Radcliffe had of the other. He is always mentioned as a man of
benevolence; and it is just to suppose that his desire of helping
the helpless disposed him to so much zeal for "The Dispensary;" an
undertaking of which some account, however short, is proper to be
given.

Whether what Temple says be true, that physicians have had more
learning than the other faculties, I will not stay to inquire; but I
believe every man has found in physicians great liberality and
dignity of sentiment, very prompt effusion of beneficence, and
willingness to exert a lucrative art where there is no hope of
lucre. Agreeably to this character, the College of Physicians, in
July, 1687, published an edict, requiring all the Fellows,
Candidates, and Licentiates to give gratuitous advice to the
neighbouring poor. This edict was sent to the Court of Aldermen;
and, a question being made to whom the appellation of the POOR
should be extended, the College answered that it should be
sufficient to bring a testimonial from the clergyman officiating in
the parish where the patient resided.

After a year's experience the physicians found their charity
frustrated by some malignant opposition, and made to a great degree
vain by the high price of physic; they therefore voted, in August,
1688, that the laboratory of the College should be accommodated to
the preparation of medicines, and another room prepared for their
reception; and that the contributors to the expense should manage
the charity.

It was now expected that the apothecaries would have undertaken the
care of providing medicines; but they took another course. Thinking