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THE REFLECTOR.
VOL. 1.
MILLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1818.
»it'. i t.
BIOGRAPHY.
11UIEF MEMOIRS OF DH. VV1STAK.
•When men eminent in their day for talent,
uireuirnt, and pnblie usefulness, are call-'
from4lie widely of this world, it is dcsi-
-Je that some memorials of their public ca-
er should bo given, to gratify the curiosity
those who may survive them. We atv
J desirous of receiving information con-
rning men who were honored in their lives,
d lamented in their deaths not merely by
e world at large, but by thoso also, who
owing them intimately, best knew their
lie to public esteem. Such memorials serve,
it to gratify a laudable curiosity, but to fur-
sh reflection, on the means by which pub-
c eminence has been acquired, and to irn-
■ess the value of public approbation so ear
ed as Dr. Wistar earned it, and so chcerful-
bestowed by his fellow citizens on this es-
mable man during the whole extent of his
oful lify, from the commencement of his
lie career, to the mournful period of its
use.
Dr. Wistar was tforn in the yenr 1760 : his
ther was a German from Palatinnatc, who
ligrated to this country about sixty years
', & settled as a glass manufacturer in N.
rsey. He belonged to the society of friends,
which society Dr. Wistar remained a metn-
as long as be lived. He was educated at
grammar school established by William
nu in Philadelphia, and early determined
the profession of physic as his future pur-
it. With this view, he entered as a private
upil with Dr. John Redman, and attended
it- lectures then given in the medical school
f Philadelphia, which was daily rising in
ublic estimation. It will not be irrelevant,
give a brief history of this school to whose
eputation Dr. Wistar so essentially contri-
uted.
The institution termed, “ The college, ac-
demy and charitable school of Philadel-
liia,” was first projected in 1749, but not
hartered as an incorporation until the year
753. The power of conferring degrees was
! ven to it under the foregoing title, in 1755.
In 1764 Dr. William Shippcn and Dr.
dim Morgan, projected the plan of a medi
al school in Philadelphia : in 1765 the hir
er gentleman was appointed professor of
-atomy in that school, and Dr. Morgan,
ho delivered a discourse on the establish
ed!; of medical schools in America, at the
mmonccment held in tho college in 1765,
as nominated professor of the institutes of
edicine. In 1768 Dr. A. Kuhn was ap-
inted professor of botany. Dr. B. Rysh,
1769, professor of chemistry, and Dr. T.
ond gave clinical lectures at the hospital
dependent of the medical institution of the
liege.
In 1779 Hie legislature of Pennsylvania,
ooferred on the college a charter of incor-
ration as an university : but as the Rev.
W. Smith who had been at the head of
e college as provost, was suspected ofo
nions unfriendly to the prevailing state of
litics, new trustees were appointed, Dr.
mith wan removed, and the Rev. Dr. John
wing appointed in his place.
In the year 1789 a law passed, continuing
c university, but reviving the college, and
o scmiiiaries of mcdicul as well as of gen-
al learning, were established with distinct
rofessioa : but this plan was too extended
r the limited number of pupils and students
t that day to suppoft; and in 1791 the lc-
islature incorporated tho two institutions
nder the present denomination of tho Uni-
ersity of Pennsylvania', with the addition
f the professorships of law, of natural his-
ry, and of tbo German language. Dr
tippen lectured the first year to ten stu
nts, while l)iv Wistar studied medicine in
o shop of Dr. Redman, ho attended the
tures of DrS. Shippen, Morgan, Kuhn,
d Rush. In 1783 he left America to pur-
o his studies in Europe. Such however
as the excellent character of Dr. Wistar
that early period, that the trustees of the
cdical school in Philadelphia in the spring
1784, soon after his departure, volunta-
y conferred on him the degree of bache-
r of medicine.
In 1786 he graduated at Edinburgh with
at reputation, and published his Thesis
animo demisso. During his absence from
is country, he travelled over a great part
England on foot; examining the mining
d manufacturing districts of that country,
d whatever else was likely to engage the
ention of a man of science.
In Febrnary 1787 he returned to Phila-
Iphia having been absent between three
d four year. When tho college of Phila
phla was revived, he was appointed pro
of of chemistry and physiology, in which
artments of instruction, he gave lectures
ing the winter sessions of 1789 and 1790.
was also appointed soon after his return
suiting physician to the Philadelphia dis-
sory, and was one of its early attending
sicians. He was also appointed physi-
n to the hospital. Afterwards he became
unct professor to Dr. William Shippcn in
the departments of anatomy and surgery ;
whose reputation was very high as a dissec
tor, and demonstrator, as well as lecturer
in anatomy generally. It was as assistant*
to Dr. Shippen that lie acquired the practical
skill as a dissector and demonstrator, which
laid the foundations of his after-reputation.
At this time, he practised also .as a physician
and surgeon; his surgical studies having
huen directed by Dr. John Jones, a practi
tioner of great eminence at that day, and
whose friendship brought Dr. Wistar early
into public notice as a surgeon.
“ Dr. Jones (says Dr, HoSack in his late
elogium on his friend Dr. Wistar) having oc
casion to perform an important operation,
invited Dr. Wistar to accompany him. When
the patient was prepared Dr. Jones; address
ing Dr. W'star, as having better sight than
himself, at tho same presenting.him with his
knife, requested it as a favour that he would
perform the operation. Dr. Wistar imme
diately complied : and such was theskill and
success with which it was performed, that if
atonce introduced him to the confidence of his
fellow citizens. The delicate manner in
which this compliment was paid to the ta
lents of Dr. Wistar, was not lost upon his
feeling heart: he over afterwards acknow
ledged the patronage of his benefactor by
every act of kindness in his power, and by
the linceasing expressions oi* filial affection.”
Indeed if there was one trait more emi
nent in the character of Dr. Wistar than
another, it was the kindness of bis feelings,
shewn in every part of his conduct, in his
voice, and in his manner : and his gratitude
for benefits conferred, was only equalled 1m
Ids anxiety to confer benefits on those whos'
talents ami deportment appeared to merit his
attentions, and to give the promise of fu
ture utility to their fellow citizens.
On the decease of Dr. Shippcn Dr. Wis
tar was appointed to fill the chair of his de
parted friend : indeed he had long perform
ed the duties of this department even while
Dr. Shippen was living, and thus contribut
ed in no small degree to keep up the merited
reputation of the university to which he be
longed. To the great and popular talents of
himself, of Dr. Rush, and of Dr. Barton,
is mainly owing the high standing of tho
medical school of Pphilkdelphia ; and though
their equals may he found in learning, know
ledge, and industry their utilily as the foun
ders of the school of medicine, will always
place them at the bead of the medical benefac
tors of this country. They marked out the
Augustnn age of medical science in America;
a period which we firmly believe and anx
iously hope is not yet likely to pass away ;
but which may hereafter soften down into the
age of mediocrity, unless great care be taken
to keep up the reputation of the institution,
by the choice of professors who have public
reputation of their own to add to that which
! ho university through these great men, has
ilready acquired,
In 1815 Dr. Wistar was elected honorary
member of the literary and philosophical so
ciety of New-York : in 1816 he was unani
mously elected president of the American
philosophical society, Mr. Jefferson having
declined a re-elcctinn to that honorable chair,
owing to his advanced age, and the distance
of his residence.
Dr. Wistar was too actively engaged to
appear often in the character of an author :
hut his remarks on tho fever of 1793, his
memoirs on the Ethmoid bone, and on the
remains of an animal of the Bos species,
were well calculated to enhance his reputa
tion : at the time of his deceaso he was fast
rising into reputation aS a comparative ana
tomist, and had instituted correspondencies
with Cuvier, Summering and other eminent
naturalists in Enrope. His system of ana
tomy, published in two vols. and comprising
the heads of his course, is a most useful com-
pend, embracing not merely the anatomy,
but the anatomical physiology of the parts
noticed, according to the best views at pre
sent known of that branch of the subject.
Although Dr. Wistar did ndt publish many
works, lie was among tho most active con
tributors to knowledge of all kinds that we
have seen in till- country, by his scientifical
meetings at his own house, which was the
place of resort of all strangers who had apy
information to communicate, as well as of
his friends who were engaged in any scien
tific pursuit. His house was, a centre from
whence the beams of science radiated in all
directions, and were transmitted through our
country".
Dr. Wistar had for some time apprehend
ed symptoms of hydrothorax, which however
went off; still ho was occasionally troubled
with irregularities of the pulse, which indi
cated obstructions in the source of circula
tion. In fact it was found after his decease,
that he had suffered under an ossification of
the valve of the aorta. But the immediate
cause of his decease appears to have" been a
low fever, caught as we have reason to be
lieve by visiting a poor family in Southwark
in the city, where the apartment was closo,
a stove exceedingly hot, and want of due
cleanliness in the room. Ho complained of
great oppression in coming out of the apart
ment, but his charity led him to go again the
next day. On ItiS return his complaints in
creased. The next day he went to bed after
breakfast, but arose to deliver his lecture at
tho university. On his return homo ho was
too feeble logo up stairs. He was supported to
Ills bed, out of which lie rose no more. He di
ed on Thursday evening tho 22d of Janua
ry, 1818, about half ^nist eight o’clock afti#
an illness of six or seven days.
We cannot close this account better than by
the brief obituary inserted tho noxt d.ry in
one of the public papers of this city, drawn
up by one of his friends, who well knew his
worth, and greatly lamented tho death, of
this kind hearted, and most usoful man.
“ Died on Thursday evening, at half past
eight o’clock, aged 56, at his house in South
fourth-street, Philadelphia, Dr. Caspar
Wistar, many years a physician of the first
eminence in tho city of Philadelphia, anil
professor of anatomy in the university of
Pennsylvania.
“ The lossofthis gentleman will be'severe
ly felt in this city, by all classes of the com
munity. His great knowledge and attqption
is a physician, the kindness of liis tones, AIk-
mildness of his manners, his careful attend
ance on the poor, who could not reward, e-
jually assiduous as upon the rich who could,
will long endear him to all who knew' Dr.
Wistar in his most useful character.
“ As a professor of anatomy, bo hits not
teen equalled in this country, and has berti
xcelled in no other. Perfect master not on
ly of the minutia: of his profession, but of
tho most effectual modes of teaching it, his
lectures were always crowded.—Those stu
dents who were not compelled to attend for
lie sake of a degree, were induced to attend
for the sake of information. The skill and
care with which his subjects wero prepared
and brought forward—the simple, neat, in
telligible style of his lectures—the kind and
friendly character of his voice and manner-
ins anxiety to make liis students fully com
prehend what they had to learn—and his
reat success in these endeavors, have long
been admired, and will be long remembered
“ As a scientific mans it will bo difficult to
replace him in scientific society here. His
constant aim was to promote knowledge of
all kinds, in all ways. His house was the
hospitable resort of scientific strangers from
every quarter of the world-^his Weekly con-
v<;rsatioii parties through the winter, were
the means of concentrating and .diffusing c-
very kind of useful intelligence in the philo
sophical world, nor will his friends who usu
ally met there, ever forget the elegant hos
pitality of his parties, or the charms of his
own conversation that onliveYiod thenr.
“ Dr. Wistar had for some years been af
flicted by obstVuctions in the chest, and irre
gularities of the pulse. About a week ago,
he was seized with a low fever, not distinct
ly characterized as a typhus, but which with
his constitutional complaints, deprived liis
friends of a man whose society will hardly
bo replaced, and the community of ope of its
brightest ornaments.” T, C.
Dr. Wistar was twice married, first in 1783
to Isabella Marshall, by w hom ho left no off
spring : the second time about nineteen years
ago, to his present widow, Eliza Mifflin, a
niece of governor Mifflin, by whom he has
left two children.—JmUectic Magazine.
DOCUMENT.
CASE OF MR. MEADE.
Petition of Mr#. Meade and paper3 communicated by
her in relation to Kichard W. Meade.
To his excellency tho President of tbo U.
States, the following case is respectfully sub
mitted :
Richard W. Meade was born irt Chester
county in Pennsylvania, in June, 1778. He
went to Spain in 1803, to claim restitution
of property detained at Buenos Ayres, in
which claim he was unsiicceSsluh He then
established a commercial house at Cadiz,
where ho has ever since resided, in the char
acter of an American citizen ; and having
field from 1806 till the present year the sta
tion of navy agent of the United States for
the port of Cadiz.—Mr. Meade has a wife
(tho undersigned) and nine children now re
siding in Philadelphia.
In theit* late struggles lie rendered essen
tial service to the people of Spain as repeat
edly and publicly acknowledged. In 1812
being in actual advance to tho government of
Spain to the amount of near eight hundred
thousand dollafk, and bejng satisfied that the
treasurer general, Don Victor Soret, was
using the funds; which by contract had been
appropriated to repay that advance, he ap
pealed to the regcficy against the conduct of
tho treasurer ; and receiving no satisfaction
published & pamphlet containing a statement
of his contracts with the government, and
its injustice t i», ards him ; in consequence of
which publication he w as imprisioned three
months ami then released on hgil. On an
appeal to the cortcs, Mr. Meade obtained an
ordy for the payment of his advances, which
order has been but partially complied with,
and that under enormous Sacrifices, amount
ing in many instances to olio third of the ca
pital, besides several years’ interest for
which no allowance has been made. Mr.
Meade also appealed to the cortcs against tho
unjust proceedings of tho regency in impri
soning him : the cortcs reported the procecif-
ings as illegal and unjust, and decreed the
constitutional penalties against the minister
who gave and the judge wHho executed the or
der. The dismissal of the regency by tho
cortes and the subsequent dissolution of tho
cortes itself, on the arrival of king Ferdin
and, prevented tho report of the cortes a-
gainst the regency being acted on, and tho
affair being revived by the supreme council
of waif*-, composed of men subservient to tho
old rcgeucy, (who are now all in higli offices
round the court) it was lately decreed that
Mr. Meailo should pay a line of two thousand
ducats for the publication which they term a
libel on the late regents-.
It is to be understood that the affair above
related-, of the imprisonment in 1812, is al
together distinct front the present confine
ment of Mr. Meade and it's causes, though,
often erroneously blended with it j it will
clearly appear, however; that the rancour
produced by the event; related, has operat
ed with many now in power in stimulating
the present persecution, the circumstances
leading to which are aB follows :
In 1812, Mr. Meade was appointed as
signee to the estate of James W. Glass, of
Cadiz, declared bankrupt in England, in
consequence of his connection with the house
of Hunter, Rainey & : co. of London against
whom a commission of bankruptcy had issu
ed ; the appointment of Mr. M. was made by
the tribunal of commerce of Cadiz, with tho
approbation of all the creditors in Cadiz,
and was confirmed by the assignees in Lon*
dou—the tribunal of commerce having cog
nizance of all commercial affairs in Spain,
and all persons carrying on trado there (even
foreigner) being amenable thereto. Mr.
M. gave bonds accordingly, to take charge
of the effects of the estate, anil to be respon
sible solely to the trihunal for the proceeds,
being prohibited, under the penalty of tho
bonds, from disposing of the funds without
the-sanction pf the tribunal.
Having Settled the 'affairs of the estate,
and paid all the demands thereon, there re
mained in his hands about fifty two thousand
dollars, which ho several times petitioned
the tribunal to bo permitted to remit to the
assignees in London. Tho delays attend
ing ail Spanish proceedings prevented the
petitions being acted upon, until Mr. Dun
can Hunter, one of the principals of the
bankrupt house, was sent to Cadiz, and when
on the eve of getting tho business settled,
Mr. Glass (escaping from his bnil in Eng
land) appeared also in Cadiz, and laid am
embargo on the funds, under the pretence of
having been illegally included in the bank
ruptcy., John M‘Dermot was appointed aw
the agertt of Huiitcr, and Mr. Meade offer
ed to pay to Hufttcror M‘Dcrino't tho amount
in his hands', on their giving bonds satisfac
tory to the tribunal of commerce, in lieu of
his 6Wn ; those persons not bcihg able to pro
cure such securities as tho tribunal would
accept, that body, suddenly, and of its own
accord, declrced that Mr. M. should, on the
following morning, place the money in tho
king’s trcaSary, until M'Dcrmot or Hunter
should give the security Required ; it being
declared that all Mr. M’s. property should,
be embargoed in case of non payment at tho
time limited; In pursuance to the said or
der Mr. made the deposit on tho following
morning, and presented to the tribunal tho
receipt in which the treasurer acknowledged
to have received the sum in question by or
der of the tribunal; to be held subject to tho
future disposition of that body. A question
having been made, at the instigation of M‘-
Dermot, whether the sum had been paid in
to tho treasury in specie, or in treasury notes,
the intendant answered, to an official enqui
ry of the tribunal, that « the deposit had
been made in due form under his inspection,
in effective specie, and that whenever tho
tribunal should order its payment, his mas
jesty would pay it in t.r j same coin.”
Notwithstanding this, a suit was brought
against Mr. Meade by M‘Dermot,'and the
tribunal aw are that it had done wrong in on-
dering the depositc, decided that. Mr. Meade
should pay the money a second time * An
appeal was entered from this decree to the
superior tribunal, Called abradas (Mr. M.
having a right to that appeal by the 7th and
20th articles of the treaty between the Unit
ed States and Spain.) While the cause was
there pending, the plaintiff'(through the En
glish minister) procured an order for the re
moval of the case to the council of war, at.
Madrid, where the sentence was confirmed.
Mr. Meade had a right to appeal, hut was
refused. He petitioned tho king, who com
manded that he should be heard by the same
court; but, as Mr. M* conceived the judges
to have evinced a partiality ip the case, at
, Mr. M’s request five new judges were added
