brings out the bottle, and persuades his wife to take a drop," to the last, where the "Bottle has done its work; it has destroyed the infant and the mother, made the father a maniac, and brought the son and daughter to the streets," the interest excited is very intense and dramatically kept up; indeed the dramatic turn of the plates was at once perceived, and a piece was produced at the theatres, with tableaux of the plates. 66 tion and the Royal Academy; many of these pictures possessed much humour, among which may be mentioned "Disturbing a Congregation," "Dressing for the Day," "A New Servant and a Deaf Mistress," &c. The great success which has attended the career of the artist we have been considering, is to be attributed not only to his genius, which in the particular branch of art to which he addressed himself, is undoubtedly great, nor to a playful fancy and an imagination of almost exhaustless fertility, but in a great measure to an industry which never tired, and a determined punctu industry would be testified even by the incomplete list of works which we have given, but a perfect list is probably unattainable, and a complete collection equally so. One which is far from perfect, and was advertised for sale some time ago, filled a good sized cart, when taken to its destination; the artist himself has not prints of the whole of his works, which certainly might have been expected. Another great source of success is the dramatic effect and arrangement of Cruikshank's productions; he himself, we believe, attributes a great deal of popularity to this quality, in fact, he seems personally to have a great deal of dramatic art, and when Mr. Dickens and other littérateurs, for purposes mentioned in the life of that gentleman (Biog. Mag., vol. 2) organized a corps of actors, Mr. Cruikshank was recognised as one of the most capable and most successful. The work made a very great sensation, and was so successful that in the following year the artist produced a sequel, in which the career of the son and daughter of the drunkard was. followed up. One plate therein was re-ality which never failed. His immense markably appalling, the suicide of the unfortunate girl, who in a fit of despair plunges from Waterloo Bridge. In studying for these works, the scenes he witnessed, together with the arguments of some of the leading tee-total advocates, amongst whom he was thrown, produced in the artist's mind a conviction that a total abstinence from intoxicating drinks, is the sole effectual plan for producing a reformation in the lower classes of society. He therefore joined that cause, and has since become the leading and most noticeable advocate of the Tee-totalers. He is at present engaged in producing a pamphlet, called The Glass," the vignette on the title of which, a skeleton hand holding a glass, frothing with serpents, in allusion to the Scriptural motto underneath, is very appropriate and striking. The determination which led the artist to this step, must not, however, be deemed sudden; for in his earlier works a vein It has been the habit of the artist to of moral reproof against the evils of relieve the lassitude occasioned by indrunkenness is traceable, in his "Sunday cessant application to his art by various in London," "The Gin Shop," "The athletic exercises, fencing, rowing, and Upas Tree," and "The Gin Juggernaut." even boxing. He used at one time to Since the appearance of the "Bottle," make little of rowing up to Richmond and its Sequel, Cruikshank has illus- and back, and is generally skilful in trated several works-"The Greatest those exercises which he wisely indulgPlague in Life," "How to Marry," and ed in to keep in health. His appeara work bearing on the crowded state of ance is somewhat remarkable of the London, during the Exhibition, called, middle height, and very broad shoulder"The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. ed, a piercing eye, and a kind of fixed Sandboys," which was unsuccessful. He look, a fine forehead, and a face surhas lately furnished illustrations to an rounded with whiskers somewhat of the edition of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," pub- wildest, give him " a presence which is lished by Mr. John Cassel, which, how-not to be put by." Mr. Cruikshank has ever, cannot be classed amongst his hap-been twice married, but has no chilpiest efforts. dren. Although by no means a young He has latterly turned his attention man, the energy and determination to oil painting, and has contributed to of the artist, kept up no doubt by his the Exhibitions of the British Institu- excellent constitution and abstemious I habits, have scarcely abated. He seeks he should offend none personally. He admission as a student to the Royal Academy, and determines, we believe, ardent as Cicero, when at sixty he learnt Greek, to turn his talents to a new field. The talent which he possesses has certainly never been abused. Whilst he was making the people laugh, he was generally teaching them. He has carefully avoided anything which could even by implication sanction vice. He has assailed sin in the palace equally as in the cottage, and it is great praise to say that although in his younger days he caricatured those in power, he has since refused a great price for work which would cost him little labour because attacked the vice and not the men. He SIR ASTLEY COOPER. therefrom in the way of instruction. To all who feel a curiosity about emi- | sympathies of the general reader, there nent men of their own country and is much in our opinion to be educed time, in whatever department they may have attained their celebrity, the pre- Sir Astley Cooper was born at Yelsent brief outline of the history of one, verton, in the county of Norfolk, on the who has left behind him a reputation 23rd of August 1768. The gentleman, as a successful practical surgeon, sur- who has furnished the reading world passed by none who has been reckoned, with his "Life," in a couple of somewhat and not unjustly, one of the most in- formidable looking volumes, gravely structive surgical teachers the world assures us, that Astley's father, the Rev. has ever seen, cannot, there is abundant Samuel Cooper, D.D., was wont to drive reason to believe, fail to be acceptable. to the parish church of Yelverton aforeThe subject, however, which occupies the said, of which he was the incumbent, few following pages, has been selected, every Sunday morning, in a coach in preference to others,--which proba- drawn by "four powerful, long-tailed, bly on strictly professional grounds, black horses!" This equestrian display may have superior claims upon our was no doubt excessively magnificent attention, not, because it can be af in its way, and must have hebdomadally firmed with any degree of correctness, impressed the Yelvertonians with a ponthat Sir Astley Cooper was a man of derously solemn sense of the official genius, or even, in a high sense of dignity and ecclesiastical importance of the term, a man of science, or worthy their parson-but it is highly questionof being classed with the great lumina- able that their piety was very much ries of his own branch of the medical improved by the exhibition. As deprofession; but simply for the reason scribed, however, the Rev. Doctor's that his career affords, probably, one of weekly cavalcade and appurtenances the most striking instances on record thereto attached, partakes so largely in of what indefatigable industry, coupled its character of the style and taste of the with merely a more than ordinary modern undertaker, that it is perhaps amount of professional skill and intelli-worthy of a passing notice, if only to gence, can sometimes accomplish for its possessor, in the shape of worldly fame, wealth and honours. If, therefore, there is but little to be found in the career of this remarkable man to command the admiration, and still less to enlist the show that "there is nothing new under the sun." Most of our readers doubtless, like ourselves, will be still more surprised to learn, on the same authority, that the mother of Sir Astley Cooper was the veritable authoress of several novels, friend and companion, is ascribed the selection of Sir Astley's walk in the business of life. From Sir Astley himself, however, we have it, that at Norwich, two or three years later, he chanced to visit the hospital, where he saw a Mr. Donee successfully perform the difficult operation of lithotomy; "and it was this," he says, "which inspired me with a strong impression of the utility of surgery, and led me to embark in it as my profession." An opportunity soon presented itself for his so doing. In 1784, his uncle, Mr. William Cooper, an eminent London surgeon, and lecturer in Guy's Hospital, paid his annual visit at Dr. Cooper's parsonage, and a proposal that the nephew should be articled to himself, and accompany him to town, was unanimously approved of by the family party. To London, Astley, now in his seventeenth year, accordingly travelled, where, we gather, that, during several months, there was a pretty constant succession of squabbling in the uncle's establishment, in smitten with the freedom and gaieties of a metropolitan life, than with the charms and attractions of anatomical science. which are reported to have enjoyed no small reputation in her own time, and -it might perhaps have been addedamongst her own friends. Be that as it may, we fear it is beyond dispute now, that, as far as the ungrateful world is concerned, all memory of her works, however meritorious they might have been, has been cruelly suffered to perish long ago. We believe her, however, to have been both an amiable and accomplished lady; but whatever literary talent she may have possessed, Sir Astley, when a boy, seems to have inherited not a particle of the maternal love for letters. He was, like a good many other boys, who have afterwards turned out clever men, much fonder of bird's-nesting than book-reading. Blessed with an abundant flow of animal spirits, he was celebrated amongst his village compeers, only for the greater variety of puerile tricks, scrapes, and feats, in which he alternately played the part either of hero or delinquent-and is said to have found favour with no teacher, except a poor dancing French-consequence of the nephew being more man who included the vicarage in his weekly journey. It is not necessary to our present purpose to inquire what proportion of the success of great men in after-life, is to be attributed to im- At this period, indeed, the youth_appulses or predilections which grow up in pears to have been quite of the "Bob their boyhood, suffice it to say merely, Sawyer" order of students, and his that it is customary in modern biography pranks were sufficiently numerous and to assert, that most of those who have indecorous, to have entitled him to the become distinguished, either in litera-highest honours of that particular school. ture, science, or art, have in early life given strong and unmistakeable indications of their destiny; and that Mr. Bransby Cooper, in strict accordance with this stereotyped theory, traces in his "Life of Sir Astley Cooper," his uncle's choice of calling to the following incident. When Astley was but thirteen years of age, he happened one evening to call at his foster-mother's cottage, just after her son, the playfellow of his childhood, had met with a bad accident in the reaping field. The femoral artery had been cut; the poor people knew not how to arrest the hæmorrhage; life was ebbing fast away, when young Astley took a silk handkerchief from his neck, and bound it so adroitly round the limb that the flow of blood was stopped until a medical man reached the spot. To the praise which this presence of mind and cleverness of hand brought him, and still more to the pleasure he felt in saving his humble With a staid, business man, like the 66 "It was the custom for each professor to receive at his own house the fees from the new pupils. One day Dr.Gregory, thus engaged, had used all his blank tickets, and was obliged to go into an adjoining apartment to procure another for a student whom he left sitting in his consulting-room. The accumulated money was lying on the table, and from this sum, as he was re-entering the room, he saw the young man sweep a portion, and deposit it in his pocket. Dr. Gregory took his seat at the table, and, as if nothing had occurred, filled up the ticket, and gave it to the delinquent. He then accompanied him to the door, and, when at the threshold, with much emotion said to him, 'I saw what you did just now; keep the money. I know what must be your distress; but, for God's sake, never do it again, it can never succeed.' The pupil in vain offered him back the money, and the Doctor had the satisfaction of knowing that this moral lesson produced the desired impression upon his mind." whom or to what, he was alluding. 'Why,' said Mr. Cooper, 'you don't mean to say that you are not my nephew, Astley Cooper? Really, sir, have not the pleasure of knowing any such person. My name is -, of the th," replied the young scapegrace, naming with unflinching boldness, the regiment of which he wore the uniform. Mr. William Cooper apologised, although still unable to feel assured he was not being duped, and bowing, passed on." Soon after the detection of this very theatrical piece of imposition, which cannot fail to remind our readers of a precisely similar incident in Bourcicault's comedy of "London Assurance," we are informed that the articles of indenture were transferred from Mr. William Cooper to Mr. Cline. This translation seems to have had a wonderfully salutary effect upon the youthful masquerader, and henceforth his genius for adventures appears to have taken quite a new turn, and displayed itself solely in the acquisition of 'subjects" for experiment. These consisted principally of purloined dogs, and After making a tour into the Highin the "Life" already referred to, we lands on horseback, in the following are complacently furnished with several summer, Cooper returned to England, anecdotes of the reformed Astley's pains- and resumed his attendance at the best taking system of scientifically torturing schools in the metropolis. He now these poor animals, which, however, studied under John Hunter, and that with a little more respect for the feelings eagerly, and with vast profit; and to his of our readers, we shall refrain from bold adoption and clever exposition of introducing here. Astley speedily ac- the doctrines of this illustrious preceptor, quired great favour with Mr. Cline for are mainly to be attributed the subsethe zeal and earnestness with which he quent distinguished rank which he himtook to the practice of dissection, and self took, and the fortune he made as erelong, under that great surgeon's tui- a lecturer and surgical teacher. tion, he made rapid progress in all the 1789, he was appointed demonstrator knowledge requisite for his profession. at St. Thomas's Hospital; and in 1791, In the year 1787, being then nineteen Mr. Cline paid him the high compli years of age, he spent one winter at ment of procuring his nomination as Edinburgh. He had good introduc- joint-lecturer with himself in anatomy tions, and, besides attending diligently and surgery. From this date his career on Dr. Cullen's medical course, Fyfe's was one of rapid and uninterrupted adanatomical lectures, and Black's che- vancement. In December of this year, mistry, found time to be rather an active we hear of his marriage with a Miss member of the " Speculative Society," Anne Cock, the daughter of an intia debating club then and afterwards of mate friend of Mr. Cline, a rich retired considerable celebrity and influence. merchant, who inhabited a villa near His notes make us acquainted with some Tottenham, but who, strange to say, died of the connections he formed here, and upon the very day that had been first which must have been highly useful to settled for the wedding. Mr. Bransby him. Amongst others, besides those of Cooper thus relates the sequel: "A short his medical teachers, he mentions the time subsequent to this bereavement the celebrated names of Dugald Stewart, friends of the young people considered it Adam Smith, Lord Meadowbank, and advantageous that their marriage should Charles Hope. Of Dr. Gregory, from a be no longer deferred. In December a variety of others, we select the follow-christening was to take place from the ing beautiful and touching anecdote. house of Mr. Cline, and he thought that In and as practitioner, an eminence, which for a man of his standing, is perhaps without a precedent. The next great step, however, the appointment as surgeon to Guy's Hospital, met, in consequence of his French politics, with considerable opposition. But the difficulty was overcome by his avowing his determination to "relinquish the companionship and intimacy of his late democratical friends, and abandon for the future all participation in the strife of politics and party," a pledge to which he faithfully adhered. Fortune seems to have delighted in favouring him, for about this time he also succeeded to a great share of Cline's lucrative city practice, the latter having removed to the west end of the town. Mr. Cooper now occupied the spacious premises in St. Mary Axe, which Cline had vacated; and as yet, the great merchants of London, had not, generally speaking, abandoned the old custom of having their town-residences in connection with their places of business, he found himself in the centre of a most intelligent and opulent society, and soon became accustomed to munificent fees. For example, one ancient merchant, Mr. Hyatt, when pronounced all right again, tossed his night-cap to the surgeon, who, bowing politely, put it into his pocket, and, on entering his chariot, found pinned inside a bank-note for £1000!-Others regularly paid him liberal annuities. A Mr.Coles, of Mincing Lane, for a long course of time, gave him £600 every Christmas. While on the subject of fees, it may be somewhat encouraging to struggling practitioners, as well as interesting to our readers generally, to insert here the following curious statement from Sir Astley's feebook: this would afford an excellent opportunity for his young friends to be united. The marriage was solemnized, and they afterwards retired, as if they had been merely witnesses of the christening. On the evening of the same day, Mr. Cooper delivered his surgical lecture with all the ease of manner which characterized him on ordinary occasions, and the pupils dispersed without a suspicion of the occurrence. After lecture he went to the house in Jefferies-square, which Mr. Cock, promising to himself the happiness of seeing his daughter surrounded with every comfort, had but a short time before his decease purchased, and furnished for them." In June of the following year, the memorable 1792, the happy couple proceeded to Paris. The object of this nuptial excursion was, it would appear, in so far as Mr. Cooper at least was concerned, twofold. Along with his friend Cline's anatomical instructions, he had also imbibed that gentleman's peculiar political principles. Cline was a democrat, living in friendship with Horne Tooke, and Cooper was one of the most promising, and about this time, probably one of the most enthusiastic of their disciples. His visit to Paris, therefore, was, in the first place, more with a view to gratify his curiosity by attendance at the debates of the National Assembly, &c.; and secondly, of improving his professional knowledge by comparing the Parisian practice of surgery with our own, than for the sake either of change or amusement. During the terrible three months he remained there, he is said to have attended the hospitals daily, decorated with a democratic badge, which ensured his personal safety in the streets. He witnessed the 10th of August and the 2d of September, and notwithstanding the many atrocities My receipt," says he, "for the first brought under his eye, his Parisian ex-year was £5 5s.; the second, £26; the perience did not disturb his adhesion third, £64; the fourth, £96; the fifth, to Mr. Cline's political views. On the £100; the sixth, £200; the seventh, contrary, we learn upon good authority £400; the eighth, £610; the ninth, that on his return, he was an active £1100, although I was a lecturer all steward of the festival of the Revolution the time on anatomy and surgery." In Society of London, in 1793.” his later years, however, he is said to have made more money than any surgeon that ever lived before him. In one year, 1815, his professional income amounted to upwards of twenty-one thousand pounds! The secret of all this, as has already been remarked, was industry. Throughout the whole thoroughly active period of his life, we are informed, Astley Cooper was in his dis 66 This circumstance, however, did not interfere with his being, in the very same year, appointed to the professorship at Surgeons' College, and he filled the chair with so much approbation that he was re-elected to it year after year, as long as he could place his services at their disposal. Before the close of the century he had reached, both as lecturer |
