The Consultation Letters of Dr William Cullen (1710-1790) at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
[ID:742] From: Miss Rachel Cuthbert / To: Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) / Regarding: Miss Rachel Cuthbert (Patient) / 23 January 1761 / (Incoming)
Letter from Rachel Cuthbert of Inverness, thanking Cullen for a cure: 'I would be the greatest Wretch alive if I had not the greatest sense of your goodness'. Dated 1761, but 1759 deleted. Rachel was about 19-21, depending on the year of writing. The rather familiar tone is explained by the fact that her sister was married to Cullen's brother-in-law, James Johnston.
- Facsimile
- Normalized Text
- Diplomatic Text
- Metadata
- Case
- People
- Places
Facsimile
There are 3 images for this document.
[Page 1]
[Page 2]
[Page 3]
Metadata
| Field | Data |
|---|---|
| DOC ID | 742 |
| RCPE Catalogue Number | CUL/1/2/10 |
| Main Language | English |
| Document Direction | Incoming |
| Date | 23 January 1761 |
| Annotation | None |
| Type | Authorial original |
| Enclosure(s) | No enclosure(s) |
| Autopsy | No |
| Recipe | No |
| Regimen | No |
| Letter of Introduction | No |
| Case Note | No |
| Summary | Letter from Rachel Cuthbert of Inverness, thanking Cullen for a cure: 'I would be the greatest Wretch alive if I had not the greatest sense of your goodness'. Dated 1761, but 1759 deleted. Rachel was about 19-21, depending on the year of writing. The rather familiar tone is explained by the fact that her sister was married to Cullen's brother-in-law, James Johnston. |
| Manuscript Incomplete? | No |
| Evidence of Commercial Posting | No |
Case
Cases that this document belongs to:
| Case ID | Description | Num Docs |
|---|---|---|
| [Case ID:90] |
Case of Rachel Cuthbert who writes to thanks Cullen for curing her of an unknown condition. |
1 |
People linked to this document
| Person ID | Role in document | Person |
|---|---|---|
| [PERS ID:287] | Author | Miss Rachel Cuthbert |
| [PERS ID:1] | Addressee | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:287] | Patient | Miss Rachel Cuthbert |
| [PERS ID:1] | Patient's Physician / Surgeon / Apothecary | Dr William Cullen (Professor Cullen) |
| [PERS ID:748] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Major James Johnston (Johston (sic)) |
| [PERS ID:746] | Patient's Relative / Spouse / Friend | Mrs Mary Cuthbert |
Places linked to this document
| Role in document | Specific Place | Settlements / Areas | Region | Country | Global Region | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Writing | Inverness | North Highlands | Scotland | Europe | certain | |
| Destination of Letter | Edinburgh | Edinburgh and East | Scotland | Europe | inferred |
Normalized Text
1759
1761
You may be justly surprised
that I who lie under such an Obligation to you shoud
not have had the Gratitude of Returning you my most
Sincere thanks for the great for the favour you
did me, in giving me Generously, & frankly, a Prescrip↑tion↑
which Relieved me from the greatest misery. I woud be
the greatest Wretch alive, If I had not the Greatest
Sense of your goodness, and I hope you will not suspect
me of the Stupidity of not acknowledging & being
constantly Impressed with the most grateful Sentiments
towards you & yours. The reason I did not write
was my having the greatest hopes in your advice insomuch
that I Reckoned myself Effectively cured when I Received
it & now I feel the Effects of it for I am perfectfully
Recovered. My Mama congratulates you & Family
upon Mr Johstons preferment 1
[Page 2]
I am sure he will never meet with such fortune then he
merits. My Mama Joins me in affectionate
Compliments to you & Family & wishing you many
happy years & all the felicity life can afford
I dont yet Despair of thanking you in person which
woud ↑me↑ give great pleasure
I ever am with
with Constancy & Gratitude
Dear Sir your most obliged
Humble Servant
[Page 3]
✍
1761
Notes:
1: Meaning 'promotion' or 'advancement', most often employed with regard to military, ecclesiastical or academic appointments. Context is obscure but 'Mr Johnston' was probably James, brother of Cullen's wife, Anne. He was an army officer, married to Rachel Cuthbert's older sister Magdalene.
Diplomatic Text
1759
1761
You may be justly surprised
that I who lie under such an Obligation to you shoud
not have had the Gratitude of Returning you my most
Sincere thanks for the great for the favour you
did me, in giving me Generously, & frankly, a Prescrip↑tion↑
which Relieved me from the greatest misery. I woud be
the greatest Wretch alive, If I had not the Greatest
Sense of your goodness, and I hope you will not suspect
me of the Stupidity of not acknowledging & being
constantly Impressed with the most grateful Sentiments
towards you & yours. The reason I did not write
was my having the greatest hopes in your advice insomuch
that I Reckoned myself Effectively cured when I Received
it & now I feel the Effects of it for I am perfectfully
Recovered. My Mama congratulates you & Family
upon Mr Johstons preferment 1
[Page 2]
I am sure he will never meet with such fortune then he
merits. My Mama Joins me in affectionate
Compliments to you & Family & wishing you many
happy years & all the felicity life can afford
I dont yet Despair of thanking you in person which
woud ↑me↑ give great pleasure
I ever am with
wt Constancy & Gratitude
Dear Sir your most obliged
Humble Servant
[Page 3]
✍
1761
Notes:
1: Meaning 'promotion' or 'advancement', most often employed with regard to military, ecclesiastical or academic appointments. Context is obscure but 'Mr Johnston' was probably James, brother of Cullen's wife, Anne. He was an army officer, married to Rachel Cuthbert's older sister Magdalene.
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