ΤΟ JOHN ALDERSON, Esq. M.D., PRESIDENT OF THE HULL PHILOSOPHICAL AND LITERARY SOCIETY; SENIOR PHYSICIAN TO THE HULL INFIRMARY, AND CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THE LYING-IN-CHARITY; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE YORKSHIRE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE MEDICOCHIRURGICAL SOCIETY, EDINBRO', &c. &c. &c. DEAR SIR, In dedicating to you the following pages, the author is influenced by reasons, the statement of which will not, he trusts, be discreditable to either party. Nearly thirty years ago, you were one of the first, and now, alas! almost the only survivor of those friends, to whom he was chiefly indebted for encouragement and support, at a period when to him these were peculiarly valuable; and your advice on various points connected with his literary pursuits, was as freely given, as it was beneficial. To your professional care and eminent skill, on various occasions, he considers himself indebted, under Divine Providence, for the prolongation of life; and the promptitude and liberality with which your attentions were ever rendered, in the time of necessity and disease, to himself and family, are not the less deserving of acknowledgment, because shared in common with many other persons, in similar circumstances. |