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Kay's Originals Vol. 1

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32 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, good fortune and the happiness of hearing the celebrated lecture, and of seeing the grand celestial state bed, the magnificent electrical apparatus, and the supremely brilliant and unique decorations of this magical edifice, bf this enchanting Elysian palace !-where wit and mirth, love and beauty-all that can delight the soul, and all that can ravish the senses-will hold their court, this, and every evening this week, in chaste and joyous assemblage! let them now come forth, or for ever afterwards let them blame themselves, and bewail their irremediable misfortune.” ’ In this way his numerous auditors were properly prepared for his lectures, which were delivered in the most elegant and graceful manner. The following letter, his own production perhaps, from a periodical work of the time, descriptive of his Temple and lectures, is curious :- “TO THE EDITOR OF THE WESTMINSTER MAGAZINE. ‘( Audi alteram partem. “ SIR-I have heard many persons exclaim against Dr. Graham’s Hymeneal Lectures, and reprobate him in the most opprobrious terms ; but having not been myself to see his Temple of Hymen, I thought it unjust to censure or join in condemning that which I had never seen, or him whom I had never heard. Curiosity (a passion remarkable in the people of England) prompted me to go with an intimate friend and pay a visit to the Doctor, whom I found attended by about forty gentlemen who were intent on listening to his connubial precepts. I gave attention, and determined to judge impartially of what I heard as well as saw, and the following is the result of my unprejudiced observations :- “ His rooms are fitted up in a very elegant and superb manner, far beyond any thing I ever saw, and must have cost him a very considerable sum of money. A sta,tue of Beauty, of Yenus de Jfedicis, is the only object that appeared to me censurable, as likely to excite unchaste ideas. His lecture is well adapted to the subject he treats on, and is interspersed with many judicious remarks, well worthy the attention of the Legislature, to prevent prostitution and encourage matrimony. The nature of the subject naturally obliges him to border on what is generally termed indelicacy ; but he always endeavours to guard his audience against imbibing sentiments in my respect repugnant to virtue, chastity, and modest deportment ; he earnestly recommends marriage, as honourable in all, and as strongly execrates prostitution and criminality ; wherein then is he to blame S “BOB SHORT. “December 1781.” The articles with which the Temple of Health, in London, WYBS furnished were subsequently removed to Edinburgh, and offered for sale by Dr. Graham, in the third house from the High Street, on the South Bridge.
Volume 8 Page 42
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