LORD KENYON. 381 



quality of their medicines; and a commissioner, 

 under an act of the legislature, for licensing 

 houses for the reception of lunatics. By these 

 means, though he may be a very young phy- 

 sician, he nevertheless appears to the world as 

 a man of rank in his profession. Such a cir- 

 cumstance to the greater part of persons must 

 be highly gratifying, without regard to its con- 

 sequences. But in medicine, the slightest sign 

 of distinction is frequently a source of profit to 

 the possessor ; for as men, in general, have not 

 sufficient knowledge or discernment to choose 

 their physicians on the ground of merit, they 

 commonly take those who exhibit marks of 

 public approbation and confidence. A fellow- 

 ship, therefore, by bestowing such marks, is 

 often greatly conducive to the advancement of 

 the interests of a physician. It is far indeed 

 from always happening, that fellows of the col- 

 lege rise to eminence, as practitioners of me- 

 dicine 5 but the fact is undoubted, that they 

 rise to it more frequently and more quickly, 

 than licentiates in every respect equal to them- 

 selves, except as to the relation in which they 

 stand to the college'. 



But it is evident that these, and all other ad- 

 vantages of a fellowship, will be more or less 

 amply enjoyed by individuals, according as 

 few or many are entitled to partake of them. 



