ASHHURST, J. Though this matter has taken a considerable time in the argument, it is now reduced to a narrow compass. The counsel who have argued for the issuing of the mandamus do not contend that a licentiate, as such, does _ipso facto_ become a member or a fellow of the college: they only say that any man who is fit in learning and morals has a right to offer himself for examination, without any superadded qualification; and therefore that the bye-law requiring “that every licentiate, in order to entitle him to offer himself for examination, shall be a doctor of one of the two universities in _England_ or that of _Dublin_,” is a void bye-law. It is not denied by counsel who have argued for the rule that the corporation have the right of making bye-laws for the regulation of their own body. And Lord _Mansfield_, on whose authority they ground themselves as in their favour, said in 4 _Burr._ 2199, “that such bye-laws as only require a proper education and a sufficient degree of skill and qualification may be still retained; that there can be no objection to cautions of this sort; and the rather if it be true that there are some amongst the licentiates unfit to be received into any society.” This brings it then to the question, whether the bye-law now under discussion is or is not to be considered as a bye-law of regulation. It does appear to me that in order to ensure a proper education and a competence in a learning, there cannot be a more likely method than the having spent fourteen years in one of our learned universities, and, after having been examined by persons competent to the subject, having been admitted to a doctor’s degree. This it should seem would prevent in _limine_ the danger of that happening, which Lord _Mansfield_ complains of, namely, of persons being admitted amongst the licentiates unfit to be received into that society. Indeed the Legislature so long ago as the passing of the act of the 14 and 15 _Henry_ 8. seemed to shew their own opinion how much stress ought to be laid on such a kind of test; for there, in speaking of country physicians, the act says, “that no person shall be suffered to exercise or practise in physic through _England_ until such time as he be examined in _London_ by the president and three elects, and have from them letters testimonial of their approving and examination:” but then the act goes on with this exception (viz.) “unless he be a graduate of _Oxford_ or _Cambridge_, which hath accomplished all things for his form without any grace.” This shews the opinion of the legislative body of that day; and the college might think it a very fit model for their imitation in the formation of the bye-law now under discussion, and that it would prevent them from having their time too much broken in upon by improper applications for examination. I would not be thought to infer that the gentleman now applying is in any degree deficient either in learning or education: but general laws cannot give way to particular cases; and as this law has been of some standing, we must suppose it has been found to be attended with general convenience, and therefore it should be abided by. I therefore concur in the opinion that the rule for a mandamus should be discharged.