SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LATE ANDREW MARSHAL, M. D. DR. A. Marshal was one of three sons, in a numerous family of children, of whom one male besides himself, and seven females, lived to be adults; and was born in Fifeshire in 1742, at Park-hill, a large farm on the side of the Tay, near Newburgh, held by his father, Mr. John Marshal, of the Earl of Rothes. His father had received a classical education himself; and being desirous that his two remaining sons, William and Andrew, the other having died in early infancy, should enjoy a similar advantage, sent them first to the grammar-school at Newburgh, and afterwards to that of Abernethy, then the most celebrated place of education among the Seceders, of which religious sect he was a most zealous member. Here Andrew was regarded as a more quick and apt scholar than his brother, who was the elder by two years. From his childhood he had taken great delight in rural scenery. One day, while under the influence of feelings of this kind, being then about 14 years old, be, all in a moment, told his father that he wished to leave school, and be a farmer. His desire was granted; but he soon shewed that it had not arisen from any fondness for ordinary country labours. In the following harvest-time, for instance, having been appointed to follow the reapers, and bind up the cut corn into sheaves, he would frequently lay himself down in some shady part of the field, and, taking a book from his pocket, begin to read, utterly forgetful of his task. He had in infancy shewn many marks of self-will and rashness; as he advanced in years, these qualities in him became more couspicuous. Thus, his great delight was to ride unbroken colts without a bridle. One day, on galloping a colt in this way down a hill, he was thrown upon the ground, where he lay some time senseless. On another day, in order to see a horse-race at Erroll, he crossed the Tay alone in a fishing-boat, where it is two miles broad; and returned in the same way, after undergoing infinite labour, and running great risk of being carried out to sea. His father, in the mean time, a man of enthusiastic mind, had been so much occupied in building meeting-houses, and conducting other business for the Seceders, to the neglect of his own affairs, that he fell into arrears for rent; and being obliged on this account to leave Park-hill, went to another farm, near Torryburn, ou the opposite side of the county. Andrew, who was sixteen when this change in his father's affairs took place, being now tired of farming, resumed his studies, with the intention of becoming a Seceding minister, feeling himself gifted in the way of saying grace, and performing other religious exercises. Shortly after, he was admitted a student of Philosophy at Abernethy; and next became a student of Divinity, after giving proofs of his conversion and call. In the intervals between the times of his attendance at Abernethy he had taught a school in his father's neighbourhood. He now attended sacraments, officiating in his turn, and praying with much emotion. A hearer was once so pleased with his fervour in prayer, that he presented him with a guinea at its conclusion. His popularity, however, with the Seceders did not long continue. Having published an Essay on Composition, in a periodical work, he was summoned before the Synod of his sect at Edinburgh; and refusing to retract something that he had said in his Essay, was excommunicated. After this he went to Glasgow, being then about 19 years of age. Here he divided his time between teaching a school, and attending lectures in the University. The branches of learning which he chiefly cultivated were Greek and Morals. At the end of two years passed in this way, he became (through the interest of the celebrated Dr. Reid, to whom his talents and diligence had recommended him,) tutor in a gentleman's family, of the name of Campbell, in the Island of Islay. He remained here four years, making little progress in learning; and spending the greater part of the time, not occupied by the duties of his station, in wandering in solitude over the Island, admiring its rocks, its beach, the ocean, and the islands scattered around it. From Islay he went to the University of Edinburgh with Mr. Campbell's son; the following year he carried him back to his father. Having surrendered his charge, he returned to Edinburgh, where he subsisted himself by reading Greek and Latin privately with students of the University; in the mean time taking no recreation, but giving up all his leisure to the acquisition of knowledge. He still considered himself a stu⚫ dent of Divinity, in which capacity he delivered two discourses in the Divinityball; and from motives of curiosity began in 1769 to attend lectures on Medicine. While thus employed he was chosen a member of the Speculative Society, where, in the beginning of 1772, he became acquainted with Lord Balgonie, who was so much pleased with the display which he made of genius and learning in that So ciety, that he requested they should read together; and in the aut imn of the fol lowing year made a proposal for their going to the Continent, which was readily accepted. They travelled slowly through Flanders to Paris, where they stayed a month, and then proceeded to Tours, where they resided eight months, in the house of a man of letters, under whose tuition tuition they strove to acquire a currect knowledge of the French language and government. They became acquainted here with several persons of rank, among whom were a Prince of Rohan and the Dukes of Choiseul and Aguiton, at whose seats in the neighbourhood they were sometimes received as guests. / An acquaintanee with such people would make Marshal feel pain on account of his waut of external accomplishments; and this probably was the reason of his labouring to learn to dance and to fence while he was at Tours, though he was then more than 30 years old. He returned to England in the summer of 1774; and proceeded soon after to Edinburgh, where he resumed the employment of reading Latin and Greek with young men. Hitherto he seems to have formed no settled plan of life, but to have bounded his views almost entirely to the acquisition of knowledge, and a present subsistence. His friends, however, had been induced to hope that he would at some time be advanced to a Professor's chart; and it is possible that he entertained the same hope himself. In the spring of 1775, this hope appeared to be strengthened by his being requested by Mr. Stewart, the Professor of Humanity at Edinburgh, to officiate for him, as he was then unwell: Marshal complied. The class he had to teach consisted in great measure of boys of 13 or 14 years, who had come a few months before from the High School of Edinburgh, the boys in which are perhaps more unruly than those of any other large school in Great Britain. Marshal had in consequence great difficulty in keeping his pupils in order, rendered no doubt more unmanageable by their looking upon him as an assistant, and therefore inferior in rank to their pro'per preceptor. One day an idle boy, named Macqueen, son of an eminent lawyer, who afterwards became Lord Justice Clerk, was particularly troublesome. He was desired to leave the class; but he refused, and continued his rudeness. Marshal at length was so irritated by his behaviour, that, contrary to the established rule, he struck him with a small stick or switch. The boy ran home, followed by a number of other boys, and complained to .his father. Mr. Macqueen, in a rage, sallied from his house, without his hat, and, accompanied by the boys who had come with his son, proceeded to Marshal's jodgings. Students of Divinity (and Marshal was still regarded oue) do not rank high in Scotland, being for the most part persons of low birth, who, placing their chief hope of obtaining a church in pleasing a patron, are often tempted to obtain his favour by submissiveness and assentation. Mr. Macqueen supposed Marshal to be one of these persous: when therefore he burst into his room, he ad. dressed him in words like these" Are you the scoundrel that dared to strike my son?" There were two swords banging against the wall, which Marsbal bad brought from France. One of these he presented to Mr. Macqueen; the other he drew, and putting himself in a fighting attitude, cried out "Defend yourself, Sir!" The sight of a sword held near to his breast by a tall, vigorous, indignant man, quickly turned Mr. Macqueen's rage into fear, and occasioned him to retire with great precipitation. After this adventure, Marshal, if he had ever held any, must have given up all hopes of being a Professor at Edinburgh; and from this time he appears to have studied medicine with a determination 'to practise it. The writer of this account became acquainted with him in the winter of 1775 and 1776, and found him very diligent in the pursuit of medical knowledge, but not well-versed in it. In the summer of 1776, some incimacy having in the mean time been formed between them, though Marshal was the elder by 15 years, they agreed to take private lessons in Botany together, from an assistant in Dr. Hope's public garden. Marshal was by far the more diligent scholar of the two; he took to the study with enthusiasm, and in following it used often to surprize his companion with the warmth of his expressions on the beauty of plants, and the wisdom of their structure. In the spring of 1777 he was enabled, by the assistance of a friend, Mr. John Campbell of Edinburgh, to come to London for professional improvement; and studied anatomy under Dr. W. Hunter, and surgery under Mr. J. Hunter. After he had been here a twelvemonth, he was appointed surgeon to the 83rd, or Glasgow Regiment, through the interest of the Earl of Leven, the father of his late pupil, Lord Balgonie. The first year after was passed with his regiment in Scotland. In the follow ing be accompanied it to Jersey, where he remained with it almost constantly, till the conclusion of the war in the beginning of 1783, when it was disbanded. In this situation he enjoyed, almost for the first time, the pleasures best suited to a man of independent mind. His income was more than sufficient for his support; his indus try and knowledge rendered him useful; and bis character for integrity and honour procured him general esteem. From Jersey he came to London, seeking for a settlement, and was advised by Dr. D. Pitcairn (with whom he had formed a friendship while a student at Glasgow) to practice surgery here, though he had taken the degree of Doctor of Physic the preceding year at Edinburgh; and to teach anatomy at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, it being at the same time proposed, that the physicians to that Hospital (of whom Dr. Pitcairn was one) should lecture on other other branches of medical learning. He took a house, in consequence, in the neighbourhood of the Hospital; and proceeded to prepare for the excution of his part of the scheme. This proving abortive, he began to teach anatomy, the following year, at his own house; and so far was he from enjoying the patronage of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, as he had once expected, that the next year an ingenious young gentleman, (since well known to the world from his valuable works,) Mr. Abernethy, was appointed anatomical lecturer there. Marshal, however, did not desist; on the contrary, he redoubled his efforts, and at length succeeded in procuring annually a considerable number of pupils, attracted to him solely by the reputation of his being a most diligent and able teacher. In 1788 he quitted the practice of surgery, and commenced that of medicine, having previously become a Member of the Loudon College of Physicians. In the ensuing year a dispute arose between John Hunter and him, which it is proper to relate, as it had influence on his after-life. When Marshal returned to London, he renewed his acquaintance with Mr. Hunter, who thought so well of him, that he requested his attendance at a committee of his friends, to whose correction he submitted his work on the venereal disease, before it was published. He became also a Member of a small society, instituted by Dr. Fordyce and Mr. Hunter, for the improvement of medical and surgical knowledge. Having mentioned at a meeting of this Soelety, that, in the dissection of those who bad died insane, he had always found marks of disease in the head, Mr. Hunter denied the truth of this in very coarse language. The other members interfering, Mr. Hunter agreed to say, that his expressions did not refer to Dr. Marshal's veracity, but to the accuracy of his observation. Marshal, not being satisfied with this declaration, at the next meeting of the Society demanded an ample apology; but Mr. H. instead of making one, repeated the offensive expressious; on which Marshal poured some water over his head out of a bottle which had stood near them. A scuffle ensued, which was immediately stopped by the other members, and no farther personal contention between them ever occurred. But Marshal, conceiving that their common friends in the Society had, from the superior rank of Mr. Hunter, favoured him more in this matter than justice permited, soon after estranged himself from them. He continued the teaching of Anatomy till 1800, in which year, during a tedious illness, the favourable termination of which appeared doubtful to him, he resolved, rather suddenly, to give it up. While he taught anatomy, almost the whole of the fore part of the day, during eight months in the year, was spent by him in his dissecting and lecture rooms. He had, therefore, but little time for seeing sick persons, except at hours frequently inconvenient to them; and was by this means prevented from enjoying much medical practice; but as soon as he had recovered his health, after ceasing to lecture, his practice began to increase. The following year it was so far increased as to render it proper that he should keep a carriage. From this time to within a few months of his death, an interval of 12 years, his life flowed on in nearly an equa ble stream. He had business enough in the way he conducted it to give him employment during the greater part of the day; and his professional profits were sufficient to enable him to live in the manner he chose, and provide for the wants of sickness and old age. After having appeared somewhat feeble for two or three years, he made known, for the first time, in the beginning of last November, that he laboured under a disease of his bladder, though he must then have been several years affected with it. His ailment was incurable, and scarcely admitted of palliation. For several months he was almost constantly in great pain, which he bore manfully. At length, exhausted by his sufferings, he died on the 2nd of April, at his house in Bartlett's-buildings, Holborn, being then in the 71st year of his age. Agreeably to his own desire, his body was interred in the church-yard of the parish of St. Pancras. His fortune, amounting to about 8000l. was, for the most part, bequeathed to sisters and nephews. The Writer will now proceed to speak specially of Dr. Marhsal's character. Though his genius, with the assistance of great industry, enabled him to attain a very considerable proficiency in many different parts of learning, it was not equally well adapted for every purpose of a literary man. It was better fitted to acquire than digest, to heap up than arrange, to make a scholar than render its possessor a philosopher; and hence he often appeared to less advantage in conversation than other persons of much inferior possessions. The successful exertion of his talents had given him a contidence in them, which otherwise would have been justly regarded as presumptuous. At the age of 41, with little previous knowledge of the subject, he began to prepare for being a teacher of Anatomy in London, and, in the following year, actually gave a course of lectures upon it. These lectures were not superficial; they were, on the contrary, remarkable for minuteness of description and copiousness of illustration. When he could derive assistance from his other stu dies, as while speaking of the uses of the bones and muscles, he was particularly full aud instructive. In his lectures, how INTERESTING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE LONDON GAZETTES. Foreign-Office, March 30. Under this head is a notification to the Ministers of friendly and neutral Powers, residing at the Court of St. James's, "that the necessary measures have been taken, for the blockade of the ports and harbours of New York, Charlestown, Port Royal, Savannah, and of the river Mississipi, in the United States of America, and that from this time all the measures authorised by the Law of Nations, will be adopted and executed with respect to all vessels which may attempt to violate the said blockade." Downing-street, March 20. Extracts of a Letter from Colonel Hamilton, Lieutenant-governor of Heligoland, dated March 23. In my letter dated 17th inst. I had the honour to represent to your Lordship, that in consequence of the effect which the glorious success of the Russian arms produced, and the favourable reports from different parts of the Hanoverian coast, I determined immediately to take every step, which the inconsiderable force at my disposal would admit of, to promote the great and just cause.-Lieut. Banks proceeded with two gun-brigs, reinforced by two serjeants and thirty veterans, to Cuxhaven, from which the French had departed with great expedition, after destroying all their gun-boats, and dismounting the guns from the strong works constructed for the defence of the harbour. On a summons from Lieut. Banks, the Castle of Ritzebuttel, and batteries of Cuxhaven, were surrendered to be at the disposal of his Majesty, by the burghers; and the British and Hamburgh flags were immediately displayed. Major Kentzinger, an officer perfectly qualified for such a mission, was sent to Cuxhaven, having received instructions to communicate as soon as possible with the Russian General and the Senate of Hamburgh; and this officer was immediately followed by a detachment from the 8th royal veteran battalion, and a supply of all the arms, &c. which were not actually employed by this garrison. The loyal people of Hanover who have been so long oppressed, display every where the British colours, and G. R. upon their habitations. In the Weser the inhabitants of that part of the country assem. bled in considerable numbers, and took the strong and important battery and works at Bremerlee; and a corps of about 1500 French having assembled in its vicinity, which threatened to retake the battery, application was made immediately to Major Kentzinger, for assistance, who, having left Cuxhaven with a party of the soldiers in waggons, was met by these brave and grateful men, who gave him the pleasing intelligence that the Enemy had marched off in great haste, in consequence of the landing of the British troops, which were reported to amount to a considerable number. Baron de Tettenborn, Colonel Commandant of a corps of that division of the Russian army commanded by Count Wittgenstein, entered Hamburgh on the 18th inst. amidst the acclamations and every demonstration of joy on the part of the citizens. In consequence of this happy event, the antient Government has been restored, and a mail from England is now dispatched from that city. Admiralty-office, March 30. Copies of two letters from Lieut. Francis Banks, of the Blazer gun-vessel, dated off Cuxhaven, the 16th and 17th inst. Blazer, at Anchor off Cuxhaven, March 16. SIR-I beg to inform you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that from the intelligence communicated to me by the Lieutenantgovernor of Heligoland, and what I otherwise learned by the arrival of vessels from the Continent, of the distressed state of the French forces at Cuxhaven, and of the entrance of a Russian army into Hamburgh, I judged it expedient to take the Brevdageren under my orders, and proceeded to the river Elbe, which I entered early this morning, with the hope of intercepting such of the Enemy's vessels as might attempt to make their escape; two of the gun-vessels we found deserted in the entrance of this river, and were afterwards destroyed: on a nearer approach to this place, I observed some were burning, others were sunk and drifting about in all directions; and I have the satisfaction to inform you of the total destruction of the French flotilla that was stationed at Cuxhaven, which were 20 large gun schuyts: the timely appearance of his Majesty's brig prevented the escape of two, and, t firmly believe, led to the destruction of the rest by their own hands: the Hamburgh flag is displayed on the batteries and Castle of Ritzbuttel, and I intend to gain a communication with the shore. Blazer, at Anchor off Cuxhaven, March 17. SIR-I beg leave to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that having had communication with the civil authorities of Ritzbuttel, they expressed a desire that I would take possession of the batteries that had been lately evacuated by the French. I accordingly this morning disembarked the small detachment of 32 of the royal veteran battalion from Heligoland, and took possession of Cuxhaven battery. Fort Napoleon, which is half a mile higher up the river, I shall order to be destroyed. Every thing in these forts is in disorder, the guns dismounted, the carriages and stores destroyed. From what I have been able to observe this day, all is anarchy and confusion among the inhabitants, but they rejoiced much at a few English being landed. No Senate as yet is formed at Hamburgh, nor do I hear of the Russian army having entered that city: whenever that can be ascertained, I shall communicate this event to the Commanding Officer there. The French withdrew from this place yesterday morning at five o'clock; their collective force was about 1200; they made their retreat by Bederkesa to Bremen. I enclose a copy of the Articles concluded on between the Civil Authorities and myself; I shall forward a list of military and other stores the moment I am able. I have the honour, &c. F. BANKS. Articles concluded between the Civil Authovities of Ritzbuttel, and Lieut. F. Banks, commanding in the River Elbe. The Hamburgh flag shall be hoisted in conjunction with the British at the French batteries near Cuxhaven, until his Britannic Majesty's pleasure is known. All military and other stores belonging to the French shall be delivered up to the English. The British troops shall take immediate possession of the batteries, and garrison the same.-Executed on board his Majesty's brig the Blazer, this 17th March, 1815. Copy of an Inclosure to Admiral Young. His M.'s brig Brevdageren, River Elbe, March 21. SIR-Agreeably to your arrangement, 1 proceeded with the galley of the Brevdageren and cutter of the Blazer, in search of the Danish privateer said to infest the upper part of the river. At day-light this morning we discovered two galliots, which were at first supposed to be merchant-vessels; but, on approaching them, they hailed, and instantly opened a fire. In this critical situation there was no safety but in resolutely boarding, and I took advantage of the cheerful readiness of our people. We carried them under the smoke of their second discharge, without the loss of a man, and only two wounded on the part of the Enemy; the galley boarding the first, and the Blazer's cutter, in the most gallant manner, the second. They proved to be the Danish gun-boats Die Junge Troutman, commanded by Lieut. Lutkin, and Die Liebe, Lieut. Writt, each mounting two long 18-pounders,and three 12-pounder carronades, with a complement of twentyfive men each. When you consider that each of these formidable vessels was carried by a single boat, one by a cutter with twelve men, and, the other by a galley with nine, the conduct of the brave fellows under my orders needs no comment; and:I beg to return my sincere thanks to them, and to Mr. Dunbar, the master of the Blazer. These two vessels were sent three days ago from Gluckstadt, for the express purpose of intercepting the trade from Heligoland. I beg to report the above proceeding to the Commander-in-Chief, who, I trust, will approve of my conduct on this occasion. I have, &c. T. B. DEVON, Lieut. and Com. Lieut. Banks. Vice-Admiral Sir E. Pellew has transmitted a letter from Capt. Hoste, of the Bacchante, addressed to Admiral Fremantle, and dated off Otranto the 6th of January, giving an account of the capture of five armed vessels on that day, by the Bacchante, and Weazle sloop, under Lieuts. O'Brien, Hood, and Gosling, of the former, and Lieut. Whaley, of the latter. These vessels were bound from the Island of Corfu to Otranto, for the purpose of conveying money for the payment of the troops on the island; and although the boats met with a spirited resistance, they were carried without any loss on our part. Vice-Admiral Sir E. Pellew has also transmitted a letter from Capt. Mounsey, of the Furieuse, giving an account of his having on the 10th of Jan. captured, off Monto Christo, L'Argus French brigantine privateer, pierced for 13 guns, but only four long 12-pounders mounted, and 85 men-eight days from Leghorn, without making any capture. The Naval department of this Gazette closes with lists of American vessels captured and re-captured by the squadrons in the Atlantic, in the West Indies, in the Channel, and taken into Bermuda.-They amount in the whole to 158. |