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This letter has already reached too great a length, or Iwould have given you some examples of opposite methodsadopted, with their results, but must now defer doing so.

Liverpool, Nov. 1st, 1865.

EDINBURGH.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

THE winter session has again commenced, and the Uni-versity and College teem with students. The attendance

appears to be of an average character, but the album beingnot yet closed a few may be added to the number.At the University there was no opening address ; but at the

College of Surgeons a very eloquent and suitable one was

delivered by Dr. Littlejohn, to an attentive and well-conductedaudience. The lecturer dwelt on the necessity for the medicalpractitioner being well educated, not only in the professionaldepartment but in the preliminary branches, and pointed outto his audience the injury they did to themselves and theirfriends by neglecting their studies, and trusting to being pre-pared just before their examinations by a grinder. This, byone of the gentlemen who afterwards addressed the meeting,was facetiously termed the "grinder-pest;" and he joinedwith Dr. Littlejohn in pressing upon the students the neces-sity there was of avoiding its injurious influence. The lecturewas replete with much good advice and useful information,which, being conveyed in an amusing but impressive style,was very well received by those whom it was intended tobenefit and instruct.The changes amongst the lecturers are not numerous this

year. The chief is that Dr. Warburton Begbie has retiredfrom the lectureship on the Practice of Medicine. This is a lossto the medical school; and as he has also retired from the officeof Physician to the Infirmary, the students will miss theinstructions of an enthusiastic and esteemed practical teacher.Dr. George W. Balfour, the well-known and talented trans-lator of Casper’s work on Medical Jurisprudence for the

Sydenham Society, succeeds him as Lecturer on the Practiceof Medicine.An energetic canvass is going on at present among the Uni-

versity students for the successor to Mr. W. E. Gladstone, theRector. Two gentlemen are proposed, Mr. Disraeli and Mr.Carlyle. It is difficult to say which of them is likely to bethe successful candidate. As Rector Mr. Gladstone deliveredhis valedictory address to the matriculated students and mem-bers of Council on Friday last. The attendance was verylarge, there being about 1500 students entitled to admission.The subject of his address was-" The Place of Greece in theProvidential Order of the World."Edinburgh, Nov. 8th, 1865.

MARYLEBONE POLICE COURT.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND.EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL FRACAS.

Frederick- Jones, aged thirty, residing at 157, New Bond-street, gentleman, and Samuel Merrick, aged twenty-six, of52, Upper Baker-street, tobacconist, were charged with assaultunder the following circumstances :-Robert Hunter said : I reside at No. 3, Queen’s-gate-terrace.

I am a Doctor of Medicine. At 14, Upper Seymour-street, Ihave a professional residence in conjunction with Drs. M’Gregorand Melville. About two o’clock in the afternoon I was inmy consulting room on the second floor, and in an adjoiningroom were my wife and daughter. I heard voices shoutingout to know where I was to be found. I went to the door ofmy room, where I was confronted by Merrick, who struck me.Jones rushed at me, and fastened his teeth in my ear, and soheld me until Dr. Munns came and took me away, after havingpulled Jones from me. The assault was entirely unprovoked,for I know nothing of the parties, but I think I have seenMerrick once.Jones.-I deny biting the Doctor.George Munns stated : I am stopping with Dr. Hunter. I

was sitting in the room with Mrs. and Miss Hunter when Jones

came and opened the door, and flourished his hands in a highlythreatening manner. Dr. Hunter came to the door of hisroom, when Jones rushed at him and got his ear in his mouth.Dr. Hunter was not able to move till I took Jones by the collarand pulled him away. I was so engaged with Dr. Hunter thatI could not perceive what Merrick did. But he was rushingabout in a fighting attitude.Thomas Titley, who said he was a dispenser, employed at

14, Upper Seymour-street, deposed : I was not present whenthe row commenced. I saw Jones in Dr. Hunter’s room, andpulled him out. He had a surgical instrument in his hand,with which he made a rush at me, and I should have been hurthad I not got out of the way. Merrick was abetting Jones inwhat he was doing.

Mr. Lyell (second clerk).-How and in what way ?Witness.-He was using threatening language.Tell us what he said. You say he made use of threatening

language. What was it ?-I cannot tell now what it was.Then what do you want to mention about threatening lan-

guage when you do not remember the words. Confine yourselfto what you do know. --I was so excited that I do not recollectwhat was said.

I do not want you to argue with me.-I saw Merrick pushJones into the room. He was calling Dr. Hunter a scamp, avagabond, and using other insulting language. One of themrushed at the hall porter, and knocked him down as theyrushed upstairs.

Is he here ?-No.Mr. Lyell.-Then do not mention him if he is not here to

give evidence.Jones said he had no questions to ask the witnesses, but

stated : I have to say this, that my sister, who is on her death-bed, was placed under that fellow’s care.

Dr. Hunter.-Who do you call fellow ?Jones.-You. I say after she was placed under his eare he

most grossly insulted her, and which insults she has madeknown to me. I bought a whip to horsewhip him, and wentto see him on purpose. I was foiled in this; but I do declarethat I did not bite his ear. When he saw me he rushed at mewith a medical instrument, and I took it from him to save my-self. My brother-in-law (Merrick) is not to blame at all. Itis his wife that has been insulted on her dying-bed, and it wasI who instigated him to come with me. It is I who have gothim into trouble.Mr. Mansfield (to Dr. Hunter).-How long have you resided

at 14, Seymour-street ?Dr. Hunter.-Fifteen months.I do not see your name in the Medical Register.-No. It is

not there, I know. I am in association with Dr. M’Gregor.Are you a Doctor of Medicine ?-Yes.Then how is it you are not registered ?-Well, I am not re-

gistered. I don’t think that that has anything to do with theassault upon me, or my occupation of the house. If I am

brutally assaulted, as the evidence has proved, then I have asmuch right to protection as any other person. I have merelycome to this Court for protection, the same as anyone elsewould under the circumstances.Mr. Mansfield.-I shall send this case for trial, for I will

not take upon myself to decide.Dr. Hunter.-There have been some statements made, upon

which I think it my privilege to ask some questions.Mr. Mansfield.-That cannot be allowed.The prisoners were then committed for trial, but were at

once bailed out, themselves in f:40 each, and a surety in £40each.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH.

DR. HUNTER AGAIN.—EXTRAORDINARY ALLEGATION.

During the afternoon Mr. Walter Butler, of Tooley-street,solicitor, made an application for a warrant to apprehend Dr.Hunter. He said-I have to make application for a warrantagainst a person named Hunter, who calls himself a doctorwithout the slightest right to do so, and who resides at 14,Upper Seymour-street. The charge we have to bring againsthim is no less a one than that of rape. Last Thursday a casewas heard before you, preferred by Hunter against a Mr. Jonesand Mr. Merrick, and this case arises out of that. The wifeof Mr. Merrick, and who is also the sister of Mr. Jones, hasfor some time past been suffering from consumption, and, fromthe letters which have been published by Hunter, she wasinduced to place herself under his care. He demanded andreceived of her very large fees. On the 17th of last monthshe went to him to be examined, and had to strip her things

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off down to her waist, the remainder of her garments, beingonly fastened by a bandage, which was very loose. Thishe undid, and they fell to the ground, leaving her perfectlynaked. This so shocked her that she fainted. On her recoveryshe proceeded home and communicated to her brother whathad occurred. He told her not to take any notice, because, hesaid, doctors must partly strip their patients in such cases inorder thoroughly to examine them. On the 20th she againwent to him, when he bade her sit on an easy chair. He thengave her something to inhale. After inhaling she lost her con-sciousness, though not absolutely, and felt him press his largebeard on her face and mouth; and on recovering her sensesshe found him in the act of having connexion with her. Sheis a great invalid, in the last stage of consumption, and hasnot been able to leave her bed since. All I have stated I havetaken down in writing from her own lips. I am aware, Sir,that a warrant can only be granted upon the sworn informa-tion of the party aggrieved, and in this case it is utterly impos-sible for her to leave the house.Mr. Mansfield.-There is that difficulty.Mr. Butler.-I was thinking whether I could be sworn as to

her statement which I have reduced to writing.Mr. Mansfield.-No, that cannot be done. I am in this

difficulty: should the case go for trial her deposition will be ofno use there.Mr. Butler.-I would suggest, if it is compatible, that you

go to her house and take her statement.Mr. Mansfield.I shall have to go twice. In the first place,

I shall have to take her sworn information upon which to grantthe warrant; and then, when the person is apprehended, hewill have to be taken to her house to hear her give her evi-dence in his presence, and before me.Mr. Butler.-It will certainly give you a deal of trouble.Mr. Mansfield. -It will be no trouble to me to go; but I am

thinking what good might result from it. If such a horriblecrime has been committed, nothing ought to stand in the wayof punishing such a person. However, I will go and take herinformation.His Worship, Mr. Tate (chief clerk), and Mr. Butler pro-

ceeded to No. 52, Upper Baker-street, where Mrs. Merrick’sstatement upon oath was taken, and to which she affixed hersignature.-" I have been for some time past under the treat-ment of Mr. Robert Hunter, whom I have known as Dr. Hunter,for consumption. On the 14th of October last I visited Dr.Hunter at 14, Upper Seymour-street. He said he would exa-mine my side, and he told me to inhale something, and I didso. In inhaling it for about ten minutes I became very stupid.He said he would examine my side, and he put his hands upmy clothes to the place where the pain was. He knelt down,and in a moment or two he threw me back, and put his handand face over my mouth. He put his arms round me and heldme down in the chair, and I found he was having connexionwith me. I could not scream, as his beard was against myface. It was without my consent, and I have been in bed eversince. "

Mr. Mansfield at once granted a warrant, and told Kirby,233 D, one of the warrant officers, to execute it immediately.

MONDAY, NOV. 6th.

THE EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF RAPE AGAINST DR. HUNTER.

Robert Hunter, 14, Upper Seymour-street, was brought up on Ia warrant by Kirby, 233 D, one of the warrant officers of the leCourt, charged for " that he did, on the 14th day of Octoberlast, feloniously and carnally know and abuse one AnnieMerrick against her will and consent."Mr. Butler, of Tooley-street, solicitor, appeared to prose-

cute ; and Mr. Herring and Mr. Scaife defended the prisoner.Mr. Butler.-1 must ask your worship kindly to attend to

take Mrs. Merrick’s evidence at her house. She is still quiteunfit to attend.Mr. Mansfield.-Have you any medical certificate to that

effect ?Mr. Butler.-Dr. Ramadge, who saw her on Saturday, pro-

mised to be here.Shortly afterwards Dr. Ramadge entered the Court, and

said-Mrs. Merrick, when I saw her on Saturday, was suffer-ing from consumption. I saw her three months ago, whenshe attended upon me twice, and then ceased. I do not thinkit would be safe to bring her here to-day, as she is sufferingfrom active consumption. It would be unsafe to bring herout in the cold. Mr. Herring.-Suppose she were wrapped up warmly and i

brought in a warm cab, would she be liable to take any harmthen ?

Dr. Ramadge.-She might attend, but I think the anxietyof mind would be injurious. I saw her last on Saturday.Mr. Mansfield.-Did you then consider she was unable to

come out ?Dr. Ramadge.Quite unfit. Her right lung is greatly

diseased, and she is now suffering from the softening of thetubercles. The profuse perspiration indicates that.

Mr. Kirby, the divisional surgeon, said that he had seenMrs. Merrick that morning, and she was unfit to be moved.Mr. Mansfield.—I do not see what else we can do but go.

These statements of the medical gentlemen need not go on thedepositions, but it justifies me in taking the very unusualcourse 1 do in going there.

All parties proceeded to 52, Baker-street, where Mrs. Mer-rick was in bed propped up by pillows. She is apparentlyfrom twenty-eight to thirty years of age. Her face bears theimpress of her having been a fine-looking woman, but now hercomplaint has very much emaciated her. She gave her evi-dence in a very calm and collected manner, and also endured along and rigid cross-examination.She said-My name is Annie Merrick. I am married. For

some time past I have been suffering from consumption. InSeptember last I placed myself under the treatment of RobertHunter, of 14, Upper Seymour-street. I visited him severaltimes. Last Saturday three weeks I visited him. I went intothe room, and he desired me to sit and inhale something.After I had been doing this some time he said he would ex-amine the pain in my side from which I was suffering. Heknelt down and put one hand up my clothes, and was ex-amining my side. He was in front of me. All at once hethrew me back in the chair, placed his head over my mouth,and I found he was in an indecent position. He was havingconnexion with me. I was not unconscious at all, but I feltstupid, with a paralysing sort of feeling which I cannot.describe. I told him I would not enter the house again, andthat he was a brute. I rushed from the house as quickly as Icould.

Cross-examined.-I did not see Mr. Butler, the solicitor,before Saturday last. I did not say that the offence took placeon the 20th. I believe it was last Saturday three weeks I wentthere, and there were a great many people there waiting to seehim. They were all patients, and all in a room. I cannot sayhow many there were. I left two or three in the room whenI went into his room. His room was upstairs where I sawhim. The others remained below. I said he put his face overmine. The man. servant let me out and let me in. I did not

say anything to the man-servant. I spoke to my mother thatday of it. I gave the man-servant a shilling because he hadalways been civil, and I knew it was the last time that Ishould go there. I told my mother the same day about it. Inever sent for him to visit me afterwards, for if he had comeinto the house I should have ordered him out. I have anaunt, but she is not in London. Mother sent the next day tohis house for Dr. Wills, and he came to me three times. Inever had Dr. Wills before this to visit me. I saw him atHunter’s house. I believe it was Saturday three weeks whenit occurred. I had to put a blister on my side on that sameday. I rather objected to the blister. I have had mustardpoultices on. I had no conversation then about going to acemetery and catching cold. I first told my husband that Ihad been insulted, but not the whole of it until last Monday.I sent to his house for some one to come and see me. Not aword had then been said about my term having expired and Imust pay a further fee. The Monday following the Saturdaythis occurred Wills came to see me. He came three times,and another doctor named Melville three times. He saidnothing about fees. He (Wills) said I was in a weak state,and he should like to see my husband. During the time Willsand Melville visited me I did not say one word of what Dr.Hunter had done to me. I resided before I came here at myhome in Conduit-street, Regent-street. I was married there.I have been married four years next April. I have only beensuffering badly from this complaint for the last three months pbut I had been bad before. In Conduit-street I kept a privatelodging-house for gentlemen and ladies-I mean for marriedpeople. I inhaled something for some time from an instrumenton the table, and which he told me to put my mouth to. Ihave inhaled before, and thought it part of the treatment. Inever became perfectly unconscious ; I was stupefied and para-lysed. I could not say whether it was the same stuff I inhaledon this day as I had before. When he got up, he went acrossthe room to the wash-hand basin, did something there, and