Page:An Examination of Certain Charges - Alfred Stillé.djvu/24

 most conducive to his comfort and convenience to retain his advice hereafter until solicited.

Having attached our names to this address, we consider ourselves as having vouched for, and being answerable for the truth, of all contained in it. Every attention that the unremitted industry of the undersigned could give, has been paid to the collection and examination of evidence which they are ready to produce when called upon by a responsible person so to do;—but they do not feel themselves bound, under these circumstances, to give a moment's consideration to the attacks which may flow from the pen of every anonymous, mercenary, or irresponsible scribbler.

The committee having thus completed the duty intrusted to them to the best of their ability, cheerfully abide the decision of the public, seeing no reason to doubt that it will be such as they earnestly desire. The noxious qualities, which the articles just reviewed have been supposed to possess, will, we hope, on a closer examination, be found, by them, to owe their reputation, like the famed Upas tree of the Eastern isles, not so much to their fatality, as to the exaggerations of fiction.

Signed,

March 11th, 1835.

"I certify that I met Dr. Gibson at Dr. Chapman's, on Saturday evening the 8th November, 1834, and told him that an attempt would be made on the following Monday, by certain members of the class to interrupt Dr. Coxe's lectures in the University, that Dr. Gibson earnestly begged me to go to those members and request them as a personal favour to him not to make the attempt; that he thought it would injure the University and the students, and ought not to be done. I also certify that Professor Horner made the same request of me, and that in consequence of this interference on my part the measures contemplated were abandoned, and were afterwards renewed by other members of the class, who were (as I am credibly informed,) not even acquainted with the students originally concerned."

Signed,

March 16th 1835.

No. 1.—"I certify that during the last winter, Dr. Wm. Gibson, Professor of Surgery in the University of Pennsylvania, was the first to call upon me and request that police officers might be sent out immediately to arrest two medical students, (Messrs. B. & W.) and prevent them from engaging in a duel, which he had reason to believe they contemplated fighting."

Signed,

March 16th 1835.

No. 2.—"I certify that I met with Dr. Gibson at Chester, and that he told me his object was to follow Messrs. W. & B. into Delaware, and if possible prevent them from fighting, and that if he could not prevent the duel he should remain somewhere in the neighbourhood, in order to afford his assistance in case either should be wounded. I also certify that Professor Gibson was not within two miles of the party when they fought."

Signed,

March 16th 1835.