0: them the counfels of the College. The greater part, however, enforced by a new edict in 1694, the former order of 1687, and fent it to the mayor and aldermen, who appointed a committee to treat with the College, and fettle the mode of adminiftring the Charity. It was defired by the aldermen, that the teftimonials of churchwardens and overfeers fhould be admitted; and that all hired fervants, and all appren tices to handicraftsmen, fhould be con fidered as poor. This likewife was granted by the College. It was then confidered who should diftribute the medicines, and who should fettle their prices. The phyficians pro cured fome apothecaries to undertake the difpenfation, and offered that the warden and company of the apothecaties fhould adjust the price. This offer was rejected; and the apothecaries who had engaged to affift the charity were confidered as traytors to the company, threatened with the impofition of troublefome offices, and deterred from the performance of their engagements. The apothecaries ventured upon publick oppofition, and prefented a kind of remonftrance against the defign to the committee of the city, which the phyficians condefcended to confute and at laft the traders feem to have prevailed among the fons of trade; for the propofal of the college having been confidered, a paper of approbation: was drawn up, but poftponed and for gotten. The phyficians ftill perfifted; and in 1696 a fubfcription was raifed by themfelves, according to an agreement prefixed to the Difpenfary. The poor were for a time fupplied with medicines; for how long a time, I know not. The medicinal charity, like others, began with ardour, but foon remitted, and at last died gradually away. About the time of the fubfcription begins the action of the Difpenfarj. The poem, as its fubject was prefent and popular, co-operated with paffions and prejudices then prevalent, b. 4 and and with fuch auxiliaries to its intrinfick merit, was univerfally and liberally applauded. It was on the fide of cha rity against the intrigues of interest, and of regular learning against licentious ufurpation of medical authority, and was therefore naturally favoured by those who read and can judge of poetry. In 1697, Garth fpoke that which is now called the Harveian Oration; which the authors of the Biographia mention with more praife than the paffage quoted in their notes will fully juftify. Garth, fpeaking of the mischiefs done by quacks, has thefe expreffions: "Non tamǝn telis vulnerat ifta agyrta"rum colluvics, fed theriacâ quadam "magis perniciofa, non pyrio, fed pul "yere nefcio quo exotico certat, non "globulis plumbeis, fed pilulis æque "lethalibus interficit." This was cer tainly thought fine by the author, and is ftill admired by his biographer. In October 1702 he became one of the cenfors of the College. Garth, being an active and zealous Whig, was a member of the Kit-cat club, and by confequence familiarly known to all the great men of that denomination. In 1710, when the go-w vernment fell into other hands, he writ to lord Godolphin, on his difiniffion, a short poem, which was criticised in the Examiner, and fo fuccefsfully either defended or excused by Mr. Addison, that, |