Notes and Queries, Number 49, October 5, 1850 — John Shaqi
Notes and Queries, Number 49, October 5, 1850Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 49, October 5, 1850
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
P. 515. _Doctor Dodd._--The great interest excited in favour of a
commutation of his sentence, led to the belief at the time, that his
life had not been really sacrificed. Many plausible stories respecting
the Doctor having been subsequently seen alive, were current; and as
they may possibly in some future age be revived, and again pass into
general currency, it may be as well to state that the most positive
evidence to the contrary exists, in a letter of Dr. Hutton's before
referred to. The _attempt to resuscitate him was actually made_, by a no
less distinguished surgeon than John Hunter. He seemed then to attribute
the failure to his having _received the body too late_. Wonderful
effects were at that time expected to result from the discovery of
galvanism; but it would have been wonderful indeed if any restoration
had taken place after more than two hours of suspended animation. John
Hunter, according to the account, does not seem to have been very
communicative on the subject, even to his philosophical friends at
Slaughter's Oyster Rooms.
T.S.D.
Shooter's Hill.
[Footnote 1: It may not be out of place here to mention one fine feature
in the character of "Tom Hurst;" his deep reverence for men of ability,
whether in literature, science, or art. Take one instance:
Fourteen or fifteen years ago, I called one morning at his place of
business (then 65. St. Paul's Church Yard, which has been subsequently
absorbed into the "Religious Tract Depository"); and, as was my custom,
I walked through the shop to his private room. He was "not in;" but a
gentleman, who first looked at me and then at a portrait of me on the
wall, accosted me by my surname as familiarly as an intimate
acquaintance of twenty years would have done. He and Hurst, it appeared,
had been speaking of me, suggested by the picture, before Hurst went
out. The familiar stranger did not keep me long in suspense--he
intimated that I had "probably heard our friend speak of Ben Haydon." Of
course I had; and we soon got into an easy chat. Hurst was naturally a
common subject with us. Amongst the remarks he made were the following,
and in almost the words:--
"When my troubles came on, I owed Hurst a large sum of money; and the
circumstances under which I became his debtor rendered this peculiarly a
debt of honour. He lent it me when he could ill spare it; yet he is the
only one of all my creditors who has not in one way or other persecuted
me to the present hour. When he first knew of my wreck, he called upon
me--_not to reproach but to encourage me_--and he would not leave me
till he felt sure that he had changed the moody current of my thoughts.
If there be any change in him since then, it is in his increased
kindness of manner and his assiduity to serve me. He is now gone out to
try to sell 'a bit of daub' for me."
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