BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 33
No. XII.
DR. JAMES GRAHAM LECTURING IN EDINBURGH.
IN Spring 1783, Doctor Graham again paid a visit to his native city, and for
the first time gave his fellow-citizens a lecture, which the Magistrates of Edinburgh
deemed improper for public discussion, and accordingly endeavoured
to suppress by the arm of power. The Doctor immediately published “an
appeal to the public,” in which he attacked the Magistrates, and particularly the
Lord Provost, John Grieve, Esq. For this, the Procurator-Fiscal raised a
criminal complaint in the Bailie Court against him, and as his real prosecutors
mere his judges-the result was, his being mulcted in 320, and imprisoned till
the fine was paid. He suffered, however, no very tedious imprisonment, as his
supporters collected the money amongst themselves. He also continued to give
his eccentric lectures as long as the public curiosity lasted ; and to induce people
to hear his lectures, the admission being three shillings, he promised each person
a book worth six shillings-viz. a copy of his lectures ! The admission was
reduced subsequently to two shillings, and lastly to one. The following advertisement
was circulated by him in December 1783 :-
.“DOCTOR GRAHAM desires to inform the Ladies and Gentlemen of
Edinburgh, that at the earnest desire of many respectable persons, he proposes
to favour them on Monday evening next, the 27th instant, and the three following
evenings, with A LECTURE on the simplest, most rational, and most
effectual means of preserving uninterrupted bodily Health, and the most
delightful mental sunshine or serenity to the very longest period of our
Mortal Existence: Teaching them how to build up the human Body into
a fair and firm Temple of Health, and to repose the Soul on the all-blessing
Bosom of that pure, temperate, rational, and Philosophical Religion !-which
alone is accepted of God ! ! ! and truly useful to all his Creatures. The Lecture
being therefore at once Medical, Moral, and Religious ; the Technical Terms
and nonsensical jargon of the followers of the Medical Trade or Farce being
avoided, and the whole treated in a plain, practical, and useful manner, DR.
GRAHAIVtr usts it will prove perfectly satisfactory, and of the highest importance
to the health and happiness, teniporal and eternal, of every sober and intelligent
person who honours him with their company ; as the precepts and instructions
proposed to be delivered in this long and pathetic Lecture cannot fail, if duly
practised, to preserve them in health, strength, and happiness, through the
course of a long, useful, and truly honourable life here; and to prepare them
for the enjoyment of eternal felicity hereafter.
“ The Lecture will be delivered on MONDAY EVENING next, the 27th, and
the three following evenings, precisely at Seven o’clock, in St. Andrew’s Chapel,
foot of Carrubber’s Close, next to the New Bridge.
‘‘ Admission only One Shilling.
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