An address delivered at a public meeting of the subscribers to the Vincent testimonial, held at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, on Saturday, April 3rd, 1847 / [Sir Anthony Colling Brownless].

  • Brownless, Anthony Colling, Sir, 1817-1897.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address delivered at a public meeting of the subscribers to the Vincent testimonial, held at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, on Saturday, April 3rd, 1847 / [Sir Anthony Colling Brownless]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tion than the Picture and Engravings, nay it is a well known fact that conquerors whilst they have overturned foundations and appropriated the funds to their own use have generally preserved works of art. Look at the last continental war; see how Napoleon, changing as he did the ancient foundations of the countries which he conquered, carefully preserved works of art, especially paintings, which have since been restored to their rightful owners. If it be said these were all valuable from their historical character; I can answer no, and will name as an example Paul Potter’s celebrated picture of the ‘‘ Young Bull,” which was carried from the Hague by Napoleon, and, after being carefully preserved iu the Louvre at Paris, was, at the general peace, restored to the Hague; and I would ask is not our revered friend, the late distinguished Surgeon of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, more valuable than a Young Bull? And whilst considering the comparative chances of preser¬ vation, what numbers of valuable pictures and other works of art do we find on the Continent, which have been concealed during the time of war and revolution by the care of individuals, who are seldom wanting to preserve memorials of this kind. I may be told that I am fighting with imaginary enemies, and that all trust we may be long blessed with peace at home and abroad; I may be told that staid, worthy, and wealthy trustees will be appointed, and that, under ordinary chances, the name and intention of the foundation will remain the same for ages. Gentlemen, do you know that men as a body, will do things which each would be heartily ashamed to be guilty of individu¬ ally ? At the little town in which 1 spent many of my younger days, there was an endowed grammar school, a very old founda¬ tion, where many had received an excellent classical, mathema¬ tical, and general education, from which men had gone forth and distinguished themselves at the Universities and elsewhere. And at which one of the most rising young Physicians now in this metropolis received his education. By the original foundation, the head master was to be at least a graduate of some distin¬ guished University, and the trustees were men of property and respectability. You will, perhaps, hardly believe me, when I tell you that, about ten years since, the original intention of the founders of this excellent institution was entirely frustrated by the Trustees (with the consent and advice of the two clergymen of the place, both educated and most worthy men,) electing to the office of head master the son of the parish clerk, who was