CURRIE, JAMES, M.D., was born 81st of Ifsy 1756, at Kirkpatrick Fleming, in Dnmfrieeehire, of which parish his father was clergyman. Being originally intended for a mercantile life, as soon as he had received the rudiments of • liberal education ho went to Virginia; but upon the breaking out of the American war in 1776 he returned home, and soon after commenced the study of medicine at the Uni versity of Edinburgh. Having completed the usual course, he took his degree of M.D. at Glasgow In 1780, aud immediately proceeded to London. His intention was to go out to Jamaica, but a sudden attack of illness preventing him from sailing after he had taken his panne, he settled and began to practise in Liverpool in 1781. Here he soon met with great success in his profession. His first tiou was a biographical memoir of a deceased friend, which was printed in the ' Transactions of the Manchester Philosophical aud Literary Society' for 1785. In 1790 a paper on tetanus and convulsive disorders, which he communicated to the third volume of the 'Memoirs of the London Medical Society,' considerably extended his professional reputation. In 1792 be was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1793 he published a pamphlet against the policy of the war with France, under the title of ' A Letter, Commercial and Political, addressed to the Right lion. William l'itt, by Jasper Wilson, Esq.,' which attracted a good deal of attention. In 1797 appeared the work on which his professional reputation principally rests, entitled Medical Reports on the Effects of Water, cold and warm, as a remedy in Febrile Diseases.' The method of treatment hero recommended by Dr. Currie, effusion in cold water in cases of fever, though a remedy I not to be trusted except to the most skilful hands, has since been applied in suitable circumstances with extraordinary success. A second volume of the Reports' appeared in 1804, and the author was preparing a new edition of the whole work when he died. The name of Dr. Currie is best known to general readers by his edition of the works of Robert Burns, including both his Poems and Letters, which he published for the benefit of the poet's family, in 4 vole. 8vo, in 1800. It was Introduced by a criticism ou the writings of Burns, and Some Observations on the character and condition of the Scottish Peasantry,' both of which papers were drawn up with much elegance and ability. This edition has formed the basis of every succeeding collection of the poet'. works. In 1SO4 Dr. Currie felt his health
rapidly giving way; and leaving Liverpool, he spent some time in Bath and Clifton. In March 1805 he considered himself to be so far restored, that he took a home and commenced practising in Bath; but his illness soon returned, and ho died at Sidmouth on the 31st of August in the same year.
C U VI E'lt, G EORO ES - CHRETIEN - LEOl'OLD - DAG OBERT, BARON, was born 23rd of August 1769, at Diontbeliard, now in the department of Doubts, but which at that time was • county belonging to the dukes of Wfirtemberg. His father, a half-pay officer of a Swiss regiment in the French service, had married late in life a young and accomplished woman, who took especial care of Cuvier'e early educa tion. He was sent to .turfy first at Tubingen, and he afterwards e ntered the Academia Carolina, then newly-establiehed at Stutgardt by Prince Charles of Wtirtemberg for the purpose of training up young men for public and diplomatic offices. Cuvier however bestowed meet of his time on natural history ; he collected specimens, and drew and coloured insects, birds, and plants during his hours of recreation. The limited circumstance. of his family obliged him to remove from Stutgardt before he obtained any public employment; and at twenty one years of age he accepted the situation of tutor to the only son of Count d'Ilericy in Normandy. The family residence being near the sea, the study of marine animals became a part of Cuvler's occupa tion. lie compared the living species with the fossil remains found in the neighbourhood; and the dissection of a species of cuttle:lish led him to study the anatomy of the molluscs, and to reduce to order this hitherto neglected branch of zoology. While he was thus employed, a society was formed at Valmont, in his neighbourhood, for the encouragement of agriculture. L'Abbe Telssier, a venerable and learned old man, the author of the articles on agriculture in the ' Encyclopedia Ileithodique; had taken refuge at Valmont from the revolution, dieguislog hie obnoxious character of Abbe under the garb and profession of • surgeon. At • meeting of the now society ho expressed his opinions on hie favourite subject In a manner which forcibly reminded young Cuvier of the articles which be had read in the ' Encselopodie.' At the end of the sitting Cuvier addressed the stranger by the name of L'Abbei Teissier : the abbe was alarmed, but Curler soon removed his apprehensions, and an intimacy was formed between them.