the whole design pernicious to their interest, they endeavoured to
raise a faction against it in the College, and found some physicians
mean enough to solicit their patronage by betraying to them the
counsels 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 settle the mode of administering the charity.

It was desired by the aldermen that the testimonials of
churchwardens and overseers should be admitted; and that all hired
servants, and all apprentices to handicraftsmen, should be
considered as POOR. This likewise was granted by the College.

It was then considered who should distribute the medicines, and who
should settle their prices. The physicians procured some
apothecaries to undertake the dispensation, and offered that the
warden and company of the apothecaries should adjust the price.
This offer was rejected; and the apothecaries who had engaged to
assist the charity were considered as traitors to the company,
threatened with the imposition of troublesome offices, and deterred
from the performance of their engagements. The apothecaries
ventured upon public opposition, and presented a kind of
remonstrance against the design to the committee of the City, which
the physicians condescended to confute: and at last the traders
seem to have prevailed among the sons of trade; for the proposal of
the College having been considered, a paper of approbation was drawn
up, but postponed and forgotten.

The physicians still persisted; and in 1696 a subscription was
raised by themselves according to an agreement prefixed to "The