Chain of Friendship: Selected Letters of Dr. John Fothergill of London, 1735-1780" Of his friend of many years, Dr. John Fothergill, Benjamin Franklin wrote: ' I can hardly conceive that a better man has ever existed.' Fothergill's letter provide a fascinating perspective of his time- a totally different view from that given by his contemporaries Horace Walpole and Dr. Johnson. The 'Quaker internationalist' (as his editors aptly call him) was during the middle decades of the eighteenth century one of the half dozen leading physicians of London, a horticulturist of great distinction, an educational reformer, a patron of many philanthropic causes, and a tireless friend of Americans and the cause of American rights. He was exceedingly generous as a patron of scientific undertakings and of young Americans abroad. He founded a famous Quaker school for boys and girls which is still flourishing; he helped found various benevolent and educational institutions in America and he continually subsidized worthy books and gave them to worthy recipients. All these activities and others are recorded in the some two hundred letters here selected for publication. They throw light on Quaker history on both sides of the Atlantic, on advances in medical science and institutional care of the sick, on discoveries in natural history, and on political developments from the Jacobite Rebellion through the American Revolution. From the beginnings of the rift between colonies and mother country, Fothergill served as a vigorous advocate of conciliatory measures and commonwealth status for America, speaking with equal frankness and impartiality to leaders on both sides until well after hostilities began. A few weeks before he died (at the end of 1780), he wrote Franklin in France to say that with all Europe leagued against England nothing could be hoped for her from this war, but that the world might hope for the establishment of a tribunal to settle disputes among nations and preclude war as an instrument of policy. Mrs. Corner and Dr. Booth have furnished a substantial introduction, and they have annotated the letters with great skill and authority. Lyman Butterfield, well known editor of the Adams Papers, says, 'I have never encountered annotation on bibliographical, biographical, medical, botanical, and topographical matters that is more unfailingly readable per se. The transatlantic combination of editors was obviously just right. Toward understanding one prominent strand in the cultural history of the 18th century, this book is a uniquely valuable contribution.'"- Publisher. |
Contents
Dr Fothergills ancestry and education II The Fothergill brothers | 1 |
The Doctor his profession and his patients IV Botanical friend | 31 |
Two Latin Letters | 39 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
acceptable acquaint affairs Alexander Fothergill American Colonies amongst Assembly autograph letter Bartram believe Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Rush British Carr End Charles Alston College of Physicians Dear Brother Dear Friend Edinburgh endeavour England esteem Etting Collection favour Fothergill's French Friend John Fothergill give glad Harpur Street hope Humphry Marshall Indians Israel Pemberton James Pemberton John Bartram John Fothergill kind King late Lea Hall Leeds Lettsom likewise Logan London Lord LSFL Mark Beaufoy medicine Meeting for Sufferings mentioned Munk's Roll obliged occasion Passage omitted Pemberton Papers Pennsylvania Hospital perhaps person Peter Collinson Philadelphia plants pleased present proper proposed Proprietors Province Quaker received thy respect Royal College Samuel Fothergill satisfaction sent Sister Society of Friends soon Stamp Act Thomas Penn thou thought thy affectionate Friend thyself tion Warrington William William Logan wish write wrote Yearly Meeting Yorkshire young