“I want to point out that it was certain of these same men, who had
(so to speak) pledged themselves from the first to defeat our hopes of
education and render all our efforts abortive—who, sitting in their
places on the Infirmary Board, took advantage of the almost
irresponsible power with which they were temporarily invested, to
thwart and nullify our efforts. I believe that a majority of the
managers desired to act justly in this matter; but the presence of
those bitter partisans, and the overwhelming influence of every kind
brought to bear by them, prevailed to carry the day—to refuse us not
only admission on the ordinary terms, but also to refuse us every
opportunity which could answer our purpose. I know of the noble
protests made against this injury by some of the most respected and
most learned members of the Board, but all their efforts were in vain,
because strings were pulled and weapons brought into play of which
they either did not know or could not expose the character. Till then,
during a period of five weeks, the conduct of the students with whom
we had been associated in Surgeons’ Hall, in the most trying of all
our studies, that of Practical Anatomy, had been quiet, respectful,
and in every way inoffensive. They had evidently accepted our presence
there, in earnest silent work, as a matter of course, and Dr.
Handyside, in answer to a question of mine after the speeches at the
meeting of the General Council, assured me that, in the course of some
twenty sessions, he had never had a month of such quiet earnest work
as since we entered his rooms. But at a certain meeting of the
managers when our memorial was presented, a majority of those present
were, I understand, in favour of immediately admitting us to the
Infirmary. The minority alleged want of due notice of the question,
and succeeded in obtaining an adjournment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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