O! send thy light forth, and thy truth, Let them be guides to me, Even where thy dwellings be. Then shall I to God's altar go, Yea, God, my God, thy name to praise, Why art thou then cast down my soul? And why with vexing thoughts art thou Still trust in God, for him to praise A Letter from Dr. Garthshore, M.D. in London, to the Rev. John Ewart. May 10, 1780. MY DEAR FRIEND, THE more I have seen of life and medical practice in London, and likewise as a Christian philosopher, I am more and more convinced that if exercise and employment are very important to health, so is all cheerfulness of mind. All the dark, discontented thoughts, and gloomy ideas as to public or private affairs, are very injurious to health, and very hurtful to the circulation of the blood; so intimately are body and soul con nected. The nerves also deeply partake of all the mental afflictions. Sleep, which is the great cordial of both body and mind, is sadly interrupted by anxiety. Therefore I have been daily anxious to visit my patients, not so much to prescribe for the body, as to convey all possible cordials to the mind, not only regarding the world to come, but also of the real cheerful ideas we ought to cultivate of our native country, and the blessings we may hope for from Almighty God, when it is a fact that Great Britain excels every part of the world by its extensive charity to the poor. I yesterday saw the books of the provision for the poor of the parish of Mary-le-bone, which amounts to above 45,000. a-year, exclusive of immense other sums allotted in London to charity. No history of mankind has ever existed which could record the twentieth part of money assigned to charity by any other nation in the world. We may all read the beautiful eulogium of St. Paul on charity'. Sir Joseph Banks, the President of the Royal Society, told me to-day that I ought to rejoice that he and I understood the great importance of cheerful ideas, as to health of the body. "If we could," said he, 66 my dear Garthshore, create cheerful ideas in sufficient quantity, and distribute them every where in London, all would gain good health, and physicians of the mind would enjoy great honour. I am quite of your opinion that the virtues and pre-eminent ex 1 See 1 Cor. xiii. cellence of Great Britain surpasseth all the world. Yet John Bull has not the talent of France for " Vive la bagatelle.” But you, my dear friend, in Caledonia are more happy. Pray write to me of your rural felicity, and your dear fireside party; you may be sure it will contribute to my health greatly. I am ever yours, &c. MAXWELL GARTHSHORE. P.S. You and I who rise early every morning, not praying for a little more slumber, as Solomon describes, have attained thereby superior health and cheerfulness in old age. I regret it is not more generally adopted. nected. The nerves also deeply partake of all the mental afflictions. Sleep, which is the great cordial of both body and mind, is sadly interrupted by anxiety. Therefore I have been daily anxious to visit my patients, not so much to prescribe for the body, as to convey all possible cordials to the mind, not only regarding the world to come, but also of the real cheerful ideas we ought to cultivate of our native country, and the blessings we may hope for from Almighty God, when it is a fact that Great Britain excels every part of the world by its extensive charity to the poor. I yesterday saw the books of the provision for the poor of the parish of Mary-le-bone, which amounts to above 45,000%. a-year, exclusive of immense other sums allotted in London to charity. No history of mankind has ever existed which could record the twentieth part of money assigned to charity by any other nation in the world. We may all read the beautiful eulogium of St. Paul on charity'. Sir Joseph Banks, the President of the Royal Society, told me to-day that I ought to rejoice that he and I understood the great importance of cheerful ideas, as to health of the body. "If we could," said he, "my dear Garthshore, create cheerful ideas in sufficient quantity, and distribute them every where in London, all would gain good health, and physicians of the mind would enjoy great honour. I am quite of your opinion that the virtues and pre-eminent ex 1 See 1 Cor. xiii. cellence of Great Britain surpasseth all the world. Yet John Bull has not the talent of France for "Vive la bagatelle." But you, my dear friend, in Caledonia are more happy. Pray write to me of your rural felicity, and your dear fireside party; you may be sure it will contribute to my health greatly. I am ever yours, &c. MAXWELL GARTHSHORE. P.S. You and I who rise early every morning, not praying for a little more slumber, as Solomon describes, have attained thereby superior health and cheerfulness in old age. I regret it is not more generally adopted. Z |