300 LETTER TO 



The mode of Dr. Stanger's first application 

 to the college having been determined to be 



likely to excite jealousy in persons much their seniors, were 

 these even liable to be affected with that passion. 4. The 

 profession of law includes so many individuals, that the ac- 

 cession of one more to it can scarcely excite fear in any former 

 member, that his profits may hence be diminished. 5. Since 

 none are allowed to practise as advocates before admission at 

 an inn of court, an applicant cannot, in the previous exercise 

 of his profession, have given umbrage to any of those who 

 are to decide upon his fitness. 6. So many gentlemen of 

 great figure and independent fortune embrace the profession 

 of law, either with the view of preparing themselves for the 

 discharge of various duties incident to their rank in society, 

 or in the expectation of obtaining some high office in the 

 state, that it is natural to infer that great liberality exists in 

 its government. Stronger reasons may no doubt be given 

 by persons better acquainted with the subject, but these seem 

 to the author sufficient to explain the fact, that every person, 

 who possesses the prescribed qualifications, is morally certain, 

 upon application to any of the inns of court, of being admitted 

 to the bar. 



Similar reasons cannot be given, why fairness and impar- 

 tiality should be found in the decisions of the College of 

 Physicians, upon the applications of licentiates for admission 

 into their body. For, 1 . Not a few of the fellows, but all of 

 them indiscriminately, determine the fate of every such ap- 

 plication. 2. The greater part of the voters are consequently 

 not of such a rank in their profession as to be above the 

 reach of jealousy. The proportion of such persons at the 

 meetings of the college is further increased by their having 

 little to do elsewhere. 3. As the seven years of the applicant's 

 licentiateship will, in all probability, have been spent in the 

 metropolis, it is surely not unlikely, that some of the voters 



