[Guy's Hospital: Benjamin Harrison, Treasurer, and Alexander J. G. Marcet, Senior Surgeon.] Autograph Letter Signed from 'Benj Harrison', replying to Marcet's application on behalf of John Yelloby as his replacement, with Marcet's copy of his letter.

See the entries on Harrison and Marcet in the Oxford DNB. Both items in good condition, lightly aged and worn, and each folded twice. Harrison's letter with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to the reverse. Marcet is only identified in pencil annotations to the letters, but the details given by the writer of his education accord with Marcet's. On 18 April 1804 – less than a month after the present exchange – Marcet was appointed physician to Guy's Hospital, London, on the recommendation of William Saunders, and in writing to Harrision Marcet would appear to pressing the claims of John Yelloby of Finsbury Square to replace him in his present post should he be successful in obtaining the new one. ONE: Marcet's Copy Letter. 2pp, 4to. Unsigned. Headed: 'Copy of a letter to Mr Harrison | 23 March'. Thirty-four lines. Begins: 'As I conceive that in the present circumstances a personal application from me might appear to proceed from a desire of discovering what opinion you may have formed respecting the future election, I have preferred to write on this occasion as this mode will preclude any premature conversation on the subject in question. | All that I have to say is that I have been acquainted with Dr. Yelloby since the year 1794 when we were both students at Edinburgh & that an intimacy began then which has increased ever since. The means which have induced me to cultivate his friendship are that I have always observed in him a steady & upright character, a strict attention to all the duties of his profession, a mind clear & well informed, a sound judgement & above all a strong sense of propriety in all his actions and proceedings.' The letter continues in the same vein, with reference to Yelloby's 'public situation as Physician to the extensive Dispensary to which he has belonged for these 3 years' (i.e. the Finsbury Dispensary). Marcet concludes with an apology for stating 'these few facts'. TWO: Harrison's letter in reply. 1p, 4to. Signed 'Benj Harrison'. Harrison takes sixteen lines to state that he cannot interfere in the election process, beginning: 'Dear Sir | I consider myself obliged by your caution in avoiding any premature conversation on the subject of the vacancy which will be occasioned in the event of your removal. With respect to Dr Yelloby you must be aware that his pretensions were very fully stated to me as early if not previous to my first acquaintance with you, but they were not considered on that occasion such as to preclude attention being paid to another candidate.' He assures Marcet that his 'medical friends have studiously avoided giving any opinion which may prejudice or interfere with such an arrangement as the Governors may consider for the interest of the Hospital in the present vacancy'.