"oft expectation fails, and most oft there
where most it promises."
all's well that ends well.
no man, perhaps, ever made a happier application of a divine precept to the conduct of human pursuits than lord bacon, when he said that the kingdom of man founded in the sciences must be entered like the kingdom of god—that is, as a little child.
independently of the sublimity of the comparison, it is no less remarkable for its practical excellence.
how many broken friendships, enmities, and heart-burnings might have been prevented, had even a very moderate degree of the temper of mind here so beautifully typified been allowed to preside over human labour! how charitably should we have been led to judge of the works of others! how measured the approbation of the most successful of our own! no doubt, in the pursuit of truth, there is great difficulty in commanding that combination of fearlessness towards the world, and that reverential humility towards the subject, both of which are alike necessary; although the one may be more essential to the discovery of truth, the other the enunciation of it.
to pursue truth regardless of the multiform errors and conventionalisms, amidst which experience has generally shown almost all subjects to have been involved; unmindful of the rebukes and obloquy by which too often the best-conducted investigations are opposed and assailed; and yet to let no angry passion stir, no conviction that we are right engender an improper idea of our own superiority, or a disregard for the claims of others; this overcoming of the world (we had almost said) is intensely difficult,182 for it is in fact overcoming ourselves. yet we dare not say it is that of which human nature is incapable, for there is nothing that the heart suggests as morally right which is really impossible to us; and instances have not been wanting of the combination of the deepest knowledge with the most profound humility.
on the other hand, it must be admitted that if there were anything especially calculated to bring down the cultivators of science and literature to the level of those who are regardless of the claims, or insensible to the attractions of either; we could hardly find a series of facts more fatally influential than are furnished by the disputes of men who have been employed in the cultivation of these elevating studies. powerful intellects in teaching the comparative nothingness of man's knowledge seem to give great assistance in the acquisition of humility; but how few are the intellects of such power? the contemplation of nature, however, may, we conceive, infuse feelings of humility, which can rarely be attained by the efforts of intellect alone.
we have seen, in lord bacon, that the highest powers of intellect afforded for a while no security against the subtle, but one would have thought feeble, suggestions of a degrading cupidity. we all know, in literature, how much the fruits of intellect depend on the dominant feeling under which they are reared and nourished. even men like pope and addison, who had little in common but that which should elevate and adorn human nature, were so dragged down by the demon of controversy, that, commencing with little more than the irritability of poets, they ceased only when they had forgotten even the language of gentlemen. in the controversy in question, mr. abernethy's position was a very difficult one, and one which shows how easily a man with the best intentions may find himself engaged in a discussion which he never contemplated; be wounded on points on which he was most sensitive, and yet defend himself with dignity, and without compromise of any of those principles which should guide a gentleman and a christian.
mr. lawrence was appointed professor of comparative anatomy in 1816; and we know that mr. abernethy hailed his appointment with considerable interest. he was regarded as a183 gentleman of some promise, and had already distinguished himself by a singularly nice, level style of composition, as well as by careful compilation.
nothing could seem more auspicious than such a prospect. mr. abernethy was a man remarkable for the original view he took of most subjects; a vast experience, gathered from various sources by a mind combining vividly perceptive powers with great capacity for reflection, a conformation well adapted for opening out new paths, and extending the boundaries of science. abernethy was now to be associated with a colleague who had already manifested no ordinary talent for the graceful and judicious exposition of what was already known.
nothing could have seemed more promising; nor was there anything in the opening of mr. lawrence's first lecture which seemed calculated to baulk these expectations. his exordium contained an appropriate recognition of mr. abernethy, which, as we should only mar it by extract, we give entire. having referred to the circumstances which immediately preceded his appointment, mr. lawrence thus proceeds:
"to your feelings i must trust for an excuse, if any be thought necessary, for taking the earliest opportunity of giving utterance to the sentiments of respect and gratitude i entertain for the latter gentleman (mr. abernethy). you and the public know, and have long known, his acute mind, his peculiar talent for observation, his zeal for the advancement of surgery, and his successful exertions in improving the scientific knowledge and treatment of disease; his singular happiness in developing and teaching to others the original and philosophic views which he naturally takes of all subjects that come under his examination, and the success with which he communicates that enthusiasm in the cause of science and humanity which is so warmly felt by himself; the admirable skill with which he enlivens the dry details of elementary instruction are most gratefully acknowledged by his numerous pupils.
"all these sources of excellence have been repeatedly felt in this theatre. having had the good fortune to be initiated in the profession by mr. abernethy, and to have lived for many184 years under his roof, i can assure you, with the greatest sincerity, that however highly the public may estimate the surgeon and philosopher, i have reason to speak still more highly of the man and of the friend, of the invariable kindness which directed my early studies and pursuits, and the disinterested friendship which has assisted every step of my progress in life, the independent spirit and the liberal conduct which, while they dignify the profession, win our love, command our respect for genius and knowledge, converting these precious gifts into instruments of the most extensive public good38."
this graceful exordium, so appropriate to the mutual relations of mr. abernethy and mr. lawrence, deriving, too, a peculiar interest from the circumstances under which it was delivered, had also the rare merit of an eulogium marked by a comprehensive fidelity. there is nothing fulsome or overstrained. mr. abernethy's well-known excellences were touchingly adverted to as matters with which all were in common familiar, whilst the necessarily more special facts of his social virtues were judiciously brought out in just relief, and as an appropriate climax, by one who appeared animated by a grateful and personal experience of them. it is distressing to think that anything should have followed otherwise than in harmony with that kindness and benevolence which, whilst it forms the most auspicious tone for the calm pursuits of philosophy, confers on them the purifying spirit of practical christianity.
mr. lawrence's first lecture consisted mainly of an able and interesting exposé of the objects and advantages of comparative anatomy to the physiologist, pathologist, medical man, and the theologian; together with numerous references to those authors to whom the science was most indebted. the second lecture was devoted to the consideration and the discussion of various views which had been entertained of the living principle, or by whatever name we may designate that force which is the immediate cause of the phenomena of living bodies.
185
amongst others, those entertained by mr. hunter and advocated by mr. abernethy were referred to; but in a tone which was not, perhaps, best suited to promote calm discussion, and which we may be allowed to say was unfortunate—a tone of ridicule and banter, which was hardly suited either to the subject, the place, or the distinguished men to whom it related; to say the least of it, it was unnecessary. we do not quote these passages, because they are, we think, not necessary to the narrative, and could, we think, now give no pleasure to any party39.
in mr. abernethy's next lecture at the college, he still advocated the rational nature of mr. hunter's views of life; and, in a most interesting exposition of the gallery of the museum, opposed at every opportunity the views of certain french physiologists which mr. lawrence had adopted.
he did this, however, without naming mr. lawrence; and applied his remarks to the whole of those who had advocated the opinions that life was the result of organization, as a "band of modern sceptics."
mr. abernethy had, as he says, argued against a party, and studiously kept mr. lawrence, as an individual, out of view. he, however, argued roundly against the views advocated by him, and endeavoured to show that those of mr. hunter, besides being at least a philosophical explanation of the phenomena, had a good moral tendency; although he admitted that the belief that man was a mere machine did not alter established notions, and that there were many good sceptics, still he thought that the "belief of the distinct and independent nature of mind incited people to act rightly," &c.
in regard to the general influence of the state of france, he says, "most people think and act with a party;" and that "in france, where the writings of the philosophers and wits had greatly tended to demoralize the people, he was not surprised that their anatomists and physiologists should represent the subject of their studies in a manner conformable to what is esteemed most philosophical and clever; but that in this country186 the mere opinions of some french anatomists with respect to the nature of life should be extracted from their general writings, translated, and extolled, cannot but excite surprise and indignation in any one apprized of their pernicious tendency."
there is no doubt that there was at the time, in this country, a disposition in many people to disseminate very many opinions on various subjects different from those usually entertained; and we believe that this disposition was very greatly increased by the well-intentioned, no doubt, but in our view injudicious, means employed for the suppression of them.
we think it important to remember this; because, in estimating fairly any books or lectures, we must regard the spirit of the time in which they were delivered—what would be judicious or necessary at one period, being, of course, unnecessary or injudicious at another.
in relation to the opinions of the nature of life; that which mr. abernethy alleged that he intended to apply to a party, mr. lawrence alleged that he held as personally applying to himself. accordingly, the following course of mr. lawrence's lectures commenced with "a reply to the 'charges' of mr. abernethy." this lecture, which it is impossible for any man, mindful of all the circumstances, to peruse without pain (especially if we include the notes), is couched in language of the most vituperative and contemptuous character: sarcasm, ridicule, imputation of corrupt motives, by turn, are the weapons wielded with the appearance of the most unrelenting virulence.
those of the audience who had heard the graceful exordium, which we have quoted, to the first course of lectures, and which so appropriately represented a just tribute to a great master and kind friend, from a distinguished and favoured pupil, were now to listen to a discourse which was so charged with various shades and descriptions of ridicule and invective, as scarcely to be paralleled in the whole history of literary or scientific controversy. we have recently again perused the respective lectures, and we are utterly at a loss to understand how the most sensitive mind could have found anything in mr. abernethy's lectures to call for such a "reply." as it appears to us, its very virulence was calculated187 to weaken its force, and to enlist the sympathies of people on the opposite side. we again forbear quotation. all we have to do is to show that circumstances of very unusual provocation, such as no man living could help feeling most deeply, and which bore on one who was acutely sensitive, never materially disturbed the native benevolence of abernethy's disposition.
the dispute, however, soon merged into matters which the public regarded as more important. mr. lawrence, in the lectures which followed, took occasion to make some remarks on the scriptures, which gave great offence, and led other writers to engage in a controversy which now assumed more of a theological than a physiological character. this, however, rather belongs to the writings and opinions of mr. lawrence, than to the life of abernethy. we will therefore at once offer the very few observations which we alone think it necessary to make, either in justice to mr. abernethy or the profession.
