336 LETTER TO 



however, they did offend them, without deriving 

 the smallest advantage to themselves from their 

 conduct, they must necessarily have had the 

 firmest conviction of its rectitude ; and in this 

 conviction I find the strongest proof I can offer, 

 that in point both of learning and moral reputa- 

 tion, I was not unfit to be examined for admis- 

 sion into the College of Physicians of London. 

 I have now, my Lord, considered the two 

 grounds, upon which the college, consistently 

 with their charter, might possibly have regarded 

 me as unfit for admission into their body. But 

 perhaps it will be said, that they drew their 

 objections to me from a source different from 

 either of those which have been mentioned ; 

 that they believed me infected with the mad- 

 ness of the present times, and desirous of enter- 

 ing their corporation, for the purpose of assist- 

 ing more effectually to destroy it, along with 

 every other ancient establishment in this coun- 

 try. Such at least were the principles of con- 

 duct attributed by many of the fellows of the 

 college to those licentiates, who had engaged 

 in the scheme of opening the corporation to 

 every physician of learning and honourable 

 character. Even after Dr. Stanger's cause was 

 determined, when apparently no object to be 

 gained by calumny existed, one of the fellows, 

 Dr. Robert Bourne of Oxford, a gentleman, as 



