DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0364
324 kirby’s wonderful museum.
besides the ample provision he had made for his numerous
relations, friends, and his two maid servants, and still more
ample bequests to alms-houses, he was in possession of a
surplus of forty thousand pounds, unappropriated: and de-
sired the doctor to specify such hospitals and dispensaries,
as he deemed most in want of funds for their support, with
an accurate account of the state of their finances, that this
forty thousand pounds might be appropriated in proportion
to their wants, and general utility. The doctor immedi-
ately set about procuring the necessary information, which
after having obtained, with no small pains and trouble, he
sent to Mr. Copke ; but these objects of his profound muni-
ficence were never noticed in the real will: and the dis-
appointment could not but be felt by many of the friends
of those public charities, to which his attention had been
recommended, whose expectations were raised by fallacious
promises never intended to be realized. Of all the insti-
tutions which the doctor had pointed out to him as deserv-
ing his support, the Humane Society alone was remem-
bered ; but the ample donation of five hundred pounds, set
down in the wall that he shewed to Dr. Lettsom, turned out
to be, in his last will, a paltry bequest of fifty pounds; and
to the doctor himself, for the many years plague and trou-
ble he had with him, a plain gold ring!
Although Mr. Cooke was so very desirous of obtaining
gratuitous advice, and cheap physic for himself, he would
not allow either of his females to be sick or ailing, or any
medical or surgical relief to be afforded them when re-
quired. His housekeeper, Mrs. Strudwick, having a very
bad ulcer on her leg, which disabled her from walking,
ventured to ask the advice of a medical friend. Unfortu-
nately, it wras in the presence of her master, who swore
there was nothing the matter with her but laziness, and
would not permit the leg even to be looked at. As the
woman was in great pain, the gentleman was obliged to
besides the ample provision he had made for his numerous
relations, friends, and his two maid servants, and still more
ample bequests to alms-houses, he was in possession of a
surplus of forty thousand pounds, unappropriated: and de-
sired the doctor to specify such hospitals and dispensaries,
as he deemed most in want of funds for their support, with
an accurate account of the state of their finances, that this
forty thousand pounds might be appropriated in proportion
to their wants, and general utility. The doctor immedi-
ately set about procuring the necessary information, which
after having obtained, with no small pains and trouble, he
sent to Mr. Copke ; but these objects of his profound muni-
ficence were never noticed in the real will: and the dis-
appointment could not but be felt by many of the friends
of those public charities, to which his attention had been
recommended, whose expectations were raised by fallacious
promises never intended to be realized. Of all the insti-
tutions which the doctor had pointed out to him as deserv-
ing his support, the Humane Society alone was remem-
bered ; but the ample donation of five hundred pounds, set
down in the wall that he shewed to Dr. Lettsom, turned out
to be, in his last will, a paltry bequest of fifty pounds; and
to the doctor himself, for the many years plague and trou-
ble he had with him, a plain gold ring!
Although Mr. Cooke was so very desirous of obtaining
gratuitous advice, and cheap physic for himself, he would
not allow either of his females to be sick or ailing, or any
medical or surgical relief to be afforded them when re-
quired. His housekeeper, Mrs. Strudwick, having a very
bad ulcer on her leg, which disabled her from walking,
ventured to ask the advice of a medical friend. Unfortu-
nately, it wras in the presence of her master, who swore
there was nothing the matter with her but laziness, and
would not permit the leg even to be looked at. As the
woman was in great pain, the gentleman was obliged to