AUGUST4th, 1818. To the Trustees of the University of Pénnsylmnia, Gentleméñ, THERE being a vacancy in thé chemical chair of this University, I beg leave to be considered as a candidate: and as the other candidates exhibit to the Trustees their claims to the appointment, it seems proper that I should communicate mine. It is well known to the members who compose the board of Trustees, that I have long been devoted to the study and pursuit of chemistry. For se ven years past, I have been a public lecturer in chemis- try; and í may fairly presume that my reputatioh in that character, Was thé ehief reason for appoint- ing me to the píofessorship I now hold irt the Faculty of Arts in this University; and that I stand in no need of testimoniáis from persons of less experience than myself. I have also a right to say, that I have laboured more to promote chemical science in this country than any other man in it, having been a longer time devoted to this study, not only as a lecturer, but an author. As the Trustees have done me the honour to accept eight volumes in 8vo. of my chemical publications, they have the means of judging of my deserts in this respect. I find from a cóllectión of certificates and testimoniáis published by Mr. Robert Haré, that Dr. Chapman was of opinión in his case, that it was by no means necessary for a professor of chemistry in the faculty of medicine, to be also a regular Physician; it appearing from Dr. Chapman's statement* that Davy of London, Murray of Edinburgh, and Vauquelín of París, had not studied or graduated as Physicians. If not necessary, however, it is highly expedient, that your chemical professor should be not only a Doctor in medicine nominally, withoüt practice, but also a Physician by practice, inasmuch as it is his duty topass upan the qualifications of students who apply for medical degrees. Whethér the other candidates are practising physicians, must be known to the board: my own claims to that title are as follo\y, ^ ,. Irt London, I attended the Anatorhical Lectures óí Mr. Sheldon of Great Queen Street. I attended also a Clinícal course at the Middlesex Hospital. I attended at my leisure hours, the patients- of Dr. Feriar of Manchester under his directión. I have practísed opeñly and avowedly as a Physkjian in th'm country, for a longer time than any present member of the Medical Faculty of this University'. T exhibitéd to rtiány of the Trustees on aformer application afterthe death of Tir. Barton,the testi- moniáis of Jüd'ge Walker, of judgé Bráckenridge, of the Rev. Mr. Campbell of Carlisle, of Dr. Arm- strong and Dr. Gustine of the same place, that I have continuedly practised as a physician, regularly and repeatedly employed in their families. Those written testimonies; employéd in my behalf, on that occasion, are now dispersed and mislaid. But I may appeal to Judge Dutfcan for my having practised regularly as a physician in the county of Northumberland, uniformly called in by the resident physi- cians there, for twenty yeaís past, at every consultation : in particular, that I have repeatedly attended his sister, and Her family, the wife of Judge Walker, and been repeatedly consulted by him, by letter, since we have resided at diíFerent places. I appeal to Judge Duncan and Judge Gibson for full and satisfactory testimony, that at Carlisle I was regularly called in upon every occasion of difficulty by the Physicians of that place. That I have repeatedly attended in that capacity the families of those two Judges, and of Judge Bráckenridge; and that Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Gustine, and Dr. Foulke, of Car- lisle, each of them confided their wives when sick to my medical directión. I ñame these gentlemen (Judge Duncan and Judge Gibson) because I know that some of the Trustees have applied to them, to ascertain the truth of this general statement; and l have appealed to their testimony as to these points, while they were in the city: and withoüt any knowledge of the answers they may have given, I rest upon the evidence they have afForded in reply to such enquiñes: and as those gentlemen are here so frequently, and so mariy opportunities occur to the members of this Board who are also members of the Bar, to verify this statement, I make it in full confidence of the result. Having successfully attended the Rev. Mr. Campbell, to whose episcopal congregation I belonged, in a long and dangerous illness—and as I am informed by him that he had written on a former occasion to a reverend gentleman, a Trustee of this University, on the subject of my general character there, as well as my medical talents, I refer io that letter in support of this statement; not thinking it necessary to multiply proofs of the good opinión of my friends. I may also mentiqn, that to some of the Trustees here, it is known (as I have reason to believe) that the notes and letters of Dr. Wistar to me were ad- dressed to Dr. Cooper: the instances I had preserved of this style of directión, are lost with my other documents formerly shewn. I have also been honoured with the Degree of Doctor in Medicine by the University of New York, on the motion, as I understand, of Drs. M'Neven and Hossack, gentlemen sufficiently competent to speak ofmy title to the distinction thus conferred. And finally, at their last session, the Medical Society of this city, withoüt my knowledge, appointed me to deliver the annual report of the progress of Materia Medica for the past year: which I did, as I have reason to believe, to the full satisfaction of that body. In one respect only, itmay be argued that I am not a regular Physician; though my education, my course of reading and study, and long practice, entitle me to that character, as fully as any other medi- cal gentleman of this city. Having, at the directión of my father, pursued the study of the JLaw as my Profession, I have always deemed it improper to take fees for my attendance as a Physician, and to act for profit in a double capacity. Judge Walker could speak to this point from his own knowledge, having éxperienced and known my repeated refusals in his own case as well as others for •>.* Io-"* **v-??-*y ^-cars past. I thfrífore^bavc a just ri&hi to be considered as • Physician, not only by formal title honourably ac- nuired, but bf a regular course ¿i stuúy, by long expci íencc, and extensive practice; and the obj'ection formerly made to Mr. Haré in this respeet, did not then, and does not now apply to me. My short residence in Philadelphia renders this statement necessary. Should I succeed in this Application for the vacant Chair of Chemistry, I shall endeavour to justify the preference so given in my favour, by assiduity in pursuit of the duties of my department. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, y THOMAS COOPER, M. D. 2(fe, Chesnut street. 4 oci¿*> "^yy^¿¿£y y^7' /£& '¿fa¿- x lA^Lfy dashyvvo ! /'/ y << P- ■0}/ó/ 0>