History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

232 JOHNSTONE REMOVES TO WORCESTER
state : " It would be unpardonable to overlook the mournful occasion of this
election of physicians by the death of Dr Johnstone, jun., who for nine years
served this charity with great assiduity, humanity, and skill, and who fell
a memorable sacrifice by his attendance on another public service."
The elder Johnstone tried his favourite disinfectant while his son was
ill in the house, and proved its efficacy by no one taking the fever except
Henry, who had driven from Worcester in the same carriage with the invalid ;
but as he had been in the best of health and not overtaxed by his duties he
recovered.
Only four days after his son's death Johnstone offered to take his place as
physician to the Worcester Infirmary, and was at once appointed. His parentsin-law
were dead, also his friend Mr Orton, and his son Edward advised him
to leave Kidderminster with its now tragic associations. He removed in
the autumn to a house in the Foregate Street. His son was buried at Kidderminster,
but a marble monument, with a Latin inscription by Dr Parr, was put
up in Worcester Cathedral to his memory. From all parts of the kingdom
letters of condolence poured in. Young James was engaged to be married to a
sister of his colleague, Dr Russell, whose son, Sir John Pakington, was the first
Lord Hampton of Westwood. They were also related to the family of Earl
Somers. The lady wrote a touching monody on her dead betrothed. She
ultimately married.
Johnstone's hopes had soared high with regard to the marriage of his
eldest son ; and in a letter when he was but twenty-one gives him advice how to
proceed in the courtship of a young lady visiting Ombersley, and in whom the
fond father thought he had discerned a predilection for young James—an
instruction in moral gallantry he calls it, advised him how often to pay a visit,
how long to stay, and when he might offer to kiss her hand. But at the back of
the letter are the words " disappointed," whether on his son's part or the young
lady's does not appear. In a postscript Johnstone adds that Lady Valentia
(daughter to the first Lord Lyttelton) writes to him that the business they have
gone upon will end without expense, and that he had " a very friendly letter
from Miss Baines about the death of the Bishop (owing to a fall from his horse
in Bath), an event which concerns me as I fear no successor will be equally my
friend" (Dec. 14, 1774). This was not the case, as he was very intimate with
the next Prelate, the Hon. F. North, and on familiar terms with Dr Hurd, whom
he already knew as Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, when he was appointed
to Worcester in 1781.
Kidderminster is fourteen miles from Worcester, and is described in 1783,
the year that Johnstone left it, as containing 1180 houses and 5749 people.
It owned 1700 looms in 1773, Dut hardly 700 in 1780, owing to the Cranes and
another manufacturer having retired. The compiler of these statistics says
" It returned two members in the Parliament 23rd of Edward I., but luckily
for the trade of the town has since then had nothing to do with politics."
Worcester, an ancient city of about 11,000 inhabitants, in 1783 was the
most attractive town in the Midlands, in spite of the terrible epidemic which