sumptibus _in
lucem emissam; amicisque suis_ manu propria inscriptum & dono
a Meadio ipso missum _intellixissem_.

[17] Germana quaedam antiquitatis erudita monumenta, &c. first
published in 1745, and inserted in the before-cited volume of
his works, p. 2.

In respect to this controversy, our author's _eulogist_[18] takes
notice that there is reason to believe, that Dr. _Mead_ himself had
some thoughts of more determinately explaining or confirming his
sentiments upon this subject, in a work which he left unfinished, and
which was designed to have been intitled, _medicina vetus collectitia
ex auctoribus antiquis non medicis_.

[18] The ingenious Dr. _Maty_, who in his _journal
britannique_ (a work not less useful than entertaining) for
the months of _July_ and _August_ 1754, has inserted a piece,
which he titles, _eloge du docteur Richard Mead_, composed,
as himself takes notice, from materials communicated to him
by Mr. _Birch_; to which piece these memoirs are obliged for
some anecdotes relating to our learned author.

However, this literary altercation, did not in the least affect our
author's medical reputation, for in 1727, soon after his present
Majesty's accession to the throne, whom he had the honour to serve in
the same capacity while prince of _Wales_, he was appointed one of the
royal physicians, and he had the happiness to see his two
sons-in-law, Dr. _Willmot_ and Dr. _Nichols_, his co-adjutors in that
eminent station.

After having spent near fifty years in the constant hurry of an
extensive and successful practice; after having lived (truely
according to his own motto, _non sibi sed toti_) beyond that period
assigned by the royal psalmist for the general term of mortality; when
the infirmities of age would no longer permit him the free exercise of
those faculties, which he had hitherto so advantageously employed in
the service of the community, far from sinking into a supine
indolence, or assuming a supercilious disregard of the world, he still
continued his application, even in the decline of life, to the
improvement of physic, and the benefit of mankind.

When he was grown unequal to the discharge of more active functions,
and a retirement was become absolutely necessary, he took the
opportunity of revising all his former writings: to this retreat
therefore, and the happy protraction of so useful a life, the world is
indebted for the improvements