"The good opinion, the anxiety, the everything I had formed about your dear boy, arose from a thousand circumstances and little traits, that strongly marked in my mind something superior in his way of proceeding, and something desirable in his heart; but all is now past.* I trust God will support you and Mr. T. under this bitterness of grief. "God bless you! Yours, &c. " W. K." 66 DEAR MRS. T. "How little do we know what we shall do on the morrow! That morrow on which I promised to write to you in my last letter, my dearest little boy was taken ill, and this night he closed his eyes for ever. The affliction of his poor parents is * This lady's son, a midshipman, a very fine boy, went to sea in the Courageaux, fell overboard, and could not be saved. very great. I can at present write nor say more; but pray believe me "Your affectionate friend, "Jan. 20th, 1802." "W. K." 66 DEAR MRS. T. "You ought to have received my thanks for your many kind letters before now; but my spirits have been so oppressed, that I have not had sufficient power of myself to do that which I wished, and what I ought to have done. Frequently have I told you that I never received one of your letters but with indescribable gratification. Believe me, to the full extent did I feel this when I received your first letter after the death of my dearest dear little boy. "The most afflicting miseries that attend mankind are in general, I think, produced by death; yet we form schemes and projects as if we could command that life which Almighty power can alone give or take. The duties of my profession ought, I confess, to teach me consolation in my present affliction, when every day's experience shows me the uncertainty of human life, and how little is attached to human skill and human wisdom. Perhaps scarcely half the babes that see the light survive their first, second, or third year; and if we weigh well this instance of Providence, I think the eye of mercy is visible; for what can be greater goodness than to bless the innocent, and to secure still more happiness to the happy? "Yet, notwithstanding all this, death and separation are terrible indeed to the fond parent and friend. The cultivation of religion, however, can somewhat soften these afflictions. Zeno rejoiced that a shipwreck had thrown him on the Athenian coast, as he owed to the loss of his fortune the acquisition which he made of religion, virtue, wisdom, and immortality. Resignation to the will of God is true magnanimity. When afflictions fail to have their VOL. I. E due effect, the case is desperate. They may be considered as the last remedy of a benevolent Providence. The beautiful lines of an ancient poet (but which lose some of their beauty by the translation) are, Parent of good! master of the world! Wherein thy providence directs, behold My steps with cheerful resignation turn. Why should I grieve, when grieving I must bear Or take with guilt, what guiltless I might share?' "As we both are now suffering alike, my dear friend, I hope I have not tired you by this strain of writing. My kind regards to Mr. T. Mrs. K. desires to be most kindly remembered to you. "Believe me, &c. " W. K." CHAPTER III. Dr. Knighton's removal to London. Letter from Dr. Hawker.-Difficulties in establishing a Medical Practice. -Letter to Mrs. T.-Unexpected embarrassment.-Removal to Edinburgh.-Letter from the late Mr. Northcote. Ir will be seen by some of the foregoing extracts that the difficulties were various which Dr. Knighton had to contend with; but all were subdued by firmness and the most scrupulous correctness of conduct. In 1803 he determined to remove to London. To this he was partly induced by the great fatigue of country practice, and by a wish for a more extensive sphere of occupation; but what perhaps chiefly influenced him was a desire of change of scene, after the death of his little boy. On this occasion a letter found amongst Sir |