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An account of the life, lectures and writings, of William Cullen
An account of the life lectures and writings of William Cullen Author:John Thomson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Towards the end of the year 1749, Dr Cullen had the good fortune to be introduced to Archibald Duke of Argyll, who at that time had much influence in the directi... more »on of political affairs in Scotland. The various anecdotes related of Dr Cullen's having become acquainted with that nobleman at an earlier period, and of his having afterwards been recommended by him to the Family of Hamilton, are totally without foundation. The precise time of his being introduced to the Duke, is marked by the following passage of a letter from Mr Martine, dated Edinburgh, August 1749 :—" Mr Lind, at Mr Home's desire, talked very particularly about you to the Duke of Argyll; and your friends here desire that you will wait on his Grace upon his arrival at Glasgow, which will be to-morrow evening. When you are introduced to him, it is probable, on your mentioning Mr Lind's name, that he will be more particular with you." The more immediate object of Dr Cullen's being introduced to the Duke of Argyll at this time, was to obtain his Grace's consent and patronage to his succeeding Dr John stone as Professor of Medicine, an event which took place in consequence of an agreement between them in October 1749, though Dr Cullen was not formally admitted into the university till the 2d of January 1751. It does not appear what circumstances occasioned this delay in Dr Cullen's appointment by the Crown ; but that the Duke of Argyll had interested himself in hastening it, is evident from various papers relating to the subject, and also from the following letter addressed by this nobleman to Dr Cu1len. Sir, " I have been in such a hurry of business of late, joyned with the distemper of cold raging here, that 1 thought I had better delay writing to you till I was a little at leisure. I was very sorry that your aff...« less