[16] Speaking of the answer ascribed to Dr. _Ward_, Dr. _Middleton_ says, _quamvis enim nomen suum celavisset, sensi tamen hominem e_ rhetorum turba _conductum esse oportere; cui scilicet generi concessum novimus, omnia_ tragice ornare, augere, ementiri: _is mihi solum scrupulus restabat, quod in ejus quidem sermone, nihil plane, quod_ rhetorem oleret, _nihil venustatis, nihil ornatùs, sed inculta potiùs omnia nec satis latina invenirem_. _Hujusmodi itaque scriptorem, haud magis quam alterum illum (cui neutiquam sane eum anteserendam censeo) cogitatione ulla mea aut animadversione dignum judicassem; ni hanc potissimum hominem a_ clarissimo Meadio _ad hoc_ respondendi munus _delectum; librumque ipsum_ ejusdem cura & sumptibus _in lucem emissam; amicisque suis_ manu propria inscriptum & dono a Meadio ipso missum _intellixissem_. [17] Germana quædam 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.