140 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. thro' whose sides the dignity of the sacerdotal order is wounded. The reasons you give for others to stand by him in the day of tryal are very just, and the pains you take in sohciting for his ac- quittance extreamly commendable. He should not have carried things so far ; however, since he has, it will be looked upon as an act of uncharitableness in us, that are his brethren, not to endeavour to exhibit him out of the difficulties he has plunged himself into. I must applaud your making inte- rest for bail for him, and think it much better that the Doctors B — s and L — r should be his sure- ties, than the Duke of B — t and B — m, because they will not be so much the mark of the persons at helm. I fear we shall not have power enough to give a parliamentary sanction to the doctrines he has preached ; but, in all probability, we shall be able to mitigate the punishment some people threaten him with. " The expenses he must be at in his defence, cannot but be very great, and beyond his abilities ; therefore, I altogether approve your designs towards the discharge of them, as a work of the greatest charity, and am, " Good Doctor, " Your most obliged friend, " And humble servant, " John Ebor." About this time Radcliffe lost one of his most intimate friends and companions. Lord Craven ; and as he must have reflected that the death of this nobleman had been accelerated by habits of excess and indulgence, which his physician had, by his
