310 LETTER TO 



to the Court of King's Bench, that his clients 

 are willing to examine Dr. Stanger, or any other 

 person of the same description, should applica- 

 tion be made to them under a particular by- 

 law which he recites. This pledge, for so I 

 must call Mr. Erskine's declaration, was given 

 in April, 1796. The same cause was tried a 

 second time in May, 1797. If, therefore, Mr. 

 Erskine had gone beyond his instructions in 

 giving that pledge, sufficient time had surely 

 intervened, to have allowed the college to make 

 the discovery, and to warn him against commit- 

 ting the same error a second time. Did this 

 happen ? His subsequent conduct proves that 

 it did not ; for in his second speech he repeats 

 the pledge, in language still stronger than that 

 which was formerly employed by him. But 

 it may be said, that inveterate obstinacy, or 

 unconquerable ignorance on the part of Mr. 

 Erskine, might occasion the repetition. Some 

 of a committee of the college appointed to 

 conduct the law-suit hear Mr. Erskine's second 

 speech. Do they then caution the remaining 

 counsel to avoid the rock, which had twice en- 

 dangered the safety of the vessel committed to 

 his care ? We can here also only judge frpm the 

 event. The two who speak next, vouch, like 

 Mr. Erskine, for the willingness of the college 



