right knee, which caused, as it always must cause, an incurable weakness in the fractured part, and a lameness, not very discernible indeed, when walking on even ground.

It is remarkable, that this uncommon accident happened to three of the inhabitants of Lichfield in the course of one year; first to the author of these memoirs in the prime of her youth; next, to Dr. Darwin; and, lastly, to the late Mr. Levett, a gentleman of wealth and consequence in the town. No such misfortune was previously remembered in that city, nor has it once recurred through all the years which have since elapsed.

Dr. Darwin was happy in the talents, docility, and obedience, of his three sons. An high degree of stammering retarded and embarrassed his utterance. The eldest boy, Charles, had contracted the propensity. With that wisdom, which marked the Doctor's observations on the habits of life; with that decision of conduct, which always instantly followed the conviction of his mind, he sent Charles abroad; at once to break the force of habit, formed on the contagion of daily example, and from a belief, that in the pronunciation of a foreign language, hesitation would be less likely to recur, than in speaking those words and sentences, in which he had been accustomed to hesitate. About his twelfth

year he was committed to the care of the scientific, the learned, the modest, and worthy Mr. Dickinson, now rector of Blimel, in Shropshire.

That the purpose of the experiment might not be frustrated, Dr. Darwin impressed that good man's mind with the necessity of not permitting his pupil to converse in English; nor ever to hear it uttered after he could at all comprehend the French language. Charles Darwin returned to England after a two year's residence on the continent, completely cured of stammering; with which he was not afterwards troubled; but his utterance was from that time, somewhat thick and hurried.

Since these memoirs commenced, an odd anecdote of Dr. Darwin's early residence at Lichfield was narrated to a friend of the author by a gentleman, who was of the party in which it happened. Mr. Sneyd, then of Bishton, and a few more gentlemen of Staffordshire, prevailed upon the Doctor to join them in an expedition by water, from Burton to Nottingham, and on to Newark. They had cold provision on board, and plenty of wine. It was midsummer; the day ardent and sultry. The noontide meal had been made, and the glass gone gaily round. It was one of those few instances, in which the medical votary of the Naiads transgressed his general and strict sobriety. If not absolutely intoxicated, his spirits were in a high state of vinous exhilaration. On the boat approaching Nottingham, within the distance of a few fields, he surprised his companions by stepping, without any previous notice, from the boat into the middle of the river, and swimming to shore. They saw him get upon the bank, and walk coolly over the meadows toward the town: they called to him in vain, he did not once turn his head

Anxious lest he should take a dangerous cold by remaining in his wet clothes, and uncertain whether or not he intended to desert the party, they rowed instantly to the town, at which they had not designed to have touched, and went in search of their river-god.

In passing through the market-place, they saw him standing upon a tub, encircled by a crowd of people, and resisting the entreaties of an apothecary of the place, one of his old acquaintance, who was importuning him to go to his house, and accept of other raiment till his own could be dried.

The party, on pressing through the crowd were surprised to hear him speaking without any degree of his usual stammer.

"Have I not told you, my friend, that I had "drank a considerable quantity of wine before I " committed myself to the river. You know my

" general sobriety; and, as a professional man, you " ought to know, that the unusual existence of "internal stimulus, would, in its effects upon the "system, counteract the external cold and mois"ture."

Then, perceiving his companions near him, he nodded, smiled, and waved his hand, as enjoining them silence, thus without hesitation, addressing the populace:

"Ye men of Nottingham, listen to me. You are ingenious and industrious mechanics. By "your industry life's comforts are procured for "yourselves and families. If you lose your health, " the power of being industrious will forsake you. "That you know; but you may not know, that to " breathe fresh and changed air constantly, is not " less necessary to preserve health, than sobriety "itself. Air becomes unwholesome in a few hours " if the windows are shut. Open those of your " sleeping-rooms whenever you quit them to go to "your workshops. Keep the windows of your " workshops open whenever the weather is not in"supportably cold. I have no interest in giving

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you this advice. Remember what I, your coun"tryman, and a physician, tell you. If you would "not bring infection and disease upon yourselves, " and to your wives and little ones, change the air

you breathe, change it many times in a day, by " opening your windows."

So saying, he stept down from the tub, and returning with his party to their boat, they pursued their voyage.

Dr. Johnson was several times at Lichfield, on visits to Mrs. Lucy Porter his daughter-in-law, while Dr. Darwin was one of its inhabitants. They had one or two interviews, but never afterwards sought each other. Mutual and strong dislike subsisted between them. It is curious that in Dr. Johnson's various letters to Mrs. Thrale, now Mrs. Piozzi, published by that lady after his death, many of them, at different periods, dated from Lichfield, the name of Darwin cannot be found; nor indeed, that of any of the ingenious and lettered people who lived there; while of its mere commonlife characters there is frequent mention, with many hints of Lichfield's intellectual barrenness, while it could boast a Darwin, and other men of classical learning, poetic talents, and liberal information. Of that number was the Rev. Thomas Seward Canon-Residentiary of its Cathedral; known to the lettered world as critical editor of Beaumont and Fletcher's Plays, in concert with Mr. Simpson. Their edition came out in the year 1750. By people of literary taste and judgment, it is allowed