Testimonials in favour of James Paterson, M.D., surgeon, candidate for the Camlachie District of City Poor.

Date:
[1840]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Testimonials in favour of James Paterson, M.D., surgeon, candidate for the Camlachie District of City Poor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    5/18
    TO THE HONOURABLE THE PRECEPTOR AND THE DIRECTORS OF THE TOWN'S HOSPITAL. Gentlemen, As the Surgeoncy of the Camlachie District of City Poor, has become vacant by the translation of Mr. Boag to the one occupied by the late Mr. Buchanan, I respectfully offer myself a Candidate for the situation. J am aware it is the impression of some Candidates, and a few of the Directors, that, to have applied repeatedly for the office, and to have been unsuccessful, is an argument in favour of an another application, and is held forth as a just ground for preference at a new election. This being my first appearance on the arena, in justice to myself, I may be allowed to say, that no argument or plea can be more sophis- tical, or have less weight with intelligent and discriminating men ; because, it proves nothing more than that such indi- viduals were not then considered the best qualified for filling the important and responsible situation. If the principle were generally followed out, the inevitable consequence would be, that nothing more would be necessary for securing the appointment, than the fact of having been most frequently rejected; and if so, men of real talent, possessing Testimo- nials however respectable, or of experience however well tried, could have little or no chance of success. Convinced, however, that such sentiments must be confined to a very few only, and that all justice will be done to really deserving Candidates, I trust I will be excused for adverting to this topic.