350 LETTER TO 



December, 179-5. More lately, when profes- 

 sions alone were deemed insufficient for the 

 public safety, and a demand was made upon 

 the lovers of their country for their services as 

 its armed defenders, I obtained the honour of 

 being enrolled in a body of men, perhaps not 

 unknown to your Lordship, THE TEMPLE ASSO- 

 CIATION, and since I have belonged to it, my 

 exertions to fit myself by a knowledge of mili- 

 tary exercises, for the great object of its institu- 

 tion, have not been less than those of many- 

 members, younger than myself, and probably 

 not more engaged in other serious pursuits. 



It may now appear to your Lordship, that I 

 have spoken of every possible personal objection 

 to my being examined for admission into the 

 college of Physicians. But as pretexts are 

 never wanting to those who wander from the 

 path of honour in search of them, I shall take 

 the liberty of mentioning still another ground, 

 which I have been told they affected to have, 

 for their refusing to inquire into my qualifica- 

 tions. For, Dr. Pitcairn informed me, in the 

 course of last summer, when it could not be 

 foreseen, that he would be unable in the ensuing 

 September to propose me a second time for exa- 

 mination, that, contrary to his former opinion, 



