Analysis and refutation of the Statements of facts in relation to the expulsion of James C. Cross from Transylvania University --recently published by Dudley, Mitchell & Peter / by James Conquest Cross.

  • Cross, James Conquest.
Date:
1846
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Analysis and refutation of the Statements of facts in relation to the expulsion of James C. Cross from Transylvania University --recently published by Dudley, Mitchell & Peter / by James Conquest Cross. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    1 wished to see me at his house. I requested him to say to Dr. D , that if he had more business with me than I had with him, he could find me at Kci/.er's Hotel.* A short time afterwards, Dr. Holland informed me that Dr. Dudley- would be pleased to meet me at the Hotel at 3 o'clock. We had a protracted interview in the presence of Dr. Holland. He informed me that he and Dr. Richardson.had plenary powers to fill the vacant chairs, and made to me • a formal tender of the chair of the Institutes. |He pressed me to accept it with the greatest Earnestness. I reminded him that the fact |that I had been in 1834, arrayed against the School constituted with me a formidable objec- tion—for as I had contracted many enemies on account of the publications I considered my- self obliged to make, 1 could not believe that a residence in Lexington would be either pleasant or profitable. To which he respon- ds! with a smile that would have wheedled a diplomatist, My friend, you should not suf- fer that to influence jrou in the slightest de- gree, if you accede to the proposition I have made to you, you will be identifiedwithusand 1 will make it my special business to remove every difficulty out of your way. To which I replied, that doubtless his influence would be great in reconciling my enemies to the move- ment he proposed to make in my behalf, but that other objections occurred to my mind which I considered almost insm-mountable.— When he found that his arguments were not likely to prevail, he insisted that I should not return to Cincinnati until the return of Dr. Richardson, who had some days before gone there to negotiate with Dr. Eberle and myself, in relation to taking chairs in Transyl- vania University. Afterwards, I learned that Dr. Richardson reached Cincinnati and I left it within the same hour, and finding that I was not in thatcity, he did not even see Dr. Eberle on the subject of his visit. As Dr. Dudley expected, Dr. Richardson returned the same day that I had held the consultation with him in the presence of Dr. Holland. On the next day I had an interview with Drs. Dudley and Rich' nlson in Keizer's Hotel; they jointly tendered me the chair of the Institutes, and urged my acceptance with a most imploring •tness. I gave them no further satisfac- tion, than 1 say 1 would join them if I could prevail on Dr. Eberle to come with me, and not without. When they found that this was my final and definitive determination, they in- *This plain uncourtly reply, resulted from the fact, that, not having had, prei ously, any further acquaintance with Dr. Dudley, than a civil street nod of recognitioi lieving, from what I>r. Lewis had told me the night before, that be desired to speak to me of the reorganization of the Transylvania Medical School, I was determined he should not think that I desired a chair in it,or that I wished to become his colleague. sisted that 1 should return to Cincinnati im3 mediately, and do all in my power to induce Dr. Eberle to join me in the movement they desired me to make, adding whether or not, I should succeed with Dr. Eberle, they would expect me to take the Institutes. After par- ting with Dr. Dudley, 1 told Dr. Richardson that it was impossible for me. to join them without Dr. Eberle. In obedience to their request, I started for Cincinnati the evening of the same day on which I had had the inter- view with Drs. Richardson and Dudley.— After my arrival in that city, I held consulta- tions with Dr. Eberle on the subject of his coming to Lexington. Although a heavy guar- antee was offered, he finally determined not to leave the Medical College of Ohio, and I immediately addressed the .following letter to Drs. Richardson and Dudley : Cincinnati, April 20, 1837. Gentlemen: On yesterday I had two pro- tracted interviews with Dr. Eberie, and find him immoveably fixed in the determination to sink or swim with the fortunes of the Medical College of Ohio. The guarantee caused him to hesitate, but after consulting with his family he decided not to accept, even when I hinted, on my own authority, to raise it to four thousand dollars. It. is the decided opinion here that if you fail in pro- curing a strong organization there will be in our school three hundred pupils next winter—but this I much doubt. Eberle feels and, I think, has acted under its influence. In the interviews 1 have had with you en the subject of joining your school, I have not failed to let you know that my movements would much depend on those of Dr. Eberle. Indeed, I in- formed Dr. Richardson that my going to Lexing- ton would depend on his going with me. It will not surprise or disappoint you, to learn that 1 cannot accept on the terms proposed. I am much too poor to exchange a certainty for an un- certainty; but make me safe, and I will contrib utemy feeble exertions most willingly and earn- estly to sustain the character of my Alma Mater. My feelings are already with you, and it is with great difficulty that I am enabled to resist the temptation of joining you at all hazards. If I am guaranteed $3000 a year,for three years, or $3500 for two years, I will come, but if to both of these propositions you object, I have decided to remain where I am. If to either of these propositions you should ac- cede, let me suggest that though I much prefer the chairof Institutes, you perhaps cannot do better under existing circumstances, than toplace me in the chair of Theory and Practice, and give Dr. \e chair of Institutes. I have not spoken to .urn on the subject, nor will I until I have your authority. A speedy decision is no less impor- tant to you than it is to me, you will therefore, I trust, let me know at as eariy a period as possi- ble, what I am to expect. Yours, respectfully, JAMES C. CROSS. Drs. Richardson and Dudley.