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Article BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF JOHN WOLCOTT, M.D. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Biographical Memoir Of John Wolcott, M.D.
upon the vacant rectory with a wishful eye . As there was ' no clergyman at hand to supply the place ofthe deceased , the physician ofthe body commenced physician of the soul , and actually officiated for a considerable time in . this capacity , reading the prayers of the church of England , and preaching occasionally . Fearing , at length , that he should be superseded by a regular the Doctor set out for
minister , ° properly instituted to the- living , England , carrying with him strong letters of recommendation to the Bishop of London , that he might not only be ordained , but also be appointed to the church which he had served . But though his application was backed pretty strongly by some considerable friends in Englandthe Bishop refused to admit
very , him , on the ground , we believe , of his having presumed to perform the ministerial duties without being properly licensed thereto . _ . _ In consequenceof this disappointment , the Doctor declined revisiting his patients and parishioners in the West Indies ; but having previously obtained the degree ofM . D . from one ofthe Scotch universities , he went down to the place of his former residence , and after living there
some time , removed to Truro , where he practised for several years as a physician , with great credit and success , About this time his uncle died , and left him nearly two thousand pounds . The Doctor ' s satirical vein shewed itself on various occasions in Cornwall ; particularly in some humorous jokes , which he played off upon the late Mr . Rosewarne , of Truro , and other gentlemen of in troublesome
the neighbourhood . He was also engaged some and expensive law-suits ; one of which was with the corporation of Truro , relative to their right of putting upon him a parish apprentice . In consequence of these disputes , he found that part of the world disagreeable , and therefore resolved to quit it for a sphere more congenial to his talents and disposition . the Doctor had
" During his residence in this county , an opportunity of bringtng forward to the world an eminent natural genius , who otherwise mig ht have been buried in total oblivion , or at the most have been a sign-painter in his native country . The person we allude to was John Opie , whose rude , drawings in common chalk , especially likenesses , our Doftor viewed with some curiosity and admiration in his rides through the village of St . Anne , where he was
a parish apprentice to one Wheeler , a house-carpenter . These drawings were so superior to what could be expefted in such a place , and from such a person , that the ' physical ! was induced to become his instruftor- and his patron . He accordingly furnished him with materials , and gave him lessons , by which he profited in a manner that surprised and delig hted the benevolent tutor . Having
made a rapid progress , Op ie went to Exeter , where he acquired some knowledge of oil ^ 'dinting . From that city he removed to London , and under Sir Joshua Reynolds became one of the most eminent artists of the age . . We are sorry to remark , however , that a violent misunderstaneim „ took place during some years between the Doctor and his pupil ; and ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Biographical Memoir Of John Wolcott, M.D.
upon the vacant rectory with a wishful eye . As there was ' no clergyman at hand to supply the place ofthe deceased , the physician ofthe body commenced physician of the soul , and actually officiated for a considerable time in . this capacity , reading the prayers of the church of England , and preaching occasionally . Fearing , at length , that he should be superseded by a regular the Doctor set out for
minister , ° properly instituted to the- living , England , carrying with him strong letters of recommendation to the Bishop of London , that he might not only be ordained , but also be appointed to the church which he had served . But though his application was backed pretty strongly by some considerable friends in Englandthe Bishop refused to admit
very , him , on the ground , we believe , of his having presumed to perform the ministerial duties without being properly licensed thereto . _ . _ In consequenceof this disappointment , the Doctor declined revisiting his patients and parishioners in the West Indies ; but having previously obtained the degree ofM . D . from one ofthe Scotch universities , he went down to the place of his former residence , and after living there
some time , removed to Truro , where he practised for several years as a physician , with great credit and success , About this time his uncle died , and left him nearly two thousand pounds . The Doctor ' s satirical vein shewed itself on various occasions in Cornwall ; particularly in some humorous jokes , which he played off upon the late Mr . Rosewarne , of Truro , and other gentlemen of in troublesome
the neighbourhood . He was also engaged some and expensive law-suits ; one of which was with the corporation of Truro , relative to their right of putting upon him a parish apprentice . In consequence of these disputes , he found that part of the world disagreeable , and therefore resolved to quit it for a sphere more congenial to his talents and disposition . the Doctor had
" During his residence in this county , an opportunity of bringtng forward to the world an eminent natural genius , who otherwise mig ht have been buried in total oblivion , or at the most have been a sign-painter in his native country . The person we allude to was John Opie , whose rude , drawings in common chalk , especially likenesses , our Doftor viewed with some curiosity and admiration in his rides through the village of St . Anne , where he was
a parish apprentice to one Wheeler , a house-carpenter . These drawings were so superior to what could be expefted in such a place , and from such a person , that the ' physical ! was induced to become his instruftor- and his patron . He accordingly furnished him with materials , and gave him lessons , by which he profited in a manner that surprised and delig hted the benevolent tutor . Having
made a rapid progress , Op ie went to Exeter , where he acquired some knowledge of oil ^ 'dinting . From that city he removed to London , and under Sir Joshua Reynolds became one of the most eminent artists of the age . . We are sorry to remark , however , that a violent misunderstaneim „ took place during some years between the Doctor and his pupil ; and ,