322 LETTER TO 



one of them could be induced to second his 

 motion. In 1797, the arguments of the ad- 

 vocates of the college, and the speech of your 

 lordship, diffused such light over this subject, 

 that when another licentiate is proposed for ex- 

 amination, ten fellows, without the smallest so- 

 licitation from any person, and in direct oppo- 

 sition to the suggestions of ancient prejudice, 

 declare their opinion, that it ought to be granted. 

 But the light which now enables men of healthy 

 minds to discern merit in a measure, in which 

 they formerly could see none, overpowers by its 

 excess the infirm perception of Dr. Burges. In 

 this distress, groping in darkness, he begs for 

 time to consider, whether the by-law for the 

 examination of licentiates, ought even in any 

 instance to be carried into effect. 



At the time that I was made acquainted with 

 the fate of Dr. Pitcairn's proposal, I was also 

 told, that since it had not been put to a vote, it 

 could not be said to have been rejected, but was 

 rather to be supposed still lying on the table 

 of the college. Hence I concluded, that if a 

 charge were now brought against them of dis- 

 regard to the decision of your Lordship, they 

 might attempt to evade it by maintaining, that 

 the consideration of Dr. Pitcairn's motion had 



