1914-15.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 383 



College of Physicians show that he then applied for the 

 necessary licence to practise in Edinburgh. By the 

 courtes}^ of the President and Fellows of the College I am 

 able to quote the following Minute : — 



" Edink., 23rd November 1713. 



" Dr. William Arthur's petition for a tryal. 



" The said day the petitione presented to the Colledge 

 by Mr. William Arthure Doctr of Medicine mentioning that 

 he haveing for several! years past applyed himself to the 

 practise of Medicine both at home and abroad, and being 

 graduat Doctr of Medicine at ye University of Utrecht 

 upon the twelft day of March 1701 years as his patent of 

 graduatione produced has expressed and therefor craving 

 that the Colledge would hold the ordinary tryall of his 

 qualifications to practise Medicine and being found qualified 

 to Licentiat him to practise Medicine within the City of 

 Edinburgh and Liberties thereof which petitione being 

 read heard and considered by the Colledge they grant the 

 Desyre thereof and ordain him to be examined upon the 

 institutione and appoynts Doers. Crawford and Mont- 

 gomery to Examination yrupon at any Dyet the President 

 shall acquaint them with. The said Dr. Arthure haveing 

 payed the Thesauror ane hundred merks gross in part of 

 his Dues as a Licientiat and Lykewayes satisfied ye Clerk 



and officer. 



■ Matthew St. Clair. 



"P.C.K.M.E. 



"5th Jany. 1714. — Dr. Arthur examd. upon the Insti- 

 tutions. 



" 19th Jany. 1714. — Dr. Arthur explained two aphorisms. 

 " 9th Feby. 1714. — Dr. Arthur admitted as licientiate. 

 " 1st June 1714. — Dr. Arthur admitted Fellow." 



We picture Arthur during the years 1713-1715 as a 

 medical practitioner in Edinburgh, associating with the 

 most influential people, man}* of them his patients, and 

 beyond suspicion of any want of loyalty — against that his 

 wife's relationships protected him — at a period when the 

 Hanoverian succession was not definitely established, and 

 the prospect of a Stewart return by no means obscured. 



