The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL JENNERIAN SOCIETY FOR THE EXTERMINATION OF THE SMALLPOX, ON THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1803.

Extracted from the Gentleman's Magazine.

Mr. Urban,

I respect your miscellany too highly to wish it to be made the vehicle of any ordinary festival; but when the important object of the Royal Jennerian Society for the extermination of the Small-Pox is contemplated, and that millions of millions of lives depend upon its success, no apology is requisite for my requesting to record, in your valuable pages, the first festival of this society, which was held on the 17th instant, to commemorate the birth day of Dr. Edward Jenner.

At five o'clock about two hundred noblemen and gentlemen assembled at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand, to partake of an elegant dinner, under the direction of the following stewards:

Earl of Egremont, Lord Garring ton, Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Sir W. Farquhar, Bart. John Oakley Lettsom, M. D. Thomas Baring, Esq. Henry Cline, Esq. Henry Hulse, Esq. Robert Thornton, Esq. John Fuller Tufsen, Esq. William Vaughan, Esq. David Pike Watts, Esq.

After dinner, Non nobis, Domine, was delivered in a grand style; which was succeeded by,

1. The KING, the PATRON of the Society; and immediately a song in grand chorus.

"God save the King," succeeded by

2. The QUEEN, the PATRONESS of the Society.

3. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; and the other Royal Vice-Patrons and Patronees.

The Chairman, Lord Egremont, then read a letter from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to the Earl of Berkeley, in answer to an application to his Royal Highness to honor the Anniversary by taking the chair, which is so characteristic of his Royal Highness's good sense, and just discernment, that we presume to gratify the public with a copy.

Carlton House, May 14, 1803.

"My Dear Lord,

The Prince of Wales has commanded me to assure your Lordship of the great pleasure and satisfaction he should feel in taking the chair at the Jennerian Society, were it not that it had been adjudged contrary to etiquette in his Royal Highness's station to do so; that he had been obliged to decline the application of several great and National Institutions on similar occasions.

The Prince additionally regrets the strictness of this etiquette, because, in the enthusiastic admiration he feels for so valuable a discovery, his Royal Highness cannot but combine the highest esteem for the worth and character of its respectable author.

I have the honor to remain, my dear Lord, with great respect and regard,

Your obliged and faithful servant,

J. M'MAHON."

"Earl of Berkeley, &c. &c."

4. The health of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, which was drunk with the more enthusiasm, being also her Royal Highness's birth day:

5. The Navy of Great-Britain.

This was received with long and reiterated plaudits; and encouraged by an appropriate speech from the chairman, who observed, that the Society was founded in an auspicious moment when we were upon the eve of war, which would be more than compensated by the number of lives saved to the community by the extension of the Cow Pock; which he amply illustrated, by comparing its success to the nature of a sinking fund of useful subjects saved to the nation: this produced the popular song of

"Rule Britannia."

6. The Army of Great Britain,

was received with great ardour, and followed by "Britons strike home."

7. The Duke of Bedford, President of the Society.

8. Dr. JENNER.

This toast was received with an impressive enthusiasm we never before witnessed. After the room was ready to burst with re-echoing of repeated plaudits, Dr. Jenner attempted to speak, but lord Gwydir repeating the toast, which lord Egremont had previously given, the loudest acclamations ensued, and reverberated from every part of the room, for a considerable period before Dr. Jenner could be heard, when he modestly expressed his grateful feelings for the honor and approbation he had experienced, from this sovereign on the throne, to his subjects in every department of the empire. Overcome and oppressed as he appeared to be with the unanimous and distinguished approbation of the company, he confessed that he had not words to express the gratitude of his heart, or the extent of happiness they had conferred; an equal, and if possible, a superior degree of which, he wished might fill the bosom of every individual present, and of every friend of humanity throughout the Universe. After repeated and loud applauses had succeeded this address, T. F. Dibdin, Esq. of St. John's College, Oxford, delivered the following speech:

"Mr. Chairman,

We are met to celebrate, on this day, the triumph of Vaccination, the birth of its founder. Let joy and benevolence reign unbounded in our bosoms!

Gentlemen, it is needless to describe to you, in glowing colours, the ravages of that horrid disease, which has deprived many of us of our parents, relations, or friends. You yourselves have witnessed its progress—have witnessed the disasters which seldom fail to attend it. Let us exult in the consoling reflection, that its terrors are shortly to cease. To Dr. Jenner, and to every medical gentleman present, worthy associates in the cause, we owe this peculiar blessing—which now seems diffused to almost every civilized court of the globe. Without presumption, therefore, we may
We conclude, that it has been directed and supported by the interposition of Heaven.

"Gentlemen--I stated to you, that the small-pox was about to take its departure from suffering Humanity--Yes, like the shades of night before the morn, it has hid its abhorred face, and fled the presence of Vaccine? From the Severn to the Ganges, the mild virtues of the cow pox have been seen, felt, and acknowledged--along the shores of Asia, in the cot of the Hindoo, and in the temple of the Bramin, it has been contemplated with rapture, and cherished with adoration! This enlightened country, this glorious island (for glorious it will be, in spite of every effort of a proud and implacable foe,) has given birth to a blessing which has operated to the preservation of thousands. Happy thought! consoling reflection! We are now assembled under the auspices of a monarch, who, with his royal offspring have dignified the institution with their patronage; and we have also to boast of the support of some of the brightest characters in the realm. When I look to the Chair, I see, with peculiar satisfaction, how our feast is ennobled.-- (The Earl of Egremont in the chair.)

"Gentlemen--We shall live to view a rising generation of beauty and perfection: the boy preserved to his father, the daughter inheriting the bloom and loveliness of her mother--the tear of sorrow about to be wiped away, and the pang of premature death no longer to be felt! What prospects are these to contemplate! What joy and consolation ought they not to infuse!

"Let us, therefore, friends and countrymen, indulge a fervent wish for the preservation of that life which has been instrumental to such blessings; and let us hope that time itself shall cease, ere the name of Jenner be forgotten!"

After the warm and repeated plaudits which succeeded began to subside, the chairman proposed

"9. Success to the Royal Jennerian Society, and to the extermination of the small pox."

This was likewise received by loud and enthusiastic applauses; and was followed by an address to Dr. Jenner, on his birth day, written and recited by Isaac Brandon, Esq.

THE wreath of Conquest, and the voice of Fame,
Have crown'd the warrior, and proclaim'd his name!--
Say, what fair leaf shall bind the brow of those,
Who genial labours lessen human woes;
Who wield no sword--who wake no orphan's tears,
But snatch our infants from untimely biers?
Twin'd with the olive, be that fragrant bough
A wreath
Where sweets still live, when it has spent its hour:
For, like the rose, the guardians of mankind,
Tho' sunk in death, shall leave their sweets behind!
Round thee, O Jenner! let this garland blow,
And, while it sweetly shades, till sweetly glow!
'Tis said, that bursting from the angry skies,
The lightning harmless o'er the laurel flies—
Then o'er that brow where peace and genius twine,
With brightest ray, may unguent eternal shine!
Clasped in that roll where dwell the sons of mind,
Guardians of science, fathers of their kind.
Thy name shall live!--for immortality
Is worthy him, whose bosom, beating high,
Lifts his mild shield that braves th' infectious breath,
And strikes the poison from the dart of death!
Weak is the praise my willing muse bestows,
When solemn science round her incense throws!
When Briton's Genius, turning from the field,
Traces thy name with triumph on her shield!
When grateful Europe strews her festive low'rs,
And her fair groups come dancing from their bowers!*
See prowling Indians fix'd at thy applause,
Trace thy vast gift from the eternal cause;--
With peals of rapture rend the "wond'ring air,"
Lay bare their arms, and mark thy glory there!
Yet such there are, whose jealousy & hate
Spread the quick lie, and groundless fears create:
But such is life!--to dreams will reptiles run.
Infects will breed, wherever warms the sun.
When genial Spring with promise crowns
the fruits,
See how the worm the gen'rous bough pollutes!
Though some few leaves the greedy spoiler tare,
The tree still pours its treasures on the air.
Almighty Egypt rais'd with giant hand
Its hallow'd Pyramids, o'er its wondrous land;
Its "learned walls" with ripen'd science hung,
Where ev'ry stone seems quicken'd with a tongue:
In several places on the continent, festivals are annually celebrated in honor of the discovery of the Vaccine inoculation.
Some chiefs of the Cherokee Indians attended the Presidency of the United States of America. They had heard (as they expressed it) "that the Great Spirit had gifted a white man, over the great water, with a power to prevent the Small Pox." Eagerly enquiring, and being informed of the fact, they received the infection on their arms, and carried it into the midst of their tribe. It is a pleasing reflection that these untutored savages have spread it throughout their country, and that they are eminently expert in the practice of the new inoculation; they are preparing their rude but sincere presents to Dr. Jenner, a token at once of their admiration and gratitude.

This allusion extends only to those, who from envy, self interest, or hatred of innovation, diffuse falsehood to retard the progress of improvement.

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gre of improvement.

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Four thousand years its awful brows have crown'd,
And stamp'd th' immortal Gods, who rear'd the mass profound:
--Though rude barbarians lift the poiling hand,
And here and there a column strews the land,
The godlike structure triumphs o'er their rage;
And hands its glories down from age to age!
Ah, turn from these!--Behold the Mother's care!
Seek the Child's crib, and gratitude is there:
The parent eye the tender tribute shed,
As o'er the arm the mild contagion spreads:-
'Tis THERE Philanthropist, thy worth is taught!
--Jenner & Mercer mingle in her thought!
As from rude chaos fair creation rose,
As from the bud th' expanding flow'ret blows,
As from dim night the beauteous morning springs,
And o'er the landscape spread its purple wings,
From slumb'ring stone, the hand of Phidian fire
Shall JENNER call, and all the mass inspire!
Come, heav'nly SCULPTURE, with Promethean eye!
Thy kindling chisel o'er the marble ply!
As the fond tendril twines the shelt'ring tree,
Let babes cling smiling round their JENNER's knee:
Tow'rd his fond looks, where mildness reigns serene,
With lifted gaze, each artless face is seen,
--The wander'd lips--the cherub eye intent--
The pause of fondness--and the still content.
Then sweetly shape,--with all thy softest powers
The grateful Mother--off'ring fruits and flowers:
Could breath be moulded by thy beauteous art,
From the rais'd breast the cherish'd sigh should start!
And, could thy hand the swelling tear controul,
Th' silent blessing down her cheek should roll.
Beneath his feet let cypress boughs be seen,
And venom'd nettles wither'd lie between;
Nor round his brow forgotten be the wreath,
Where shades the olive and the roses breathe,
O had thy talents with the courage* been born,
How many eyes had yet beheld the morn!
No horrid fretwork had destroy'd thy face,
Where Guido's genius might have sought for grace!
No taint had blighted Nature's fairest reign,
Sapp'd all the blood,--and curs'd a future line!
Hearts that were broken had been sav'd by thee!
But selfish Glory blesses the decree,
That gave to us the honour of thy birth!--
May hoary Time long crown thy hallow'd worth!--
As glides the brook at evening's tranquil close,
So flow thy days, -- the mirror of repose!
May blooming health embow'r thy calm retreat!
May joys domestic shed their influence sweet
With growing love, affection's gentle rage,
The throng'd respect that crowds the couch of age!
And future Nations, when thou seek'st the skies,
Shall own thy Genius bade their myriads rise!"

Here the enthusiasm of the company again burst forth, with acclamations of every voice in the room, till Dr. Bradley addressed the company with an elegantly condensed history of the progress of Vaccine Inoculation; and particularly alluded to the success of Doctor de Carro, of Vienna, in transmitting the cow-pox, by the route of Bombay, to India, where the small-pox had broke out among the Gentoos, the believers in Brahma, among whom nearly nine out of every ten persons fell victims to this dreadful disease. The Brahmins, who venerate the cow as a sacred animal, received the cow-pox with religious zeal; and the pious Gentoos were thus preserved by the opportune arrival of this providential blessing. The same means had been extended to Ceylon, and 7000 lives had already been saved by the introduction of the cow-pox.

Dr. Bradley's health was then drank by the company, with thanks for his valuable remarks.

Benjamin Travers, Esq. one of the earliest institutors of the Royal Jennerian Society, now proposed the health of, and thanks to "Lord Egremont, the noble chairman." He expatiated in an elegant speech, on his lordship's public and private virtues; which led him, although exempted by his rank and fortune, from feeling the wants of the poor, to devote his patronage and purse to mitigate their miseries, and to promote their comforts. He then delivered a most impressive eulogy on the views and probable success of the Jennerian Institution, and congratulated the company on the heartfelt satisfaction they would experience in reflecting upon the millions they would prove the means of saving by persevering in the laudable work they had begun; thus imitating their great Master, who declared that "he came into the world, not to take away men's lives, but to save them."

His lordship returned thanks for the honor conferred upon him, in placing him in a situation which ought to have been filled by one of the Royal Vice-Patrons. He rejoiced in the success of the society, which he compared as a sinking-fund of population and strength to the state,

Robert Thornton, Esq. M. P. drank to the Vice-Presidents. With this toast he united the Vice-Patronesses; observing that by the virtuous union of the sexes, subjects of vaccine inoculation would ever be afforded to exercise the talents of a society, which would tend to save more lives than even the loss by war would occasion.

The Earl of Berkeley, as one of the Vice-President, returned thanks to the distinguished Commoner who proposed the toast; and hoped that the union he recommended would ever prove productive to the individuals, and prosperous to the nation.

Lord Carrington, as one of the Vice-Presidents, also addressed the company, and paid many elegant compliments on the character and virtues which distinguished the noble Vice-Patronesses.

When the Board of Directors was proposed as a toast from the chair, John Towell Rutt, Esq. in an animated speech gave an account of the formation and progress of the society; and rejoiced in the gratification it afforded them, in witnessing its unparalleled utility and success.

Then followed the thanks to the Medical Council; to which Dr. Denman returned an appropriate speech, which was followed by the chairman's drinking to "The right honorable Lord Mayor, Benjamin Travers, Esq. and John Julius Angerstein, Esq."

This again called up Mr. Travers, who expatiated with his usual animation on the rapid formation of a society, which in six months had acquired the highest splendor, confirmed by the appearance of one of the most numerous and respectable meetings ever convened together; and whose sublime object, joined to the united endeavors of so many illustrious characters, afforded the bright prospect of being crowned with success. He concluded with highly complimenting Dr. John Walker, the resident physician of the society's Central House, who early united in the formation of the institution, and before its establishment, had devoted his time and attention to gratuitous inoculation; and after proposing his health, the Doctor rose and hinted at his success in stopping the progress of the small pox, which had broke out in the army and navy with Gen. Abercrombie in the Mediterranean, as well as in Malta, Palermo and Egypt; which he effected by means of the cow-pox.

The chairman next proposed "The health of Dr. William Woodville, and the rest of the friends of the cow-pox (for the extermination of the small-pox) in every part of the world."

This called up Dr. Lettsom, who informed the company that Dr. Woodville had just left the room; and in his absence he would offer some remarks upon the Doctor's distinguished and independent conduct. In consequence of being at the head of the hospital for the small-pox and inoculation, his experience was deemed so superior to every other medical practitioner, as to induce the first professional men to call him into consultation: upon every difficult and important case, as being decidedly the most competent to the subject. He had, nevertheless, as soon as the Cow Pock, was promulgated by Dr. Jenner, embraced the discovery, and encouraged it in his public and private capacity; and had probably inoculated more persons with it, in consequence of his public situation, than any other individual, Dr. Jenner excepted; and had thus with great disinterestedness, sacrificed the extensive prospects of private emolument to public good. At this time, of the multitude who applied to him at the Small Pox Hospital, only two patients were in the hospital under the Small Pox. and not one for several weeks previously; which might be ascribed to his successful exertions in promoting the Cow Pock. Among other friends to Vaccine Inoculation, Dr. Lettsom could not pass by Dr. De Carro, of Vienna, who had forwarded the Cow Pock to India, and particularly to Dr. Waterhouse the Jenner of America, who first introduced it into that Hemisphere. He concluded this animated address with an eulogy to the Faculty, who had almost unanimously united their endeavors to exterminate the Small-pox, one of the most lucrative sources of emolument; and elucidated this independent conduct by remarking that, as about 3000 persons had died annually in London by the Small-pox, it might be calculated that 30,000 persons must have been attacked with this disease; and admitting that each might devote for medical aid only three guineas, the sum of 90,000 guineas would thus be sacrificed by the Faculty at the altar of public good. He apologized, as a professional man, for offering such an eulogy for an unparalleled disinterestedness; but he trusted that his period of life would exempt him from any censure on this ground.

Toward the close of the evening, lord Egremont withdrew; and Dr. Jenner, who sat at his right hand during the day, accepted the chair, and preserved to a late hour rational conviviality chastened and refined by the sublime sentiment of rescuing from the grave more human beings than ever was even suggested by the warmest imagination could possibly result, from the institution of any other society, in the records of history or time;--a sentiment rendered still more gratifying by the presence in the chair, on the present auspicious occasion, Dr. Jenner sent to Dr. Waterhouse a silver box, inlaid with gold, of exquisite taste and workmanship, with this inscription," Edward Jenner to Benjamin Waterhouse"

But Mr. Ring the mutual friend of the kindred physicians, who had the care of forwarding this valuable present, annexed this superscription ; " From the Jenner of the Old World to the Jenner of the New World."

The health of Dr. Jenner was then drank with enthusiastic applause, as the founder of the society; and the following address was delivered from the chair:--

"Gentlemen,

It is with heartfelt satisfaction I embrace this opportunity of returning you my most sincere thanks for the very flattering and distinguished testimony you have been pleased to offer me of your approbation of my humble endeavors to promote the welfare of mankind; and I cannot but feel the most lively emotions of gratitude for the honor you have done me in drinking my health in a bumper, as the founder of this excellent institution.

The cause in which we are engaged is of such vast importance to the human race, and the success which has already attended our efforts is so truly animating, that I cannot refrain from expressing the joy I feel in seeing so many respectable characters uniting their talents and influence to forward the progress of this inestimable discovery. The small-pox, that cruel destroyer of the human species, is now yielding to the mild and benign influence of the vaccine; and the time, I trust, is not far distant, when this dreadful malady will be totally eradicated from the earth.

To you, Gentlemen, who have so liberally contributed your time, your talents, and your fortunes to the support of this institution, the world is indebted for the rapid progress which the vaccine has made in this country; and to your persevering exertions it must look for the complete triumph of this great discovery over one of the most formidable enemies to the human race.

I beg leave to propose to you, Gentlemen, as a toast, "The prosperity of the Royal Jennerian Society, and may its benevolent efforts be crowned with universal success."

of that man, without whose discovery the society would not have existed; and by which millions of rising generations, upon whom the future must necessarily depend, are saved to enrich the state, to implore blessings on the discoverer, no less distinguished for his amiable and endearing manners, than for the modesty and humility with which he has received the applause and gratitude of an admiring world; and which cannot but inspire every virtuous heart with pious adoration of the Supreme Power, which hath vouchsafed in mercy to dispense the means of preserving mankind from the most mortal disease that ever visited the children of men.
VERSES.
For the First Anniversary of the JENNERIAN SOCIETY.

OH, how unlike this Triumph, to the car
When chain'd of old the captive of the war,
Whilft thro' the arch, with blood-stain'd trophics hung,
The vaunting cohorts in succession throng,
Eye the rich spoil, and scent the wreathed flow'r,
Nor ask of fate, a gentler, happier hour!
Whilft he, their Chief, as Music's mus'd tongue
His deeds of sanguinary valour sung.
And his arm brandish'd high the shining blade,
And his stern brow the laurel crown display'd,
Midst idolizing myriads proudly rode,
Deeming himself, destruction's Demi-god!
Oh, how unlike this triumph! liberal joy
Here feels no cruel passion's mean alloy,
But virtue hallows pleasure--reason scans
And smiling certifies meek Pity's plans,
Experience glories in her part discharg'd,
Hope points exulting to a sphere enlarg'd;
And, as she sees her great, her good, and wise,
Stanch'd are the tears in charity's glad eyes,
The muse un summon'd adds her grateful lays,
And science wears her crown of fadeless bays.
Nor the choice viand, nor the mantling bowl,
Raise to his height of bliss the generous soul,
Its powers soar equal luxuries above;
Their joy, utility; their pure feast, love.
And what must be the feelings of thy breast,
JENNER, with more than usual blessings blest,
Thou who to truth's rich mine hast burst thy way,
And found her diamond of eternal ray,
Polish'd the glorious gem to radiance bright,
And bad'st admiring nations hail the light.
Where round her pole, stern winter scowls afar,
Or there, where glows the coast of Malabar,
Distant from these, where life's more polish'd
Ereathe temperate air, and bless the milder Zones.
There too, whilst Providence his flag unfurl'd,
Where erst Columbus found a wider world,
Re-sounds alike thy venerated name,
And either Hemisphere augments thy fame.
At thy command, what hosts of ills retire!
Disease extinguishes one febrile fire,
From hell tho' the fierce spark which light it came
And myriads perish'd in the vengeful flame,
Whilft death alarm'd with mad convulsive start
Drops from his quiver its most venom'd dart.
Nor only baffled are these mightier woes,
Now life's warm stream in healthier current flows,
The quick ear catches e'en the whisper'd sound,
And darts the piercing eye its vivid lashes round.
No more, despairing, the fond mother sighs,
Whilft in her arms the teething infant lies,
Scarce recogniz'd its pustule bloated form--
Poor blossom! canker'd by Corruption's worm!
Suffus'd o'er Youth's sweet cheek, the living bloom
Of Beauty dreads no more on earthly doom,
No dent it knows, except a dimple's dell,
No creamy scar, the cruel pest to tell;
But there kind blushes, smiles, and transports lie,
And all the stores of Love's artillery.
No more the Peasant, with preventive care,
Turns from the neighbouring cot his foot-steps far;
But joys the bared arm's rosy spot to see,
And, grateful, borrows its security:
Then guides his plough, or tends his fleecy care,
Speeds to the market, bustles at the fair.
Or, smiling, wends to Church on Sabbath-day,
His thanks with more than wonted zeal to pay.
Then what must be the feelings of thy breast,
JENNER, with more than usual blessings blest!
The Painter's canvas and the Sculptor's stone,
The Muse's lyre, the patronizing Throne,
All own, as all promote, thy certain claim
To the high guerdon of eternal fame,
And see, how glad admiring hosts attend,
To hail their Country's Boast, their Country's Friend,
And wish him honour'd length of happy days,
And find their highest pleasure in his praise!