362 LETTER TO 



of any other considerable nation in the world. 

 When an English physician travels upon the 

 continent of Europe, he frequently finds that 

 his profession, if known, is a bar to his recep- 

 tion into good company, and therefore very ge- 

 nerally conceals it. 



But, my Lord, though the physicians in this 

 country have been thus freed from, what may 

 almost be termed, the necessity, which formerly 

 existed for using improper means to gain em- 

 ployment, they are still often strongly tempted 

 to do wrong in the same pursuit. They are, 

 indeed so often, and so strongly tempted to do 

 so, and are at the same time, from the nature of 

 their profession, so little liable to be prevented 

 from yielding, by that great guardian of virtue, 

 public censure, that it seems to me beyond a 

 doubt, that the body of physicians here must 

 contain a greater proportion of persons, who 

 have made undue sacrifices to their rise in the 

 world, than several other classes of English- 

 men ; than, for instance, the body of barristers, 

 with which alone, indeed, it can properly be 

 compared. What knowledge I have of this sub- 

 ject, is derived from my residence in London ; 

 the observations, therefore, which I shall make 

 upon it are, in strictness, only applicable to the 

 state of physicians in the capital. Your Lord- 

 ship, however, will not suppose it my intention 



