Memoir of John Collins Warren, M.D.

Date:
[1865?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoir of John Collins Warren, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    End of the town, T fell in with a mob, which was raised on account oi a scarcity of bread. Instead of keeping clearof.it, as would have been wise, 1 entered into it, and talked with the people, to ascertain what their views and objects were. At this time, a charge was made upon the mob by a body of dragoons ; and every one was obliged to save himself as he could. This attack irritated me anion- others ; and we rallied, and made preparations lor defence. Soon after, we were assailed by a body of police. Sympathizing with the people, who were in a state id' starvation, and irritated by the attacks, 1 got on the edge of the sidewalk, and began to address the crowd on their unhappy condition. They were highly delighted to find a person, dressed like a gentleman, haranguing in their favor ; and loudly cheer- ed, and demanded a repetition of the harangue. At this moment, a gentleman spoke to me, drew me aside, and represented the dange- rous position I was taking; and that, although the people were in a suffering state, they were not likely to get any remedy in this way. ] readily understood this, of course; and, having no great desire to be apprehended as the leader of a mob, 1 walked off with him in the direction I had been going ; and he, having ascertained what course 1 was taking, offered to show me the way : for it so happened, that, in following the mob, I had been drawn entirely away from the usual route from the east to west, into the complicated streets and lanes of the northern pari of London. However, this gentleman went with me a good distance, told me he was an officer in the army, that he had no connection with the police, and that his speaking to me was acci- dental. 1 then as freely told him who 1 was, and made him under- stand 1 had no desire to overturn the British government. By a long and perilous route, J reached my destination, and walked back to the borough the same evening. Among the friendships formed at this time, that of Dr. Wm, Roots, Of Kingston on Thames, then a fellow student and dresser, was espe- cially valued, and the very pleasant relations which subsisted between them are attested by many letters which are still preserved. While in London he lived in the usual manner of medical students, at a cork-cutter's house in St. Thomas's street, Borough, close to the hospital, occupying two rooms in the third story, and taking his meals, which were provided by the landlady, in his own sitting-room style Of living not materially different from that of a medical stu- dent in London at the present time. In the autumn of 1800, bavin- completed his year at Guy's Hospi- tal, lie left London for Edinburgh, travelling in a post-chaise and visit-