17 OCTOBER 1829, Page 9

THERE would appear to be something mysteriously captivating in impudent

ignorance. The subjoined scene, for example, is travelling the press circuit under various eulogistic titles, indicating the copying editor's approval of the principal actor's conduct. One journal entitles him a DETERMINED JURYMAN ; another, A JOHN HULL JURYMAN; we decidedly prefer the heading,

A JACK-ASS JURYMAN.

On Monday an inquisition was taken on the body of Thomas Crane, who come by his death under the following circumstances. Mr. Win. Smart, builder, stated that the deceased was in his employ. On the 29th ult. the deceased was on a ladder about eight feet from the ground, when one of the rafters gave way, and he fell to the ground and broke his leg. He was taken to St. George's Hospital.

Par. Walter Carey, house-surgeon to St. George's Hospital, stated, that the deceased had received a compound comminuted fracture of the two bones in the left ancle joint ; there was a large extravasation of blood, and considerable bleeding externally from the wound. Abscesses formed, and for want of power in the constitution, he sank under the injuries, and died last Saturday. Foreman of the Jury—" Pray, Sir, why did you open the body of the de- ceased ?" Witness-" Because deposits sometimes form internally, and pro- duce visceral affection."

Foreman—" What do you mean by deposits and visceral affection ? I am. a plain tradesman, and don't -understand you. A man having a compound frac- ture of theleg, it don't follow that you should rip his body open to ascertain the cause of his death ; and I think it very disgraceful that a poor unfortu- nate devil, who is taken to the hospital, should have his belly ripped open for young surgeons to look at his —, la hen his complaint was in his leg ; and after having satisfied their curiosity, who knows but, instead of putting it back again, they may Jill it with offal. I'll have this put a stop to. I have at- tended Jive inquests lately, and every one of the bodies have been ripped open. If there are any reporters here I beg they will take notice of what I have said, as it is a most shameful practice."

Mr. Petengall, a juryman—" The bodies of the dead are opened for the benefit of the living, and I think you'll find some difficulty in preventing the practice."

Foreman—" My name is Cooper, carver and gilder, of Knightsbridge ; and, if I don't have the practice put a stop to, I have advanced 300/. in the Atlas for nothing. I have a brother a surgeon at Tooting, Mr. Charles Cooper, in the receipt of 1,0001. per annum by his practice ; but he should not rip open the body of my poor old motherfor the world. Let the surgeons 'get bodies, in a proper way. 1vill bet an5 gentlemen present 10/. that I put a stop to the practice within, a-month..

The law.maxim declares that every artist is to be credited in his craft; but here we see a COOPER, not Sir ASTLEY, but a Carver and gilder, taking a surgeon to task for his practice ; and, to consummate the absurdity, the man makes his own ignorance the ground of his right of judgment ! "What do you mean by deposits and visceral af- fection ? I am a plain tradesman and don't understand you ;"—and then he goes onto instruct the surgeon, that when the injured part is the leg' the cause of death may not be looked for in the bowels. It should be supposed, that as the carver disclaimed any notion of the meaning ofthe deposits and visceral affections, the surgeon was the better judge of his own business ; but we have observed that people greatly delight in seeing a dunce insult the better knowledge ; and hence this very account, which should be read with disgust, has been received as a fine instance of intrepidity.

Honour to him to whom honour is due— Impudent ignorance honour to you !

The style of stupid bluster of this Mr. COOPER, who so emphatically announces himself as carver and gilder of Knightsbridge—as though that scroll of a shop-door settled the authority against surgery for ever —reminds us of the stories of old ASTLEY. When that worthy observed a darionet-player in his orchestra take the pipe from his mouth, and tap the desk with his finger, he called out to him, "What are you idling fir, you Sir; why don't you blow away, as you are paid for blowing ?" the man answered, "Sir, I am counting the bars." "Counting the bars!" roared ASTLEY in a rage ; "and what business have you to count bars when I hired you to play the clarionet ? Blow, Sir— blow, I insist on it, or I'll discharge you, to count the bars, aye and the bolts too, if you've a mind, elsewhere." Another time he employed an artist to paint a drop-scene representing an ancient temple ; and observing that the pillars (foreshortened) were not all of a length, he rated bim in round terms for a fraud ; and when the painter pleaded the laws of perspective, he rejoined, like our friend Mr. COOPER, "Perspective ! Sir, perspective f—don't talk tome of perspective. l'm a Plain man, and know nothing of perspective,—but I've paid you to Paint a temple with pillars ; and have the pillars all of a size, for the. public who come to my theatre pay their money at the door for seeing things according to nature, and they shan't be imposed upon, or cheated with half measure of pillars or anything else. Perspective, indeed! Perspective may be a very fine thing, Sir, but honesty 's a d--d deal better, let me tell you:' Apropos des bottes—it is curious to observe how habits mould phrases of common parlance. We may observe, that whenever people intend to be very dogmatical, they usher 1.11 their remarks with an, "I don't know, but"—when follows some i.nordinately. positive assertion. The ignorance gives the jurisdiction. in disputation, a "don't talk to me of," is the customary form of getting rid of the very pith and point of the argument. The relevant natter is treated as an intrusion of impertinence.