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will soon attain great Abilities in their Profession, though destitute of the Help of Letters and a liberal Education. It is in this Case, as in that formerly of an eminent though illiterate Member, of the House of Commons, of whom it has been said, That by that Time he had spoken a quarter of an Hour, he put all Learning out of Countenance. For it is very evident that a Man of good Sense, Vivacity, and Spirit, may arrive to the highest Rank of Physicians, without the Assistance of great Erudition and the Knowledge of Books: And this was the Case of Dr. Sydenham abovementioned, who became an able and eminent Physician, though he never designed to take up the Profession till the civil Wars were composed, and then being a disbanded Officer, he entred upon it for a Maintenance, without any Learning properly preparatory for the Undertaking of it. And to shew the Reader what Contempt he had for Writings in Physick, when one Day I asked him to advise me what Books I should read to qualify me for Practice, he replied, Read Don Quixot, it is a very good Book, I read it still. So low an Opinion had this celebrated Man of the Learning collected out of the Authors, his Predecessors. And a late celebrated Physi-