a national pestilence is abroad, the medical man is chiefly exposed to the pest while watching and learning its nature and its treatment. He is always engaged in the work of charity, because he gains his daily bread by being charitable.

A false notion is now afloat concerning the humanity of medical men. While a disease is threatening to infest our capital, public authorities are wisely convened to forestal and prevent its ravages among the dark and dirty dwellings of the poor; and the poorer people are cleansed and cheered according to the active and diligent instructions of their alarmed superiors. A general feeling of humanity is produced and enforced by private apprehensions. Sobriety, one of the first of Christian virtues, is now proclaimed, not by the voice of wisdom, but by the shout of calamity. In the discharge of this novel duty, the medical man is called upon to take his part; but his part is to be discharged, not in anticipating the arrival of the disease, but in meeting it when it is arrived. He is to hold himself in readiness to rise by night and by day, to enter the houses of the poor, to detect, to touch, to handle, and to treat a loathsome sickness, and to lean over the bed, or to tarry by its side, till safety or death shall have ensued. If there be any contagion or infection, he is exposed to its baneful influence; if there be any hazard of health, he is open to the obvious danger. We doubt not the moral energy and the professional avidity of any medical practitioner, in the encountering of a new disease; the eagerness with which the zealous physician would hasten, any hour, to survey, perchance to understand and to cure, a spreading evil, fatal to the lives of men; but no man is justified in wantonly exposing his person to mischief; and every master of a family is bound to consider those who depend upon him for support. The danger may be adventured upon, but only with the prospect of a fair remuneration; and those authorities which require the medical man to serve for nothing, dictate an act of humanity to be practised only according to the feelings and the means of the individual dictated to. A medical man's time and judgment are purchaseable articles; and they are, like bread and meat, to be purchased in all seasons, both of prosperity and of national adversity; since humanity is exhibited, not by acting for nothing, but in doing to the utmost what is right and proper, in the hope of a legitimate reward. They who do less than this, are inimical to themselves and to the common weal; for how shall society be held together, if mutual advantages be not considered? The medical man must support himself by his labour, and he will soon cease to be able to act gratuitously, if his labour do not supply him with the means to live.

But suppose there be no danger of infection, and that the disease were curable by a touch, nevertheless that touch, and that exertion, without ha zard, is still worthy of a just reward. So that, if the poor are to be attended gratuitously, let the medical man act for himself, as he frequently does act, without ostentation, by giving, if he choose, his advice and his medicine as a free gift, merely with the hope of doing good.

Money he desires for himself, indeed, but more for those who live by his exertions. Money is the source of subsistence. The days are gone when we might pluck, and live with ease and pleasure, from the tree of life; and in civilized communities, a man will be arrested for nudity, if he have not money to clothe himself withal. The profit to be expected from an extension of name and reputation, is remote and uncertain; and that policy is truly fallacious, which places the well-being of an individual or a nation not in an immediate, but in a prospective good; since who can foresee or control the adverse rise of intermediate circumstances?

Having advanced the principle upon which the physician, as a man, expects the just remuneration of his services, he is not ashamed to say with Horace "quærenda pecunia primum est." Never will an honest member of our profession allow his ear to be deaf, nor his eye blind to the sight and

the sound of genuine poverty; nor will he spare his best exertions to alleviate the afflictions of the unfortunate, the wretched, and the debased; the knot of his purse can be loosed to give as well as to receive; and he would blush, indeed, if his hands were not sometimes open to bestow as well as to accept. He has learned, from the practice of his profession, the pleasure of doing good; and he only demands for his exertions, especially public exertions, those pecuniary supplies which may still enable him to practice and to study his science, to support his family, to benefit his friends, and to give to all those who in the hour of need, he knows will be relieved and comforted by the silent gift of benevolence.

LICENSES TO OYSTER CELLARS.

It will be seen, from the following extract, that the Grand Jury for the city of Philadelphia, have, in their inquest to the Mayor's Court, protested against the iniquitous law for licensing oyster cellars to retail ardent spirits.

To the Mayor's Court.

The Grand Inquest inquiring for the city of, Philadelphia, respectfully represent:

That in the discharge of their duties during the present term, they have with much pleasure observed a sensible diminution of such cases as usually have their origin in those sinks of vice, tippling houses; this they attribute in a great measure to the effects produced by the different acts of the Legislature hitherto passed with a design to limit the number of taverns, and to confine licenses to such only as necessity absolutely requires. The Inquest cannot, however, withhold the expression of their deep regret at the manifest evidence they have discovered of the pernicious consequences likely to result from the granting of licenses to oyster cellars, and thereby in effect legalizing an extensive source of vice; they are satisfied that the Legislature would not have passed the act referred to, had they been fully acquainted with the wishes of the citizens regarding it, and distinctly appreciated the practical mischief to the youth of the city that will inevitably follow. Circumstances coming under the notice of the Inquest during the present term, fully justify the alarming apprehensions of the community concerning this matter; they therefore earnestly hope that this important subject, particularly as it affects the rising generation, may again arrest the serious attention of the Legislature, and that in their wisdom they may see meet to alter the law, which to this Inquest appears to be of paramount importance.

The senator, who thought himself safe in slandering the Temperance Society, under the supposition that its doctrines were not popular with the people, and that from its numbers it could not exert any controling influence at an election, will find that he has mistaken the feelings of the citizens of Philadelphia. His misrepresentations of the time and manner of holding the town meeting, to protest against the obnoxious law, are now signally exposed; and he will, we fervently hope, find it less difficult than heretofore to ascertain public opinion in Philadelphia, a point at which he professes himself to be always greatly puzzled. The most clear and decisive manner for their expressing their wishes to the next Legislature, respecting the legalized encouragement of drunkenness, will be for the citizens of the city and county of Philadelphia, (for they have a common interest in this mat

ter,) to allow the representatives who have betrayed their trust to stay at home. The members from this city and county, ought to have at least asked for time to obtain information, had they been ignorant of the pernicious consequences of the proposed law. In mere party measures they are wide awake; why should they be asleep when the morals and happiness of the entire community are at stake!

"MONTHLY AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY AND NATURAL SCIENCE, &c. &c. Conducted by G. W. Featherstonhaugh, Esq. Fellow of the Geological Society of London; Member of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, &c. &c. March, 1832. Published by the Editor. Subscriptions received at Mr. Judah Dobson's, 108 Chesnut street.-Price $3 50, payable in advance."-We are pleased to see that the zealous editor of this work is determined, despite the culpable mismanagement of the former publisher, H. H. Porter, to continue it, and to finish the first volume at his own expense. The public will, we trust, reciprocate, in a becoming spirit, the desire of Mr. Featherstonhaugh to do them full justice, in completing an engagement which not he, but the publisher, had contracted with them. Happily for the cause of science and letters, other motives than the hopes of lucre are constantly impelling their votaries to extend their domain, and to multiply their useful and pleasurable applications.

The present number of the Journal of Geology, delayed in its publication by the causes adverted to above, will be found, on perusal, to be fully as entertaining and instructive as any preceding one. The description of the Natural Bridge, in Rockingham county, Virginia, obtains additional interest and value by a beautifully executed lithographic print of that sublime object, second only to the Falls of Niagara in the feelings of admiration and awe, which it excites in the mind of the traveller, gazing on it for the first time. The first article of this number is geological-being, On the constituent Minerals, and the structure of the Primary Rocks. This is followed by a paper on the comparative Encouragement given to the study of Natural History in Europe and North America. A Philadelphian will rise from its perusal with feelings of allowable pride at the contribution of his city towards furthering the progress of science. A letter from the celebrated Audubon to the Editor, contains a melange of personal adventure, and details in natural history, which that writer is so felicitous in introducing.

THE HEALTH ALMANAC FOR 1833.

KEY, MIELKE AND BIDDLE will soon have ready for the trade, the Health Almanac for 1833. This work will be, as heretofore, under the direction of the Editors of the Journal of Health, by whom the maxims and rules for the preservation of health will be furnished.

The Editors would observe that the substitution of other publishers for H. H. Porter, is a measure called for, not merely by the failure, but by the gross misconduet of this individual, whose name will, in future, be any thing but a passport to public favour and patronage.

NOTICE.

WHEREAS by assignment, bearing date the 14th of March, 1832, Henry H. Porter assigned all his estate and effects to the subscriber, in trust for the benefit of such creditors, (amongst others,) as shall make and execute a release within sixty days from and after the date of such assignment. Notice is hereby given to all persons indebted to the said Henry H. Porter, to make immediate payment to the subscriber, and creditors are invited to call at his Counting-house, No. 27 Minor street, where the release is ready for execution.

SHELDON POTTER, Assignee.

THE interest which flowers have excited in the breast of man from the earliest ages to the present day, has never been confined to any particular class of society, or quarter of the globe. Nature seems to have distributed them over the whole world to serve as a medicine to the mind-to give cheerfulness to the earth, and to furnish agreeable sensations to its inhabitants. The savage of the forest, in the joy of his heart, binds his brow with the native flowers of his woods, whilst a taste for their cultivation increases in every country in proportion as the blessings of civilization extend. From the humblest cottage enclosure to the most extensive park and grounds, nothing more conspicuously bespeaks the good taste of the possessor than a well cultivated flower garden and it may very generally be remarked, that when we behold a humble tenement surrounded with ornamental plants, the possessor is a man of correct habits, and possesses domestic comforts; whilst, on the contrary, a neglected weedgrown garden, or its total absence, marks the indolence, and unhappy state of those who have been thus neglectful of Flora's favours.

Of all luxurious indulgences, that of flowers is the most innocent. It is productive not only of rational gratification, but of many advantages of a permanent character. Love for a garden has a powerful influence in attaching men to their homes; and on this account every encouragement given to increase a VOL. III.-31

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taste for ornamental gardening is an additional security for domestic comfort and happiness. It is likewise a recreation which conduces materially to health, promotes civilization, and softens the manners and tempers of men. It creates a love for the

study of nature, which leads to a contemplation of the mysterious wonders that are displayed in the vegetable world around us, and which cannot be investigated without inclining the mind towards a just estimate of religion, and a knowledge of the narrow limits of our intelligence, when compared with the incomprehensible power and wisdom of the Creator.

Flowers are, of all embellishments, the most beautiful; and of all created beings, man alone seems capable of deriving enjoyment from them. The love for them commences with infancy, remains the delight of youth, increases with our years, and becomes the quiet amusement of our declining days. The infant can no sooner walk than its first employment is to plant a flower in the earth, removing it ten times in an hour to wherever the sun seems to shine most favourably. The school boy, in the care of his little plot of ground, relieves the tedium of his studies, and loses the anxious thoughts of the home he has left. In manhood our attention is generally demanded by more active duties, or by more imperious, and perhaps less innocent, occupations; but as age obliges us to retire from public life, the love of flowers, and the delights of a garden, return to soothe the later period of our life.

To most persons, gardening affords delight as an easy and agreeable occupation; and the flowers they so fondly rear, are cherished, from the gratification they afford to the organs of sight and of smell; but to the close observer of nature, and the botanist, beauties are unfolded, and wonders displayed that cannot be detected by the careless attention bestowed upon them by the multitude. In their growth, from the first tender shoots which rise from the earth through all the changes which they undergo to the period of their utmost perfection, he beholds the wonderful works of creative power; he views the bud as it swells, and looks into the expanded blossom, delights in its rich tints and fragrant smell, but, above all, he feels a charm in contemplating movements and regulations before which all the combined ingenuity of man dwindles into nothingness.

FREE SCHOOLS.

WHEN noticing, some little time back, the will of the late Stephen Girard, and his legacies to the city, we entered most into a detail of the description of the edifice which he directs to be built for a college. We took occasion also to praise the plan of