LETTER TO 



yielded to temptations of interest, will, when 

 exposed in a collected state to similar tempta- 

 tions, continue long to deserve the title of the 

 sanctuary of honour and good faith? 



But perhaps it will be said. here : " Granting 

 that the college of Physicians, like other men, 

 are open to the influence of motives, which 

 pervert or corrupt the judgment, it is yet im- 

 possible not to believe, that their general con- 

 duct is agreeable to the common maxims of 

 prudence. Their reputations must surely be 

 dear to them ; these therefore they will not 

 hazard, without the prospect of some advantage 

 to compensate the risk. But with respect to 

 the admission of licentiates into their body, the 

 circumstance which has given birth to the whole 

 of this discussion, what interest have they in 

 acting unjustly? Unless then it shall be clearly 

 established, that they have such an interest, the 

 attempts which have been made by the author 

 of this letter to depreciate their character, must 

 be regarded as the offspring of spleen or disap- 

 pointed ambition, to bestow upon them no 

 harsher appellation." Anticipating, my Lord, 

 these observations, I proceed to reply to them. 

 In doing this, I shall be led to the last purpose 

 of my address, namely, to present to your Lord- 

 ship's view, several proceedings of the college, 

 previous to the decision of the Court of King's 



