instruction. True it is, that familiarity may be exercised without degradation, and elevation of sentiment without cold reserve, or the repulsiveness of ostentation; as the expression of superiority of knowledge may be chastened by suavity of manner; and this is the happy medium, so characteristic of the surviving Founder of the Royal Humane Society."

In his person, Dr. Cogan was small, plump, and rather inclined to corpulence in the middle period of his life; he at the same time exhibited a keen eye, and a benignant smile. In his dress, he was plain and neat, but he had adopted the Dutch method of clothing, and was accordingly accustomed to use flannel, and wear worsted stockings, both of which he retained longer than is customary in our climate.

His conversation powers were very prominent, for he was replete with intelligence, and conveyed his knowledge in a calm and gentle manner, without dogmatism, or a surly affectation of superiority. On the contrary, he was uncommonly mild, gentle, and unassuming.

This article cannot better conclude perhaps than with the following unanimous vote of the Royal Humane Society, passed at the first meeting after his decease:

"Resolved, That this Court receives information of the death of Dr. Cogan with feelings of the deepest regret for his lossof the most unfeigned respect for his memory-of admiration of his talents, so usefully and meritoriously devoted for the good of his fellow-creatures—and of gratitude for the numerous and important services, rendered by him to this society.

LIST OF THE Works

Of the late Dr. Thomas Cogan.

1. Memoirs of the Society instituted at Amsterdam for the Purpose of restoring Persons apparently drowned, for the years 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, and 1771. Translated from the Low Dutch, 8vo. 1774.

2. Professor Camper's Works, on the Connection between Anatomy and the Fine Arts, &c. Translated from the Low Dutch, 1 vol. 4to. with plates, two editions.

3. The Rhine, or a Journey from Utrecht to Frankfort, &c. 1794, 2 vols. 8vo. with plates.

4. A Philosophical Treatise on the Passions, two editions, 1 vol. 8vo. 1802.

5. An Ethical Treatise on the Passions, founded on the principles investigated in the foregoing work, (No. 4.) 2 vols. 8vo. two editions.

6. Theological Disquisitions, or an Inquiry into those Principles of Religion which are most influential in directing and leading the Passions and Affections of the Mind, 8vo. 1812.

7. A Theological Disquisition on the characteristic Excellencies of Christianity; or, an Inquiry into the superior Assistance it affords, and Motives it contains for the Practice of Virtue, Cultivation of the best Affections of the Heart, and preparing the moral Offspring for permanent Felicity, 8vo. 1813. N. B. These Disquisitions were afterwards published in 5 vols. 8vo. 8. Life and Opinions of John Buncle, Jun.

9. Letters to William Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. on the Doctrine of hereditary Depravity. By a Layman, 8vo. three editions. 10. Ethical Questions, or Speculations on the principal Subjects of Controversy in Moral Philosophy, 1 vol. 8vo. 1817.

N. B. Dr. Cogan has left some unfinished works, and also several manuscripts behind him.

No. IV.

JOSEPH ADAMS, M.D. and F. L.S.

LATE SENIOR PHYSICIAN TO THE SMALLPOX AND VACCINE INOCULA TION HOSPITALS, AND ALSO TO THE NEW FINSBURY AND CENTRAL DISPENSARY IN SMITHfield, president of THE LONDON MEDICAL SOCIETY, &c. &c.

[With an Analysis of his principal Work.]

THE subject of the present memoir, who was born in the metropolis, in 1756, claimed his descent from a family, of which several successive generations had been also born, and generally resided there. His ancestors appear to have come originally from the neighbouring county of Hertford, and he himself is supposed to have sprung from that branch of which Sir Thomas Adams, Lord Mayor of London in 1645-a great sufferer during the civil wars, on account of his attachment to the house of Stuart was the head.

Joseph Adams, the youngest of the three sons of a respectable medical practitioner in Basinghall-street, may be said to have come into, and continued in the world for about threescore years, in a constant and familiar intercourse with every possible appendage to the healing art drugs, hospitals, lecture-rooms were constantly in view, and for the most part, the scene of action from the cradle to the grave!

After a suitable education, which was greatly improved by study, this youth was apprenticed to his own father, who was a member of the Apothecaries' company, with a view to the future benefits derivable from that excellent institution; and a fair opening was thus made for his becoming, first the partner, and in due season the successor of a parent who devoted much

-time to his instruction. A variety of circumstances, however, prevented the completion of this scheme, although taught the first principles of pharmacy under the paternal roof.

The ambition of Joseph, influenced perhaps by both a love of and taste for classical literature, soon aimed at the higher branches of his profession: for to remain a mere dispenser of drugs, was not consonant either with his intentions or his feelings. And here it must be frankly allowed, that by his studious and retired habits, superadded to a turn for investigation, he was admirably calculated either for the humbler or more exalted branches of his profession.

Mr. Adams was now fated, in the language of the times, "to walk the hospitals," and it will be seen by recurring to the names only of the masters under whom he studied, that he was enabled at an early period of life to render himself familiar with the practice of the greatest physicians and surgeons of that day. At St. Bartholomew's he witnessed the talents of Dr. Pitcairn, one of the most popular medical characters of his time, and was also a pupil of Mr. Pott, who had become so famous for his operations in respect to the stone, that he was deemed equal, if not superior, to the French lithotomists;-no small compliment at that period!

Under his friend and future patron, Dr. Saunders, at Guy's, he also beheld an able and enlightened mode of treating the patients at that establishment; but it was at St. George's Hos pital, whither he had been attracted by the reputation of Mr. John Hunter, that he learned to reject some very current notions, as well as rooted prejudices on one hand; while on the other, he readily imbibed the new and enlightened theories of that gentleman, then at the height of his reputation.

He did

The scholar was well calculated, both by nature and education, duly to appreciate the merits of such a master. not reject his doctrines because they were novel in themselves, and rather disadvantageously exhibited under an uncouth garb and a provincial phraseology; on the contrary, he soon perceived them to be at once ingenious, interesting, and profound. They were the ideas of a man original in his character and

conceptions, unacquainted with books, but familiar with practice; who was thus not only incapable of plagiarisms from the conceptions of others, but obliged not unfrequently to call in assistance, to explain his own. The subject of the present memoir was well adapted, by a previous course of study, to comprehend both the value and utility of his doctrines. The zeal displayed by Mr. Joseph Adams was so great indeed, that on all occasions he became their warm advocate and defender; in short, during the course of his whole life, he was ready at all times to enter the lists with the anti-Hunterians, whom he attacked as if they had been his own personal enemies.

After some years spent in these previous avocations, Mr. Adams at length, although not without some degree of reluctance, commenced practice in the metropolis as a surgeon and apothecary. Certain it is, however, that although now happily married, and apparently settled for life, his success was neither equal to his expectations nor his merits. On this, several of his friends, particularly the late Dr. Saunders, prevailed on him to leave England, and try his fortune in another part of the world. But to effect this with comfort, and even with propriety, it became necessary for him to obtain a degree. As he had not studied at either of the English Universities, it was deemed proper to solicit this from the northern portion of our island. Accordingly a testimonium in respect to character and talents, most respectably signed, was transmitted to Marshal College, Aberdeen, and a Diploma in due form transmitted in return. The degree of M. D. was obtained in 1796; and the first edition of his work on " Morbid Poisons," which shall be noticed hereafter, may be considered as a Dissertatio Inauguralis on this occasion.

Dr. Adams now determined to proceed to the island of Madeira, and his friends in London, together with the reputation derived from the work just alluded to, facilitated the means of practising there to advantage. He accordingly obtained the most flattering introductory letters, not only to the English merchants, but also to the Portuguese nobility, as well as the governor, Don Jose da Camera e Leme. By the special