S24 LETTER TOT 



insufficient barriers against the entrance of un- 

 worthy persons into the corporation: But it 

 seems to me more difficult to admit that this 

 was in truth their opinion, than to believe, that 

 the real object of the new regulation was very 

 remote from the one exhibited; and what I 

 shall immediately say, will probably incline 

 your Lordship to form a similar conclusion. 



In the end of June 1798, Dr. Pitcairn, though 

 much debilitated by a dangerous illness, under 

 which he had lately laboured, attended at the 

 college to give notice, that he should in the 

 following September again propose me for ex- 

 amination. To this notice he premised, that he 

 conceived it to be unnecessary, since the merits 

 of his first proposal had not yet been considered. 

 But unfortunately for mankind and himself, he 

 was shortly after again taken ill, and was in 

 consequence obliged to leave London for the re- 

 covery of his health, a few days before the time 

 arrived for making his motion. Previously to 

 his departure, however, he wrote a letter to 

 Dr. Baillie, in which, after stating his own in- 

 ability to propose me, he delegated that office 

 to him. Accordingly, Dr. Baillie produced this 

 letter at the meeting of the college in Sep- 

 tember, and then proceeded to execute his 

 trust. This was resisted by the same men, who 

 had opposed the former motion for my being 



