AUT C^SAE, AUT NULLUS. 119 



testimonials, home and foreign, were unexceptional )ly 

 good. There were other candidates averred for Monro's 

 chair, and notably the name of Professor Sharpey of 

 London was mentioned. The presence of Sharpey and 

 Goodsir in the field deterred Professor John Eeid and 

 some others from applying. The happy relationship 

 of Sharpey with his Alma Mater, his exalted position 

 in the metropolis and eminent fitness for the chair, 

 were fairly adduced by his friends as strong claims 

 in his favour, and considerately used in the hope of 

 withdrawing Goodsir from the contest, particularly as 

 Sharpey's best Mends were also his. On being made 

 aware of what was expected of him, Goodsir, with no 

 small emphasis, declared that he would not yield his 

 claims to any man in Britain except Professor Owen, 

 and that he would stand or fall on liis own merits. 

 With the bold son of Fife it was aut Casar, aut null us. 

 As Dr. Sharpey was not the man to present himself in 

 humble suit to a Town-Council, and use flattering 

 unction to consequential " Baillies," his Mends with- 

 drew his name from the contest some time before the 

 election. 



Whilst matters were still sub judice, a smothered 

 feeling existed that Goodsir was not quite orthodox, or 

 at any rate not very demonstrative of his religious be- 

 lief. As one of his competitors stood high with the 

 evangelical community —and this went for a. great deal 

 in a city thai prided itself on its Calvinism — Goodsir 

 had to bestir himself in other walk's than the scientific 

 to prove his fitness lor anatomical teaching. Thert 



