The Greek physician, from whom the medals we bought here were principally obtained, entertained us, by giving an account of the manner in which the' medical profession is exercised among the Turks 66 When a rich Turk," said he, ❝ is very ill, he sends for a physician; and however dangerous his disorder may be, a Begotiation commences between the doctor and his patient, as to the price of the cure. The price is of course augmented in proportion to the alarm excited by the malady. A bargain is then concluded upon the following conditions: that half the stipulated sum be paid down immediately, and the whole sum if the patient recover. The physician then goes boldly to work, prescribing whatever he pleases. If his patient die, he has already secured a very ample fee; and if he recover, the case is still better." It was formerly said in England, that a large wig and a goldheaded cane were sufficient to constitute a physician; and it is literally true of Turkey, that a culpac and a pelisse are the only requisites for the exercise of the profession. An English officer, who arrived in Constantinople during our first visit to that city, was accompanied by an Italian domestic, who had served him with fidelity, but gave him warning the morning after their arrival. The officer, being loth to part from a trusty servant, asked him the reason of this extraordinary conduct. "I have no complaint to offer," said the Italian: "but I can earn more money here by turning physician, and therefore must wear a different dress." The next day he presented himself to his former master in the medical capac and furred robe, laughing heartily at his own metamorphosis: and this man, before our return to the capital, had dispatched as many of his fellow-creatures as the most eminent practitioner in Turkey. of being exposed all night houseless in the mud, he ordered the Surudjees to bring our baggage to his house, and bade us all follow him. This being done, we were received into an open inclosed court, while a room was prepared for us, As soon as we were conducted to this apartment, we found the floor covered with clean mats, and a blazing fire already kindled. The owner of this dwelling was not rich; yet be caused a supper to be sent to us from his little charem, where it was prepared by his women. Of the sacrifice thus made to hospitality by a Moslem we were not yet fully aware. We were supplied with every thing necessary to our comfort and repose; and the next morning, when we rose to depart, horses were waiting for us at the door. To our regret, as well as surprise, when we tendered payment for our night's lodging and provisions, our benevolent host would accept of "nothing," as he said, "but our good wishes ;" and bidding us (Urlarula) a good journey! withdrew from our sight. Soon after quitting this hospitable mansion, percewiug that a volume of plants belonging to our herbary was missing, one of us returned in search of it; and found that the family, who had so kindly entertained us, had actually carried out and broken the earthen vessels out of which we drank water; and were besides busily employed in completing the ceremony of purification, by fumigating the mats, and scouring the room which they conceived to have been defiled by the presence of Christians. The incovenience, therefore, and the loss, which our visit to this liberal Moslem had occasioned in his family, will shew to what an extent the virtue of hospitality is sometimes carried among the Turks. We are extremely sorry that Dr. C. has not erected the most durable monuThe Turks are, certainly devoid of ment in his power, to this worthy disciarts, sciences, and what are termed li-ple of Mahomet, by mentioning his beral or gentlemanly studies; but, there are among them men whose native impulse of the heart, does equal honour to themselves, and to human nature: the following is an instance: The rascally Surudices who were with our baggage had already dismounted it, and were leaving us upon the bare earth, when an old Turk, casually passing, and hearing some altercation between these men and the Tehohodar, demanded the cause of the dispute. Being informed that these men refused to proceed any farther, and that some poor Djours were in danger name; it would have been no gratification to the Turk, it is true; but it would have been a gratification to us. Besides allowing the Turks the virtue of hospitality, the author strongly insists on their claims to sincerity and devotion. We presume not to decide on the first, though we incline to the Dr.'s opinion; but, the second, we presume, is unquestionable it might even pass for exemplary among professors of a much superior religion. Our traveller is not the only one who has been struck with this appearance. Says Dr. C. are many virtues common to the Turks which would do honour to any nation; and above all, that reverence for the Deity, which renders the taking of his name in vain to be a thing unheard of among them; add to this, their private and their public charities; their general temperance and sobriety; their donations for the repose and the refreshment of travellers*, and for the establishment of public baths and fountains; their endowment for hospitals; their compassion for animals; the strict fidelity with which they fulfil their engagements; their hospitality; the attention shewn to cleanliness in their frequent ablutions; and many other of their characteristics, which forcibly contrast them with their neighbours; and we shall be constrained to allow that there can hardly be found a people, without the pale of Christianity, better disposed towards its most essential precepts. That they have qualities which least deserve our approbation; aud that these are the most predominant, must be "leaven," which in "leavening the whole mass" hath not yet extended its influence to this benighted people: for their iguorance is so profound, and it is so universal, that they may be considered as generally destitute of any intellectual attainment whatsoever. The highest offices of the In a room adjoining our apartment, some Turks were engaged in their devotions; and, whenever we have seen them so occupied, whether in the mosques, or in the public streets, or in private dwellings, we always regarded them with respect; for however we may be disposed to revile the Turkish religion, there is perhaps no Christian but might find an example worthy of his imitation in the behaviour of a Moslem during his prayers. If we may judge of genuine piety by external appearances, the Mahometans are, of all people, the most sincere in their worship. They are never seen to wander during their prayers, or to neglect them, or to utter a parcel of words by rote, with their thoughts intent upon other matters, like many of those persons who pretend to hold a better faith: their whole soul seems to be absorbed by the solemnity of the exercise, and their thoughts so perfectly abstracted from every earthly consideration, that it is impossible to behold them without participating the reve rence they manifestly feel. But this beha-attributed entirely to the want of that viour may be attributed to the very great stress laid by their Korán upon the duties of prayer. Mahomet called it The PILLAR OF RELIGION; and the Tuks maintain that in this act of devotion, they ought to be so intent and fixed, that no possible event can have power to divert their attention; not even the command of the Sul-state are administered by individuals taken tan himself, nor any alarm of fire or other imminent peril. How beautiful is the description given by Busbequius of the whole Turkish army engaged in one solemn act of public devotion! Yet Rycaut affirmed, that of all the nations and religions he had known, the Turks were the most hypocritical. "These are they," said he," who love to pray in the market place and in the corners of the streets, to have praise of men; for it is observable with the Turks, that where they find the most spectators, especially of Christians, to choose that place, how inconvenient soever, to spread first their handkerchief, and theu begia their prayers." We know not how to acquiesce in the truth of these observations. We saw much of the Turks, and we had one who was daily our companion; but, bating a little treachery as to the strict observance of their fast, together with the dissolute practices of their Dervishes, we would say generally, of the whole race, that the Turks are the last people upon earth who deserve to be called hypocrites in their religion. Rycaut wrote at a time when the prejudices against Moslems were very high, and when his own countrymen had not lost the strong tincture of fanaticism they had acquired under Cromwell. There from the dregs of society; and when admitted to the friendly intercourse and couversation of those among them who are the most looked up to, either on account of their elevated rank, or probity of character, we were constrained to regard them rather with affection than with esteem; as claiming the same degree of regard, mingled with pity, which is excited by the goodness and simplicity of very benevolcut, but very illiterate, old women. Nor does this evaporate in mere devotion: we have seen that it took even Infidels under protection; and that, at no trifling pecuniary sacrifice; besile this, the consideration of the Turks for brute animals is much to their praise: we quote an instance, in which it certainly is not deficient. re * In some parts of the Empire there Khans for the reception of travellers, who h are so endowed, that every night the guests are entertained at free cost with a coavenient supper, be their number more T less, according to the capacity of the Eu iug. See Rycaut's Ottoman Empire, p. 107. Lond. 1670. The public prints have directed their | eties,-of" Widow's Friends,”—of “Viattention to the statements contained in sitingSocieties for the Sick,"--of “Prothe Appendix, of the particulars of vident Societies,”—of “ Clothing Socithose foundations which evince the be-eties," &c. &c. all unknown to the nevolence and piety of their founders. public, the charities of the Christian We are mistaken, if that were the prin- [heart are daily moderating the anguish Such are the glories cipal purpose intended by the institution of human woe. of the Committee, and having had the of our metropolis! and their influence We subject, though in different forms, re- is felt in other large towns. peatedly before us, we rather prefer speak not of those noble charities which that view of it which concerns the lower occasionally call on the public for asorders, properly so described; especially sistance, the acknowledged institutions that class, which is at once our com- of British benevolence; but we allude to patriots and strangers; our brethren, those which are private, we might say, and refugees; who deserve (and desire) | secret, in which the young who can ply a better fate; but, by their very ad- the needle, ply it for the advantage of herence to what they deem their duty, the distressed and disconsolate ;-to those are doomed to suffer the miseries of life-in which the sympathy of more mature long disappointment, years directs medical aid, and the sick man's head reposes on the bosom of fraternal affection, though the parties never saw each other till the present moment; We descend to a class still lower than that of the parents, whose necessities are felt by the patrous of charity-schools to be sufficient recommendation to the ad- of those which endeavour to prevent the vantages they afford. Those schools ravages of vice, to recall the wanderer, to remonstrate with the profligate, to rehave done much; but they cannot do every thing: the numbers they admit sist evil, wherever and whenever demust, of course, be limited: the in-tected; and of those which drop a tear, struction they afford, must be short, to where effectual succour is beyond their ellow as many as possible to partake of power. But among all which can be menit. Since they were instituted, a kind of new world has opened on the science tioned, those institutions which confer and practice of education; and since the blessing of Education on the indithey were thought sufficient, a prodi-geut and the outcast, stand conspicuous: gious increase of population has ren- they sow a seed, to be reaped in sucdered their numbers, once tolerably pro-ceeding years; they train up the infant portionate, almost trivial, in comparison with what the urgencies of the times demand. Benevolence has stepped forward with new vigour to meet the diversities of misery. It assumes a thousand different shapes; each highly honourable; all together beyond the belief of those who have not some practical acquaintance with the subject. No hazards have been thought terrific; no labours have been suffered to enter into the estimate; no repulse has been regarded; no ingratitude has been felt; if ever perseverance were the determination of the buman mind, it has been, it still is, among those on whom descends the blessings of the thousands who were ready to perish." mind for the practice of manly virtue; they implant principles; to be buried, perhaps, for a while; but hereafter to shoot up to light and life, to be watered with the dews of heaven, to expand their branches, and extend their benefits to green old age. Will the reader believe it possible, that there should be in any part of the Christian world, in any Church assum. ing the distinction of Apostolic, a fixed, an immovable, resistance, to the diffusion of these advantages? and why? Avowedly, because they are conferred by laymen; not by the priesthood! Are the priests of that profession so numerous, then, that they alone are compe tent to the work? No: they are confess edly exhausted by the labours of theis Under a nomenclature, infinitely di-office. they are too few for the disversified, of “Good Samaritan" Soci- charge of their established duties. “The 66 ..... They are excceedingly noisome, and neglected; so that, it is the most offensive part of my profession to visit the poor in that vicinity. number of priests is so small, says Montague Burgoyne, Esq. that they have it in their power to pay very little attention to the condition of the (Catholic) poor; but, in justice to them, I must Is it your opinion that the scavengers, or say, they work extremely hard in atpersons who shou'd inspect the streets, tending the sick and dying." The Ro-I am afraid the scavengers are seldom to do not sufficiently discharge their duty ?man Catholic clergy are worn down be found in those streets: one thing I with fatigue," says Mr. Butler. They have sometimes remarked there, was, that are a "very small number," says their human beings, hogs, asses, and dogs, were Vicar Apostolic, Dr. Poynter. And associated in the same habitation; and yet, under this paucity of assistance, that great heaps of dirt, in different quarters, Church refuses to entrust her own laity other reason of their ill health is this, that may be found piled up in the streets. Anwith any branch of religious instruction, some of the lower habitations have neither by which the children of this very laity windows nor chimnies nor floors, and are might be edified! While thousands are so dark that I can scarcely see there at perishing, both body aud soul, for lack mid-day without a candle. I have actually of knowledge, the Church refuses con- gone into a ground-floor bed-room, and sent! In full view of their miseries, and could not find my patient without the under the contemplation of these acculight of a candle. mulated evils, conscious of what would correct them, knowing well the remedy for these inexpressible calamities, convinced of what is necessary to remove this gross scandal from her community, the Church-cruel step-mother! denies her sanction to the labours of love, among her own sons! that infectious complaints prevail throughDr. Adams has observed in his book, out the year in the parish of St. Giles, has that fact come under your knowledge ? I have no doubt of the fact being so : and have often found that the great obstacle to my curing surgical diseases is the ill state of health arising mostly from filthiness, the people being sometimes covered with vermin, The reader will not credit this. He has beard the Church of Rome condemned for bigotry, for intolerance, for superstition, perhaps, and for blindness; but, that she should, by choice, see her children beggars, thieves, prostitutes, criminals of the worst order; corroded with diseases, and the terror even of medical men; rather than see them under other than clerical management, the comfort and support of their parents, patterns of industry, and social life, re-haviour of the lower orders. ligious in the best sense of the term, respectable in the world, and heirs of a happy immortality-the reader will not credit this. We proceed, therefore, to produce the evidence. We have said, perishing both body and soul." Let Mr. Blair, as a professional man, speak his experience on the bodily sufferings of these most deplorable objects of compassion. decline attending patients in St. Giles's?— Have you ever known professional men I have known medical men who refused to go into the interior parts of St. Giles's? from personal fear, and because of the filthy state of the habitations I believe that is common with medical men in the neighbourhood. What do they apprehend?-Partly they are afraid of catching infectious diseases, annoyed in their attendance by the ill beand partly from apprehending they wil be The Catholic poor are so numerous, that every floor, and every chamber of every floor, is closely inhabited, several beds are frequently seen in oue room, and several persons in one bed..... They are very sickly when crowded close together Mr. Blair complains that the Catholic priests obstructed all endeavours at imrated by that of Montagu Burgoyne, provement. His evidence is corroboEq. who, however, was not deterred from visiting such schools as the Catholics have established. find that the children were in a miserable In your visits to those schools, did you state? Very much so: the greater proportion of them diseased more than any children I ever saw; humours, lamenesses, ricketty, certainly the effects of negligence in infancy: and though they have increased so much in number, the number that dies is very great. It is a disgrace to this. country, that they should be permitted to live in that kind of way, so that absolutely their habitations become a nuisance to every body, and prejudicial in the extreme to health; for medical men have stated to me, that they were afraid of the consequences to the neighbourhood; as any person may perceive who turns into Calmel Buildings out of Orchard street. In t: at part of the town they are so closely packed, that in twenty-three houses I think there were very nearly seven hundred people: the whole place is such a scene of fith and wretchedness as cannot be con ceived. Our committee have made various representations, but in vain, to the vestry of Mary-e-bone parish, to enter into mea sures to cleanse this nuisance. Besides those seven hundred people, there are upwards of a hundred pigs. Do you consider that if the Catholic priests consented to the adoption of your plans, that the object of your labour would be principally accomplished?—Very much assisted, and for this reason, I have been with them all, and have been with the Bishop, who is a very culightened good man as can be. thought of such an establishment, calling itself a Christian church? If false -but the very priests thus accused do not venture to say the charge is false. Dr. Poynter himself confesses it. Are you aware that a great number of the children of the poor Roman Catholics in London are entirely destitute of educa tion, and that they have fallen into vicious and bad habits, arising from their ignorance?- conceive there are a great number. It is a fact we cannot deny. Dr. P. totally disapproves of allowing children to read any part of the Pro testant version of the Bible :---when closely pressed, he equally disapproves of allowing them to use any Catholic version of the Bible: his sentiments are explicit. . Could not laymen give this religious instruction?-Laymen might teach the children to learn the letter and text of their catechism, but we could not permit laymen to explain the doctrine to the children. I could not in any manner approve of any Catholic children reading the Protestant version of the Scriptures. Suppose the version is taken of those Even in that case I should think it conrary to my duty, and the constant discipline of the Catholic Church, to permit it. Then that at present appears to be the chief obstacle?-1 think it is one great obstacle. I was extremely pleased with one proposition that was successful; forssages in which the two do not differ ?— finding a great difficulty in satisfying the priests in the parish of Shadwell, I called a meeting of the Church of England, with For what reason?-The reason is, that some of the Catholics, some Methodists, the Catholic Church considers the sacred and Presbyterians and other Dissenters, Scriptures as a precious deposit, which was aud a plan of education was agreed upon originally committed by the Apostles to that was not entirely Lancasterian, inas-their immediate successors, and that the much as the particular chapters of the New Testament pointed out by that system were omitted. Catholic Church has always carefully preserved it, as it were in its archives, and has never permitted the faithful to read any Are the priests sensible of and witnesses other edition or version which is not duly to this melancholy state of the condition of sanctioned and authenticated by the authotheir poor ?—Yes, certainly; but such is rity of the Catholic Church; consequently their apprehension of their being lost to I should act contrary to the constant distheir flock, and to what they think eternal cipline of the Catholic Church, if I were happiness, that I have often had niy doubts to approve of the Catholic children readwhether they wish them to be removed ing a version of the sacred Scriptures, from the state of ignorance in which they which emanates from a body of Chrisare placed. tians not in communion with the CathoIt is not possible to pen a more bit-lic Church. Those are the principles of ter libel on the Catholic priesthood, than these words contain. It might be policy --- cruel policy! in Julian the Apostate, to prohibit Christians from acquiring knowledge and learning, lest the system of heathen idolatry should be exposed: --- but, is Popery concurrent with the endeavours of an apostate ?--- Although the words are the very same? If this charge be true, what can be-Yes; because by approving it I should my answer. Suppose passages were taken, which are exactly the same in the two versions, would the objection still occur?-If the passages be taken from a version made by any body of Christians not in communion with the Catholic Church, the objection would be the same. |