An inaugural address, delivered at the opening of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Museum, September 10, 1845 / by John Green Crosse.

  • Cross, John, 1790-1850.
Date:
[1845]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inaugural address, delivered at the opening of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Museum, September 10, 1845 / by John Green Crosse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    expressions, his Biographer further observes that he had many uncommon sentiments, “but his innovations are sometimes pleasing and his temerities happy—he has many verha ardentia''—that is, many penetrating, piercing expressions, which plead for the occasional asperities of his style. Sir Thomas Browne was the last of our profession to give evidence in support of witchcraft,^ and against those accused of it; and when, aided by the present light of science, we look back to the darkness of two centuries ago, we cannot fail to be surprized that, in a mind so prostate before the daemon of superstition, there should have existed those powerful effusions of talent, which still are able to attract the attention of the learned. The more valuable of Sir Thomas Browne’s writings are still read in all countries, and even recently his collective Worksf have been edited, with great labour, research and expense, and repub- lished in this city. There is one remark in the “ Epistle Dedicatory” to Sir Thomas Browne’s Hydroia]phia% or Urn-Burial, which appears suitable to be quoted on this occasion; it is as follows :— “ When the funeral pyre was out, and the last vale- diction over, men took a lasting adieu of their interred friends, little expecting the curiosity of future ages should comment on their ashes; but who knows the fate of his bones, or how often he is to be buried ? who hath the oracle of his ashes, or whither they are to be scattered ?” Time has caused these words of Sir Thomas Browne to apply emphatically to himself—for, within a recent period, the remains of this eminent writer and physician * Before Lord Chief Justice Hale, at Bury St. Edmund’s, in 1664, when two wretched Victims were condemned and executed. t Works of Sir Thomas Browne, in 4 vols. 8vo. including his Life and Correspondence, edited by Simon Wilkin, F. L. S. Norwich, 1836.