10 
MEDICAL DIPLOMA. 
toward each other, and much respected those of the neigh 
boring gentry who, like the late Lord Douglas, placed some 
confidence in their sense of honor. Through the kindness 
of that nobleman, the poorest among us could stroll at 
pleasure over the ancient domains of Bothwell, and other 
spots hallowed by the venerable associations of which our 
school-books and local traditions made us well aware; and 
few of us could view the dear memorials of the past with- 
out feeling that these carefully-kept monuments were our 
own. The masses of the working-people of Scotland have 
road history, and aro no rcvolutionaty levellers. They re- 
joice in the memories of “Wallaco and Bruce and a’ the 
lavo,” who are still much revered as the former champions 
of freedom. And, while foreigners imagine that wo want 
the spirit only to overturn capitalists and aristocracy, we 
aro content to respect our laws till wo can chango them, 
and hate those stupid revolutions which might sweep away 
time-honored institutions, dear alilro to rich and poor. 
Having finished the medical curriculum and presented a 
thesis on a subject which required tho use of tho stetho- 
scope for its diagnosis, I unwittingly procured for myself an 
examination rather more severe and prolonged than usual 
among examining bodies. Tho reason was, that betwoen 
mo and tho examiners a slight difference of opinion existed 
as to whether this instrument could do what was asserted. 
Tho wiser plan would havo been to have had no opinion of 
my own. However, I was admitted a Licentiate of Faculty 
of Physicians and Surgeons. It was with unfoigned delight 
I became a member of a profession which is pre-eminently 
devoted to practical benevolence, and which with unwearied 
euorgy pursues from ago to age its endeavors to lesson 
human woo. 
But, though now qualified for my original plan, tho opium 
war was then raging, and it was deemed inexpedient foi 
mo to proceed to China. I had fondly hoped to have 
gained access to that then closed empire by means of tho 
healing art ; but, there being no prospect of an early peaco 
