, the boldness of some of the ideas, and the singularity of the style, caused them to be much read, and generally approved.

This Monarch was a man of harsh unpleasant manners, an enemy to literature, whose sole glory and pride consisted in having in his army the tallest and handsomest soldiers in Europe, and immense treasures in his coffers.

"Frederic William," says Voltaire, was a complete Vandal, who, during the whole course of his reign, had no other object in view than amassing sums, and supporting at the least possible expense the finest troops in Europe. Never were subjects poorer than his; never was a King richer. Turkey is a republic in comparison with the despotism which Frederic William exercised. It was by this he succeeded in collecting in the cellars of his palace a sum exceeding eighty millions, contained in barrels hooped

with iron.

"This King usually went from his palace on foot, in a shabby old blue coat with copper buttons, which reached half way down his thighs; and whenever he ordered a new one, he had his old buttons put on it: in this dress his Majesty, with a large serjeant's cane, every day inspected his regiment of giants. This regiment was his hobby hofse, and his greatest expense. The front rank was composed of men of seven feet high: he had them collected from all parts of Europe, and of Asia. I saw several of them even after his death.

"When Frederic William finished his review, he usually took a walk through the city; every person fled at his approach if he happened to meet a woman, he asked her why she wasted her time in the streets Go home, go home, you lazy beggar; an honest woman should be employed about her house.' He generally accompanied his advice with a good slap on the face, a kick, or else a blow of his cane. In the same manner he treated the ministers of the gospel, when he happened occa. sionally to see them on the parade.

"One may easily judge," continues Voltaire," that a savage like this would be both astonished and, chagrined, at having a son possessed of strong understanding, a bright genius, politeness, and a desire to please, and who sought to improve his mind, and study music and poetry. If he saw a book in the hands of the Hereditary Prince, he threw it in the fire if the Prince amused himself with his flute, the father broke it; and sometimes treated his Royal Highness as he did the ladies, and the clergymen on parade.

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