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vaccine disease has been effectually received.

Though the college of physicians have confined themselves, in estimating the evidence, to such facts as have occurred in their own country, because the accuracy of them could best be ascertained, they cannot be insensible to the confirmation these receive from the reports of the successful introduction of vaccination, not only into every part of Europe, but throughout the vast continents of Asia and America.

IV. Several causes have had a partial operation in retarding the general adoption of vaccination; some writers have greatly undervalued the security it affords, while others have considered it to be of a temporary nature only; but if any reliance is to be placed on the statements which have been laid before the college, its power of protecting the human body from the small-pox, though not perfect indeed, is abundantly sufficient to recommend it to the prudent and dispassionate, especially as the smallpox, in the few instances where it has subsequently occurred, has been generally mild and transient. The opinion that vaccination affords but a temporary security, is supported by no analogy in nature, nor by the facts which have hitherto ocAlthough the experience of vaccine inoculation be only of a few years, yet the same disease, contracted by the milkers of cows, in some districts, has been long ́enough known, to ascertain that in them at least the unsusceptibility of the small-pox-contagion does not wear out by time. Another cause is, the charge against vaccination of producing various new diseases

of frightful and monstrous ap

pearance.

Representations of some of these have been exhibited in prints in a way to alarm the feelings of parents, and to infuse dread and appre hensions into the minds of the uninformed. Publications with such representations have been widely circulated; and though they origi nate either in gross ignorance, or wilful misrepresentation, yet have they lessened the confidence of many, particularly of the lower classes, in vaccination: no permanent effects, however, in retarding the progress of vaccination, need be apprehended from such causes; for as soon as the public shall view them coolly, and without surprize, they will excite contempt, and not fear.

Though the college of physicians are of opinion, that the progress of vaccination has been retarded in a few places by the above causes; yet they conceive that its general adoption has been prevented by causes far more powerful, and of a nature wholly different. The lower orders of society can hardly be induced to adopt precautions against evils which. may be at a distance; nor can it be expected from them, if these precautions are attended with expence. Unless, therefore, from the immediate dread of epidemic small-pox, neither vaccination nor inoculation appear at any time to have been general; and when the cause of terror has passed by, the public have relapsed again into a state of indifference and apathy, and the salutary practice has come to a stand. It is not easy to suggest a remedy for an evil so deeply imprinted in human nature. To inform and instruct the public mind

may

may do much; and it will probably be found, that the progress of vacci nation in different parts of the United Kingdom will be in proportion to that instruction. Were encouragement given to vaccination, by offering it to the poorer classes without expence, there is little doubt but it would in time supersede the inoculation for the small-pox; and thereby various sources of variolous infection would be cut off; but till vaccination becomes general, it will be impossible to prevent the constant recurrence of the natural small-pox by means of those who are inoculated; except it should appear proper to the legislature to adopt, in its wisdom, some measure by which those who still, from terror or prejudice, prefer the small-pox to the vaccine disease, may, in thus consulting the gratification of their own feelings, be prevented from doing mischief to their neighbours.

From the whole of the above considerations, the college of physicians feel it their duty strongly to recommend the practice of vaccination, They have been led to this conclusion by no preconceived opinion, but by the most unbiassed judgment formed from an irresistible weight of evidence which has been laid before them. For when the number, the respectability, the disinterestedness, and the extensive experience of its advocates, is compared with the feeble and imperfect testimonies of its few opposers; and when it is considered that many, who were once adverse to vaccination, have been convinced by further trials, and are now to be ranked among its warmest supporters, the truth seems to be established as firmly as the nature of such a question ad

mits: so that the college of phys cians conceive, that the public may reasonably look forward, with some degree of hope, to the time when all opposition shall cease, and the ge neral concurrence of mankind sta at length be able to put an end to the ravages at least, if not to the es istence, of the small-pox.

LUCAS PEPYS, President. 10th April, 1807.

Small-Pox Inoculation.

It is lamentable to observe, that the small-pox is still suffered to be propagated by inoculation, which tends to disseminate the disease by casual infection; so that at present, in London alone, twenty-five persons a week die of that disease; and the usual amount of deaths, according to the London bills of mortality, is 2,000 at least.

There are no means of ascertaining exactly the number of deplorable sufferers, who, though not quite destroyed by the small-pox, are nevertheless grievously afflicted for hfe from that loathsome disease; but the number rendered blind, lame, scrofulous, deformed, and disfigured, is immense, and is estimated much below the truth at three times the amount of the deaths.

The account then may be fairly stated thus:Deaths in London alone in one year from the smallpox..... Rendered blind, maimed, or otherwise diseased, from the same complaint ........ 6000

Total sufferers from the smallpox in one year •,

2000

8000

Now,

Now, according to the most authentic documents that can be procured, and those documents furnished by men who do not appear to be by any means prejudiced in favour of vaccination, namely, the returns of 164,381 persous vaccinates, made to the royal college of surgeons; it appears,

That 24 persons, or 1 in 6,849 have had inflamed arms.

That 3 persons, or 1 in 54,793 have died of such inflamed arnis.

That 66 persons, or 1 in 2,477 have had eruptions after the cowpock.

And that 56 persons, or 1 in 2,917 have had the small-pox after

wars.

Thus, instead of two thousand persons killed by the small-pox, and six thousand rendered miserable for life, not a single death would have happened, and only six persons could in any respect have been rendered, uneasy or dissatisfied; and it is universally acknowledged, that such accidents are less likely to occur now than formerly, on account of the improved method of vaccinating generally adopted.

It appears then, that in a given number of cases the advantages of the cow-pock over the small-pox is as 8000 to 6; consequently, those who submit to the process of vaccination have upwards of thirteen hundred chances to one in their fa

vour.

Founding of Downing College,

Cambridge.

Sir George Downing, bart. of Gamlingay Park, in the county of Cambridge, in the year 1717, devised all his valuable estates in the counties of Cambridge, Bedford, and Suffolk, to his nearest relations, being first cousins, &c. to each for life, with remainder to their issue in succession; and in case they all died without issue, he devised those estates to trustees, who, with the consent and approbation of the archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the masters of St. John's and Clare Hall, should found a college within the university of Cambridge, which should be called Downing College.

Sir George died in 1749; and, upon the death of sir Jacob Garrat Downing, in 1764, without issue, the rest of sir George's relations named in his will being also then dead without issue, the estates devised were claimed by the university for the use of the intended college.

The validity of sir George Downing's will, after many years litigation, was at length established: and the charter for the incorporation of Downing College having been fully examined and considered by the lords of the privy council, and their recommendation of it bemg confirmed by his majesty's express approbation, the great seal was affixed to it by lord chancellor Loughborough, on the 22d of September, 1800.

Ceremonial

Ceremonial observed on laying the Foundation-Stone of Downing College, on Monday, May 18, 1807.

An excellent sermon upon the occasion was preached at St. Mary's church, by the Rev. Dr. Outram, public orator of the university, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon; after

which the members of the university assembled at the senate-house, where Mr. William Frere, fellow of Downing College, delivered a suitable speech in latin.

At a quarter before one
THE PROCESSION

left the Senate-House for the Site of the College,
(a commodious Piece of Ground near the Botanic Garden) in

THE FOLLOWING

ORDER:

ESQUIRE BEDELLS;

THE VICE-CHẨNCELLOR IN HIS ROBES;

HIGH STEWARD OF THE UNIVERSITY;
COMMISSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY;
NOBLEMEN, in their Robes, two and two;
DOCTORS in DIVINITY, in Robes, two and two;
DOCTORS of LAW and PHYSIC, in Robes, two and two;
PUBLIC ORATOR;

Professors of the University;

Proctors, in their Congregation Habits, followed by their men, with the
University Statutes;

Public Registrar, and Public Librarians;
Texors, Scrutators, and other Officers of the University;
THE MASTER OF DOWNING COLLEGE;

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Bachelors of Divinity, and Masters of Arts, two and two;
Fellow-Commoners, two and two;
Bachelors of Arts;

Under Graduates.

When the procession arrived at the site of Downing College, Dr. Annesley, the master of Downing, deposited the foundation-stone, and made an oration in latin. Dr. Outram then pronounced a benediction.

After this ceremony, the procession returned in the same order to the senate-house, and then dispersed to their several colleges.

The stone contained the best collection of coins of the present reign that could be procured; with the first stereotype plate cast in the foundry of the university, on the improved principle of earl Stanhope.

The following is an exact copy the inscription, which is very handsomely engraved on copper, and sunk in the foundation-stone:

COLLEGIVM

COLLEGIVM. DOWNINGENSE IN. ACADEMIA. CANTABRIGIÆ GEORGIVS. DOWNING. DE . GAMLINGAY. IN EODEM COMITATV

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QUOD. AD. RELIGIONIS. CULTUM

JURIS. ANGLICAN. ET. MEDICINE. SCIENTIAM ET. AD. RECTAM, JVVENTVTIS. INGENVÆ DISCIPLINAM. PROMOVENDAM FELICITER. EVENIAT.

After the ceremony, the new master entertained the principal members of the university with an excellent dinner at the Red Lion inn.

The present collegiate body, appointed by the charter of Downing College, are as follow:

Master. Francis Annesley, LL.D. member of St. John's, and late member of parliament for Reading, in Berkshire. Appointed 1800. Professor of the Laws of England. Edward Christian, M. A.

member of St. John's.

Professor of Medicine. Busick Harwood, M. D. professor of anatomy, and member of Emanuel.

Anecdote of his Majesty.

The late sir Lionel Darell having occasion for a few feet of land to build green-houses to his residence at Richmond, which was so close to the wall of Richmond Park that

Fellows. John Lens, M. A. member of St. John's; Wm. Meek, M.. of Emanuel; Wm. Freere, M. A. of Trinity.

Besides the above, a professor of medicine, thirteen fellows, six scholars, at 501. per aunum, for four years, two chaplains, a librarian, and other officers, will be appointed, with adequate salaries.

A member of a Scotch university, with certain qualifications, is eligible to be a professor of medicine at this college.

The annual salary of the master is 6001. of a professor 2001. of a fellow 1001. or in that proportion.

there was no possibility of making the proposed improvement without obtaining a grant from the crown, of such proportion of the park as was necessary for the building, applied to the lords of the treasury and the commissioners of crown

lands,

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