

PUBLIC MATTERS. 15 



an unmoved spectator, except when his own special 

 subjects were introduced. Rarely, perhaps never, did he 

 give the smallest utterance of opinion in public on poli- 

 tical matters ; and he shrunk like the sensitive plant 

 from the touch of disputation. Yet, that this marked 

 reticence was not to be interpreted as apathy, the quota- 

 tion of these vigorous lines will show : 



" In reflecting on the scheme for admitting a number of per- Principle 

 sons without examination, I have approached (I will not say 

 arrived at} conclusions different from those entertained by many 

 of my friends. 



"Principle, I think, ought to be placed above expediency. 

 Now, did we not hold out to the world that on and after a 

 certain date no one should be admitted a pharmaceutical 

 chemist without examination ? If we confer a title nearly equi- 

 valent to this (quite so, perhaps, in the eyes of the public), do 

 we not practically break faith ? It seems to me that this is one 

 of the cases in which the majority cannot bind the minority, 

 because the compact is, so to speak, made individually. A man 

 says, ' I have spent my money and obtained this title on the 

 distinct understanding that it was worth something, and that it 

 could be got in no other way.' ' Ah, but,' say we, ' it would be 

 a great advantage to the Society at large if you would give up 

 this right you think so much of, or at least consent to share it 

 with others.' ' But no/ he rejoins, ' I don't think so : let the 

 others get it as I did, by paying for it in time and money ; or let 

 them be content to do without it/ 



" Now it strikes me that this giving away of the rights of 

 others ought never to have been entertained any more than the 

 idea of repudiating one's debts : that however disagreeable, in- 

 convenient, and apparently disadvantageous the compact existing 

 between the examined pharmaceutical chemists and the Society 

 may seem, it should be held sacred, and that it should never be 

 made to give way on the plea of expediency. It is too much, 

 like taking a wrong step in order to take a right one afterwards. 

 But it will be urged, ' Would you miss the opportunity of 



