incurring much expense. This proposal appearing very reasonable, I acceded to it, and accordingly lost no time in waiting on my attorney, to give him instructions to prepare a petition, which we both agreed should comprise a statement of facts made on oath. Before the memorial could be prepared, I was informed by Mr. Estcourt, that the money must be paid before any petition could be presented. I accordingly sent the money without consulting my solicitor, not suspecting that there was any other view in the intimation than was honourable. Mr. Estcourt afterwards absolutely refused to present a petition that contained an assertion that tended in the smallest degree to invalidate the testimony of the woman, or question the merits of the decision. I was merely to acknowledge the offence, promise never to be guilty of the same again, and in consequence of its being the first time, and of being the father of a family, I was in the most humiliating terms, to pray that the honourable court of commissioners would be pleased to return part of the penalty! To such a memorial, Mr. Estcourt must in the first instance have been aware I could not submit; so after incurring an additional expense, I left them to divide the money they had thus obtained of me, (the result of many days labour) but not without freely delivering my sentiments of the transaction to which he petulantly replied, that if I was not sa tisfied, he would bring eighteen more informations against me. I believe the act of Parliament states that one moiety of the penalty should go to Government, and the other to the informer. Now, it appears that the informer in this case was to receive only one guinea. The person who employed her being a common servant at Somerset House, surely deserved no more-to whom then did the remainder go? The whole cost me about thirty pounds. To those who enjoy easy offices with great salaries, this sum may appear trifling; but such as know what the getting of money honestly in retail business is, in these times of peculiar hardness, best know how to estimate it-such is the pressure of the present times, that without great economy and some good fortune in business, very few are they who without great exertion can even pay their taxes, much less sustain such unexpected attacks on their property. In order to satisfy my mind whether I had legally forfeited the money, as well as to regulate my conduct in future, I laid a fair statement of the business before an eminent lawyer, of whose opinion the following is a copy: "The woman, who is I think a common informer, applied to you for Daffy's Elixir (having regularly laid her plan to recover a penalty); you told her you did not sell it, but that the Tincture of Senna was a better medicine, and which you did sell her. In this I think you did perfectly right, and I think it highly laudable in every professional man to undeceive the lower orders of people, by selling them when they are asked for quack remedies, medicines of which they know the composition, and to be better prepared. I am clearly of opinion that your conviction is contrary to law, and on a proper representation to the commissioners of the stamps, there is every reason to conclude you will receive redress." "In consequence of this opinion, coming as it does from the first legal authority, I still continue to recommend Tincture of Senna to the inquirers for Daffy's Elixir, and also the Antimonial Powder, for Dr. James's Fever Powders; and if Mr. Estcourt, Mr. Lucas, or his female friend were to apply again, I should certainly not hesitate to sell to either of them Tincture of Senna for Daffy's Elixir without a stamp; and as I am not licensed to vend quack medicines, they have a double interest in convicting me. I shall, however, take care that the question be decided by a jury of my country, in the Court of King's Bench, to which I regret much I was deprived of the power of referring the former business. I have lately been put in possession of some curious and interesting facts relative to the conduct of these honourable and conscientious servants at Somerset House, which I will send you for publication in your next number, properly authenticated. The case of a very respectable Perfumer, in Leicester Square, is not less extraordinary and cruel than my own, and the many instances I shall send you of advantages being taken by informers, of ignorant servants left in the shops during the time their masters were attending the volunteer corps, must excite the indignation of every liberal-minded tradesman. "I have the honour to be, "Your very obedient servant, "CHIRO-MEDICUS." Had not the Gentleman who favoured us with this communication been a tradesman of the first respectability, we certainly should have doubted the accuracy of the statement. As we know him to be incapable of making a false assertion, we consider it our duty to inquire, whether the Commissioners of Stamps were acquainted with the transaction, which we shall endeavour to ascertain in time to make some animadversions on the proceedings in our next number. As the duty on Quack Medicines was evidently imposed by the legislature for the purpose of suppressing the traffic, and not protecting or encouraging it, we conceive, that a Druggist, by recommending the pharmaceutical preparations in lieu of quack medi cines, is, promoting the views of Government. We would still advise Chiro-Medicus to solicit an interview with the Court of Commissioners, and lay the particulars of his case fairly before them: they should, and no doubt will, give him permission to try the question at the Quarter Sessions, or return him the penalty. TO THE EDITORS OF THE MEDICAL OBSERVER. "Gentlemen, "At the age of twenty-five, I was tempted to take the Nervous Cordials of two reputed empirics; and, for some time, I really fancied they were of service to me. They seemed to exhilarate my spirits, and dissipate the gloomy ideas that at times rendered my existence wretched. "After regularly persevering in their use three years, they began to lose their cordial effects, although the dose was increased to double the quantity specified in the directions, which I was ordered to do by the learned doctor. Indeed, to my great shame be it spoken, I expended no less than five guineas a week in this trash. I soon discovered, that the exhilarating effects were produced by the quantity of ardent spirit, the cordial contained, which at length began to undermine my constitution, and so derange my nervous system and |