American diploma, and desired Mm.to possess the honors of the
University of Edinburgh, then but little passed beyond the zenith
of its glory. After spending the summer at his uncle’s house, he
went to Edinburgh, where he heard the last course of lectures, delivered
by the chaste and classical Gregory. The American schools
not being recognized by the University as ad eundem, he found himself
obliged to attend the full term of an under-graduate. This would
have left Mm ample- leisure as far as his mere college studies were
concerned; for the youth who had graduated with approbation under
the tmtion of Wistar, Physick, and James, and their compeers, could
not have fallen far short of the. requisitions of any other Medical
Faculty in Christendom. But his time whs not spent in idleness.
He sedulously cultivated his knowledge of the classical tongues,
hitherto imperfect, and he devoted himself to the study of French
and Italian, .both of which languages he learned to . read with facility.
He also attended with great interest the lectures of Professor Jameson
on Geology, thus confirming and reviving Ms early fondness for that
branch of science. After his'return to America, he presented to the
Academy a series of the green-stone rocks o f Scotland, and h section
of Salisbury Craig near Edinburgh, collected by himself at this time.
In October 1821, he visited Paris, and spent the winter there mainly
in clinical study. The next summer was devoted to a tour in Italy
and other portions of the continent, and in the fall he returned again
to Edinburgh, where, after attendance upon another session, he received
the honors of the doctorate. His-printed thesis*'may be taken
as a fair exponent of his mental condition and calibre at this period.
It is very like himself, and yet with a difference from him as we knew
Mm later in life. It is quiet and indeed even simple in tone, without
affectation and without any of the declamation in which young writers
are so apt to indulge. Its style is clear and sufficiently concise, and
as a piece of Latimty it is correct and graceful. It takes up the
subject of bodily pain, and considers it in regard to its causes, its
diagnostic value, and its effects, both physical and psychical, leaving
very little more to be said with regard to it. But it is evident throughout
that the essay is the production of one who is more ambitious of
the reputation of the litterateur than of the savant; who writes,—and
that probably marks the distinction, — with his face turned to his
auditoiy rather than to his subject. The sentence marches sometimes
with a didactic solemnity almost Johnsonian, while the frequency
of the poetical references and quotations,—Latin and Italian
as well as English,—and the facile fitness with which they glide into
* Tentamen Inaugurale de Corporis Dolore, etc.—Edinburgh m.d.cccxxiii.
the text, show how familiar they must have been to the mind of the
author. ’ Indeed Edinburgh was, at the period in question, the principal
centre of taste and philosophy, as well as of science, in Great
Britain; and it is not likely that one of Morton’s literary turn and
studious habits would miss the ’opportunity to pasture in either of
these rich fields. The ethical tone of this production is also worthy
of note. It is characteristic of the writer, and grew in a great measure
out of Ms mental constitution, which, free from all violence of
passion, was habitually cheerful, hopeful, and Mndly; Hence comes
that beautiful spirit of philosophical optimism, wMch, perceiving in
all seeming evil only the means to a greater ultimate good, attains all
that stoicism proposed to itself, by the shorter way of a cheerful and
unquestioning resignation to the Divine Will, not because it is omnipotent
and irresistible, but solely because it is the wisest and best.
The following extracts will sufficiently explain my meaning:—
“ Almarerum Parens nil frustra fecit; ne dolor quidem absque süisusibus est; et. semper
cogimur eum agnosoere veluti fidelem quamvis ingratum monitorem, et quoque inter præ-
sidia vitse nonnunquam numerandum.” — (p- 9.) I
“ Dolor enim nos nascerites aggreditur, per totam vitam insidiosus comitatur, et quasi
nunquam satiandus ; adest etiam morientibus, boramque supremam angoribus infestât.
At ego tainen Dolorem, quanquam in visum, et ab omnibus, quantum fieri potest, ab ipsis
semottim, non omnino inutilem depinxi, sed potius eum. protuli, ad vitam conservandam
necessarium, a Deo. Optimo Maximo constitutum.’’ - (p. 37.)
This conviction animated Morton throughout his life, consoled him
in suffering, cheered him in sickness, and gave to his deportment much
of its calm and beautiful equanimity.*
* The subjoined graceful lines breathe the same spirit. They occur among his MSS. with
thé date of May 1828. I quote them as illustrative of the thought above indicated.
THE SPIRIT OF DESTINY.
Spirit of Light ! Thou glance divine
Of Heaven’s immortal fire,
I kneel before thy hallowed shrine
To worship and admire.
I cannot trace thy glorious flight
Nor dream where thou dost dwell,
Yet canst thou guard my steps aright
By thine unearthly spell.
I listen for thy voice in vain,
E’en when I deem thee nigh ;
Yet ere I venture to complain,
Thou know’st the reason why ;
And oft when, worldly cares fdrgot,
I watch the vacant air,
I see thee not,—I hear thee not,—
Yet know that thou art there.