320 LETTER TO 



of what was intended by Dr. Pitcairn, they 

 were bold enough to refuse even to allow his 

 proposal to proceed to a ballot, on this pre- 

 tence, among others, that it had not been pro- 

 perly notified to them. 



Amongst the voters against a ballot on the 

 proposal of Dr. Pitcairn, was Dr. John Burges*, 

 whose conduct in this matter seems worthy of 

 particular notice, as he had himself only a few 

 years before made a similar motion regarding 

 another licentiate. I dispute not here the claim, 

 which that gentleman makes to ancient faith, 

 and purity of manners, and most exemplary 

 zeal for the honour of the college : but as an 

 humble inquirer into the principles of human 



* I here, and perhaps shall elsewhere, venture to say, upon 

 which side of a question a particular member of the college 

 has voted, though it be the custom of tjiat body to collect 

 suffrages by ballot. But ballots are so little adapted to the 

 freedom of Englishmen, that they are seldom in this country 

 attended with the concealment, which is probably derived 

 from them among the crafty and dissembling Italians. When 

 votes are collected here, in this way, many of those who give 

 them openly mention the side which they support; others, 

 though they do not make a direct confession, yet by the 

 tenour of their conversation, leave little doubt upon the 

 same point ; and by these means, as tittle doubt at length 

 remains in regard to the few, \vho have endeavoured to in- 

 volve their conduct in mystery. I shall be very ready, how- 

 ever, to correct any mistake which I may fall into upon this 

 subject. 



