end of October. Attached to, and in the immediate vicinity of the university, are a very large infirmary, of royal foundation, and a midwifery-hospital, at the former the medical students attend from twelve to one o'clock every day in the week, Sundays not excepted, to see the practice of the clinical professor, as well as that of the other physicians and surgeons of the institution; the gentlemen more immediately attending the clinical professor, attend at other times also, to copy the history of the diseases of the patients before they are admitted into the infirmary, and the reports and prescriptions of the physician afterwards. At the midwifery-hospital, poor women are admitted gratis, and the students attending the midwifery class, upon paying a small fee, in addition to the one paid to the professor, are practically taught this most useful art. Also attached to the university, are the royal medical and royal physical societies, founded by his present majesty; these consist chiefly of medical students: each society meets once a week, during the winter session, when two papers on medical or philosophical subjects are read and discussed each society possesses an excellent library, and some philosophical apparatus.

The reader will recollect, that it is only against Oxford and Cambridge, as schools of medicine, that I have advanced any thing in the preceding pages. The former as a seminary for classical erudition, and the latter for mathematical science, most justly, enjoy a high reputation, and I respect and venerate them as the learned, the magnificent institutions of our ancestors; and can most cordially say to each of them

"Esto perpetua."

POSTSCRIPT.

The "Act for better regulating the practice of apothecaries throughout England and Wales," passed in 1815, contains clauses, amongst others, under the following heads.

"Penalty on apothecaries refusing to compound, or unfaithfully compounding medicines prescribed.'

"Persons not to practise as apothecaries, &c. without due examination."

"Assistants to apothecaries, &c. to be examined."

"Power for master and wardens to appoint five apothecaries as examiners for assistants."

"Penalty for acting without a certificate."

By reference to these clauses, it will be seen, that the society or company of apothecaries of London, have the power, either by

themselves or deputies, of examining all persons who have commenced practice as apothecaries, or assistants to apothecaries, since the first of August, 1815, in any part of England and Wales, and all persons intending to practise as apothecaries or assistants to apothecaries, within the above-mentioned parts of the United Kingdom, are required by this act to subject themselves to such examination, under certain penalties.

As this act is co-extensive with England and Wales, the clause under the following head, is rendered nearly nugatory," Penalty on apothecaries refusing to compound, or unfaithfully compounding medicines prescribed." As the penalty attaches only to apothecaries or their assistants, refusing to compound, or unfaithfully, negligently, falsely, fraudulently making, mixing, or compounding any medicines, as directed by any prescription, &c. of any physician lawfully licensed to practise physic, by the president and commonalty of the faculty of physic, or by either of the two universities of Oxford and Cambridge: for the number of medical graduates of the English universities, and also of licentiates of the royal college is so very small, compared to the number of physicians, who are not graduates of either Oxford or Cambridge, or members of the college, that apothecaries, and their assistants, by this clause (said to have been inserted at the express command of the college of physicians, and under an understanding, that the royal college would oppose the act, in its progress through parliament, with the whole of their authority and influence, if the company of apothecaries refused its insertion) are almost entirely prevented from transgressing; as not one prescription in ten, is written by either a fellow or licentiate of the college of physicians. So much for the positive enact ment of this clause, and negatively, it incapacitates any physician, not of Oxford or Cambridge, or not licensed by the college of physicians, from prosecuting to conviction, any apothecary or his assistant, offending in the manner above specified; consequently, it leaves apothecaries and their assistants at perfect liberty to compound the prescriptions of physicians, who have been educated at actual schools of medicine, but who are not members of the college of physicians, fraudulently or negligently, without fear of punishment. This is indeed carrying illiberality and injustice as far as they can be carried, for it is well known, that a doctor of physic, being a British subject, of any university in Scotland, of that in Ireland, or in any kingdom or country upon the Continent, has an equal right to practise physic in England, except in London, or seven miles round it, as physicians of Oxford and Cambridge, or members of the college of physicians have. If this illiberal clause is meant as an inducement to Englishmen to graduate at Oxford and Cambridge, it will, like others that have preceded it, fail of

producing the intended effect; for it needs no uncommon penetration to predict, that medical students, in any considerable number, will never resort to the English universities, until they become really SCHOOLS of MEDICINE.

ITS

AGRICULTURE, &c.

BY EDWARD RIGBY, Esa. M. D. F. L. S. &c.

Nihil agriculturá melius.

CICERO.

THE THIRD EDITION,

CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED.

LONDON:

PREFACE.

THE following was originally a Paper read at the Norwich Philosophical Society in December, 1816. It was written from notes taken at Holkham, and, obviously, at a time when no remark in it could, of possibility, have reference to a contested election; nor was it even intended for publication.

The late contest for the county has, however, brought it forth: the hostility to Mr. Coke, in the course of the election, marked, as it was, with unusual asperity, was chiefly directed against him, as a great landed proprietor, and a distinguished agriculturist; for the imputed injury done the country by the change he has effected in the system of farming, which was charged with producing various ill consequences, with depriving the poor of employment, and rendering corn dear.

This clamor, indeed, against Mr. Coke, was principally vociferated by the poor and ignorant, excited by inflammatory hand-bills, addressed to their worst passions.

It would avail little, if practicable, to point out whence such an outcry originated; but it is notorious, that, for some time past, the public opinion has been much abused on the subject of Mr. Coke's system; and that even persons, who cannot be suspected of unworthy motives, have contributed to keep up the prejudice.

On a principle of justice, then, not only to Mr. Coke, but to the public, still more interested than himself in the result of the system, it cannot be improper to endeavour to set opinion right on the subject, and this can obviously be in no way so effectually done, as by exhibiting the system as it actually exists in those places, where it has been most completely put in practice.

This I would hope, may, in some degree, be accomplished by the following sketch, imperfect as it must be acknowledged to be.

The truth of the facts recorded will not be doubted, and the re