The Sun.
London, England, 1845-01-14 00:00:00

medical profession in Manchester (who had appointed it
to watch over their interests), should it subsequently de-
termine on affording such co-operation.
I had the honour of acknowledging this communica-
tion on the part of the Master on the 26th ult., and
stating that the Society were willing and anxious to afford
every assistance in their power to the general practi-
tioners of this country in their endeavours to obtain the
grant of a charter of incorporation of a collegiate cha-
racter ; that the Society were then engaged in consider-
ing the means by which they could most effectively pro-
mote the object of the general practitioners in this re-
spect, and that they hoped to be able to communicate
with you very shortly on the points on which you bad
invited an expression of their opinion, with a view to the
government of your body in the course which they
might find it the most expedient to pursue in further-
ance of the object in question.
I am now instructed to inform you that the Society
had, on the day on which the communication of your
Committee was thus acknowledged, addressed a letter to
Sir James Graham, in which they had represented to
him that, during the progress of the agitation which had
taken place on the subject of medical reform, the So-
ciety of Apothecaries had felt it to be no part of their
duty to originate any proposal as to the specific changes
which it aught be expedient to advocate in the laws af-
fecting the medical profession ; that th©y had deemed it
to be more becoming in them, as one of the existing me-
dical institutions of the country, to wait for some dis-
tinct expression of the wishes of the general practi-
tioners themselves upon the subject, and after ma-
turely oonsideriag any wishes which their position
might give them in forwarding the views of their
professional brethern—that the desire for an inde-
endent organisation of the general practitioners by au
incorporation of a collegiate character had been of late
546 generally and unequivocally expressed at public meet•
ings of those practitioners, and through other public
channels, that the Society thought themselves warranted
in believing that a very large proportion of the general
practitioners of this country had declared their wishes
in favour of such an incorporation—that the Society,
therefore, following out the line of conduct which they
had proposed to themselves, had already intimated to
the profession their readiness to assist in representing
their feelings on this subject, and in promoting, as far
as they were able, the object of their wishes. The So-
ciety further represented to Sir James Graham that in
discharging the duty entrusted to them by the Legisla-
ture, they succeeded in materially raising the cha-
racter and attainments of the class of general practi-
tioners, aid that the Society were now ready and willing
irrespectively of personal or corporate considerations,
to assist in obtaining for those who had been educated
under their auspices a more perfect organisation than
they could enjoy in connexion with either of the exist-
ing medical institutions ; and, after expressing their
conviction that the grant of au independent charter of
incorporation would be a boon most gratefully ac-
cepted by the general practitioners, and would be a mea-
sure of a very healing character, the Society respectfully
invited Sir James Graham's favourable consideration to
that proposal.
The Society had the honour of receiving Sir James
Graham's reply to this communication on th .30th ult.
Sir James Graham states, that "he is ready to re-
ceive any matured plan for incorporating a new body of
general practitioners, but that before he can form an
opinion, or even consider such a project, all the details
of the scheme must be laid before him, and the names of
the leading persons who promote it, and who are parties
to the proposed organisation, must be declared."
The Society are assured that your Committee, in coin-
mon with the rest of the profession, will hail this ex-
pression of Sir James Graham's readiness to consider a
matured plan for incorporating a new body of general
practitioners with the utmost satisfaction.
The Society of Apothecaries are prepared, on their
part, to afford their best assistance in maturing such a
plan as may commend itself to the judgment of Sir
James Graham, and secure his approval ; and they in-
vite their medical brethren throughout the country to an
immediate consideration of the details of the scheme,
that they may be enabled to comply with what Sir
James Graham has required as a preliminary to his
forming an opinion on the proposed incorporation of the
general practitioners.
As the Society of Apothecaries have abstained hitherto
from urging any plan of medical reform of their own up. ei
the acceptance of the profession from a sincere belief
that they would more effectually promote the interests
of their medical brethren by furthering the declared ob•
ject of their wishes, rather than by advocating any mea-
sure originating with the Society itself, so now they
abstain, and for the same reason, from expressing any
opinion of the Society's with respect to the details of the
proposed scheme of incorporation.
If the position of the Society of Apothecaries, as one
of the medical institutions of the country, or the manner
in which they may have succeeded in discharging the
important duties with which they have been intrusted for
the last thirty years give them any claims upon the con-
sideration of the Legislature and the country at large,
they are prepared to throw the'weight of that position
and of those claims into the scale in favour of the object
now sought by their medical brethren. They desire,
however, that any influence they may possess should be
exercised in a manner the most conducive to the real in-
terests of the general practitioners, and they are there-
fore deeply anxious that such influence should be exer-
cised legitimately, and as becomes a body continuing to
discharge an important public trust.
You have stated, that your Committee " look forward
tolthis society, being naturally placed at the head of the
movement for incorporation." The society do not wish to
disappoint this imputation, nor will they shriek from the
duties and responsibilities which attach to what you term
their natural position. They will state, therefore, in what
respect they consider they can best serve the cause of
the general practitioners at the present crisis.
Her Majesty's Secretary of State has required that the
details of the scheme for incorporating the general prac-
titioners should he laid before him. Now, it is almost
unnecessary to observe, that it is most desirable that unani-
mity should, if possible, prevail in the profession on this
important subject, because any material disagreement in
principle or detail would afford strong reason fur
the Secretary of State withholding his consent to the
scheme altogether. It is a subject in which large
anuabers have a common interest, and in the considera-
tion of which all have a right, and many will have a
desire to take part. It is not likely that upon points of
detail, or even of principle, all will entertain the same
opinions in the first instance. It will be necessary that
the parties engaged in the consideration of the subject
should understand each other's views, and they are not
likely to understand each other's views without mutual
explanations, or to arrive at unanimity in the result
without something of mutual concession. To effect
these objects it is necessary that they should have some
eommon centre to which their views may be addressed—
a sort of neutral ground on which they may meet to
consider points of difference, and endeavour to reconcile
conflicting opinions.
The Society of Apothecaries are willing to place them-
selves iu that position—to receive the expression of the
views of the general practitioners throughout the king-
dom, through the medium of their local associations, en
the details of the proposed scheme of incorporation, to
smooth the way for mutual explanation and mutual con-
cession, and to assist in effecting such an agreement
aniong their brethren, at least upon the main features of
the plan, as shall enable the Society to lay before her
Majesty's Government, on behalf of the general prae-
titionersof this country, a scheme which may fairly repre-
sent the wishes of the great majority of that body. In
this sense the Society are willing to place themselves at
the head of the movement for incorporation.
The Society feel that their position affords peculiar
facilities and advantages for discharging this duty with
substantial benefit to the general practitioners. They
have no personal, corporate, or local interests to advo-
cate. The very existence of an independent College of
General Practitioners implies a resignation on the part of
the Society of all further interference with the education
or control over the affairs of the general practitioners.
They will have only one aim and object, therefore, left to
them, namely, to see the general practitioners in the toll
enjoyment of an independent organisation, and to lei d
their zealous help to promote the success of that measure.
As a preliminary and most important step, the Society
invite the attention of your Committee to the folluwil g
points, which you will find involve the principles of tl e
constitution of the proposed College :

PROPOSED COLLEGE or LICENTIATES IN MEDICINE AND

SURGERY.

The qualifications of the individuals to be incorporateil.
1. In the first instance.
2. Subsequently to the grant of charter.
The Council or Governing Body.
Number.
Qualification.
Election.
1. Qualification of electors.
2. Manner of voting.
Duration of office.
The Court of Examiners.

Number.
Qualification.
Mode of appointment.
Duration of office.

The powers and duties of the proposed College will,
of course, form the subject of consideration in con-
nexion with the general question of medical reform, but
the Society conceive that the object of all parties will be
that such College should not occupy the same relation
to the general practitioners as respects the control of
their education and examination as the Colleges of
Physicians and Surgeons will occupy in relation to
physicians and surgeons, but that it should enjoy to the
fullest extant the same powers of protecting the privi-
leges and representing the interests of the general prac-
titioners as the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons
will exercise in reference to the members of those
branches of the profession. With this explanation of the
course which the Society of Apothecaries feel it their
duty to pursue at this important juncture, . rtant am de,iied
to state that the Society will he happy to receive from
your Committee, as soon as possible,. a statement of their
views with regard to the details of the scheme for. the
proposed organisation of the general practitioners of this
country.—l have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your
cost obedient servant,
R. B. UPTON, Clerk to the Society.
'Thomas Dorrington, Esq., Honorary Secretaries to the
Tim) A. Franklin, Esq., 5 Committee,&c., Manchester.
THE COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.
We, the undersigned, being members of the Royal
College of Surgeons, residing in the rural parts of
,Surrey, desire to record our earnest tied indignant pro-
Ost against the exclusion in which we are placed by the
proceedings of the Council of the College in the matter
of. the recent charter.
We protest against the arbitrary elevation of a few
gentlemen above those of their brethren who were pre.
viously their equals in professional rank, senior to many
of them as members of the College, and not inferior to
most of them in scientific and practical knowledge.
We consider the invitation to the mass of the proles-
lion to undergo examination in order to obtain the rank