"I have ventured to premise these observations, to show you, gentlemen, that I do not write inconsiderately, or merely as a matter of form, when I thus return you my warmest thanks for the distinguished honour you have conferred on me by your public approbation of my _endeavours_[86] to discharge the duties of an arduous office, to which I was elected through your kindness and confidence. "I have the honour to remain, "Sir and Gentlemen, "Your very grateful and obedient servant, "JOHN ABERNETHY." We insert in this place a letter which he wrote about this time to Sir William Blizard; because it shows two things which are characteristic: the one, how constant he was in not allowing any considerations to interfere with the lectures; and the other, the endurance of his old attachment to Sir William Blizard. It is an apology for not having been present at the Council. "Dear Sir William, "I was yesterday desired to see a patient residing seven or eight miles from London. I could not go that day, for it was lecture evening; I cannot go to-morrow for the same reason; consequently I must go this evening. I hope you will consider these circumstances as an apology for my _absence_ from the Board. "If you cite my example as one misleading future Professors, be so good as to remember that I retired, leaving the task which I had undertaken incomplete, wherefore it became necessary to _explain publicly_ to an indulgent audience my _motives_ for resigning the Professorship. "I remain, dear Sir William, "Yours unremittingly, "JOHN ABERNETHY." Abernethy had at various periods of his life been subject to an inflammatory sore throat of a very active kind, which would on some days impede so as almost to prevent his swallowing, and then suddenly terminate in abscess, leaving him perfectly well again. He was young when these sorts of attack began; for in his lectures he used to speak of one of them having subsided only the night before he had some lectures to deliver before the Council of the College, when they were accustomed to meet in the Old Bailey.