GART H. S AMUEL GARTH was of a good family in Yorkshire, and from some fchool in his own country became a ftudent at Peter-houfe in Cambridge, where he refided till he commenced doctor of phyfick on July the 7th, 1691. He was examined before the College at London on March the 12th, 1691-2, and admitted fellow July 26th, 1692. He was foon fo much distinguished, by his conversation and extensive accomplishments, as to obtain practice; and, if a pamphlet of those times may be credited, had the favour and confidence of one party, as Ratcliffe had of the other. very He is always mentioned as a man of benevolence; and it is just to suppose that his defire of helping the helpless, disposed him to to fo much zeal for the Difpenfary; an undertaking of which fome account, however fhort, is proper to be given. Whether what Temple fays be true, that phyficians have had more learning than the other faculties, I will not ftay to enquire; but, I believe, every man has found in phyficians great liberality, and dignity of fentiment, very prompt effufion of beneficence, and willingness to exert a lucrative art, where there is no hope of lucre. Agreeably to this character, the College of Phyficians, in July 1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighbouring poor. This edict was fent to the Court of Aldermen; and a question being made to whom the appellation of the poor fhould be extended, the College anfwered, that it should be fufficient to bring a testimonial from a clergyman officiating in the parish where the patient refided. After a year's experience, the physicians found their charity fruftrated by fome malignant lignant oppofition, and made to a great degree vain by the high price of phyfick; they therefore voted, in August 1688, that the laboratory of the College fhould be accommodated to the preparation of medicines, and another room prepared for their reception; and that the contributers to the expence fhould manage the charity. It was now expected that the Apothecaries would have undertaken the care of providing medicines; but they took another course. Thinking the whole defign pernicious to their intereft, they endeavoured to raise a faction against it in the College, and found some physicians mean enough to folicit their patronage, by betraying to them the counfels of the College. The greater part, however, enforced by a new edict in 1694, the former order of 1687, and sent 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 apprentices to handicraftsmen, 5 fhould fhould be confidered as poor. This likewife was granted by the College, It was then confidered who fhould diftribute the medicines, and who should fettle their prices. The physicians procured fome apothecaries to undertake the difpenfation, and offered that the warden and company of the apothecaries 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 troublesome 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 physicians 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 forgotten. The physicians ftill perfifted; and in 1696 a fubfcription was raised by themselves, according to an agreement prefixed to the |