Dr. John Aitken Carlyle

The Travelling Physician(1)

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NEW: The following sections are available as a PDF file , 'John Aitken Carlyle - Travelling Physician,' a shortened but updated paper, with detailed references and much new material, given to the Carlyle Society in October, 2005:

Beginnings-1831

He reached his thirtieth year in 1831. He was now well qualified, but lack of capital made it difficult for him to acquire a medical practice, and in any case he had notions of becoming a writer, much to the disgust of Thomas, still little known and struggling to make a living by his pen. John was in London, seriously short of money, and his brother had already spent some £240 on his education. . He attended Hazlitt in September in the last week or two of his life, and later looked after their friend Badams, seriously ill in Brighton, but regular medical work was hard to find, and John seemed to be making little effort to do so. He had had a few articles published in Fraser's Magazine and other periodicals, more because of his brother’s contacts than by their own merits. He sent the modest fees to Thomas, but quickly borrowed them back. He thought of finding a place in a regiment as an Army doctor, but nothing came of it. By the Spring of 1831 Thomas thought it would be best for John to return to Scotland, where at least he could live more cheaply. Lord Jeffrey took John’s part, dissuaded Thomas, and lent John some £20 to tide him over. Later he offered further loans but John turned them down; Thomas was pleased that he did so.

By now Thomas was busy with Sartor, and in July it was going the rounds of Fraser and Irving in an early version. Thomas visited London in August. He reported on John to their brother Alex on the 18^th:

‘His worst fault, indeed almost only one, is procrastination…..he needs to be stirred up…as long as I am here he can look for little rest.’

The stirring up involved lobbying Carlyle’s friends and contacts. Letters went to Birmingham, Gloucester, and to a Dr Baron, seeking medical vacancies, but it was ‘the Advocate’, Lord Jeffrey, who exercised himself to good effect. John had mentioned that he was attracted to the role of ‘travelling physician,’ and Jeffrey heard that the Countess of Clare, an Irish lady of ‘rank and wealth,’ wanted one to accompany her to Italy for a year. Jack was interviewed by Lady Clare in London. He had references from the charismatic preacher Irving, with whom he had been lodging, and who commended his ‘religious character.’ Another doctor was being considered but Jack was appointed at £300 per annum. To the Carlyle family at that time this was wealth beyond any dreams of avarice. The family was pleased. Thomas, looking ahead, felt that the contact with a Lady of quality might help his brother to enter London medical circles in the future. John began to study Italian immediately.

Next: Travelling Physician (2) - Lady Clare Years

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