Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/171

 RADCLIFFE. 153 empire of this world, and the rest of the physi- cians opposing his ambitious designs, with a pro- ject of a treaty of partition to settle peace. With such a disposition, one cannot be surprised that his fame and success raised him up many envious rivals, who were unwilling to give him any other praise than that of an active, ingenious, adventuring empiric, whom constant practice had brought at length to some skill in his profession. On the other hand, he has been represented by Dr. Mead, who knew him well, and was a most competent judge of his merits, " to have been de- servedly at the head of his profession, on account of his great medical penetration and experience." Richardson relates of him that he once said to Dr. Mead, " I love you, and now I will tell you a sure secret to make your fortune ; use all man- kind ill" — and it certainly was his own practice. Radcliffe himself owned that he was avaricious, even to spunging (whenever he could contrive to do it), at a tavern reckoning, a sixpence or shil- ling among the rest of the company, under pre- tence of hating (as he ever did) to change a guinea, because (said he) it slips away so fast. He would never be brought to pay bills without much following and importunity ; nor even then, if there appeared any chance of wearying out his creditors. A pavier, after long and fruitless at- tempts, caught him just getting out of his chariot at his own door, in Bloomsbury Square, and set upon him. " Why, you rascal," said the doctor, " do you pretend to be paid for such a piece of work ? why, you have spoiled my pavement, and then covered it over with earth to hide your bad