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studied my own case with the most painful attention； consequently
may be supposed to know something of the matter； although I have
not taken regular courses of physiology et cetera et cetera。
In short； I have for some time been of opinion （no offence； dear
Doctor） that the sum of all your medical discoveries amounts to
this； that the more you study the less you know。 I have read
all that has been written on the Hot Wells； and what I can
collect from the whole； is； that the water contains nothing but a
little salt； and calcarious earth； mixed in such inconsiderable
proportion； as can have very little； if any； effect on the animal
economy。 This being the case； I think the man deserves to be
fitted with a cap and bells； who for such a paultry advantage as
this spring affords； sacrifices his precious time； which might be
employed in taking more effectual remedies； and exposes himself
to the dirt； the stench； the chilling blasts； and perpetual
rains； that render this place to me intolerable。 If these waters；
from a small degree of astringency； are of some service in the
diabetes； diarrhoea； and night sweats； when the secretions are
too much increased； must not they do harm in the same proportion；
where the humours are obstructed； as in the asthma； scurvy； gout
and dropsy？ Now we talk of the dropsy； here is a strange
fantastical oddity； one of your brethren； who harangues every day
in the Pump…room； as if he was hired to give lectures on all
subjects whatsoever I know not what to make of him
Sometimes he makes shrewd remarks； at other times he talks like
the greatest simpleton in nature He has read a great deal； but
without method or judgment； and digested nothing。 He believes
every thing he has read； especially if it has any thing of the
marvellous in it and his conversation is a surprizing hotch…potch
of erudition and extravagance。 He told me t'other day； with great
confidence； that my case was dropsical； or； as he called it；
leucophlegmatic： A sure sign； that his want of experience is
equal to his presumption for； you know； there is nothing
analogous to the dropsy in my disorder I wish those
impertinent fellows； with their ricketty understandings； would
keep their advice for those that ask it。 Dropsy； indeed！ Sure I
have not lived to the age of fifty…five； and had such experience
of my own disorder； and consulted you and other eminent
physicians； so often； and so long； to be undeceived by such a
But； without all doubt； the man is mad； and； therefore； what he
says is of no consequence。 I had； yesterday； a visit from
Higgins； who came hither under the terror of your threats； and
brought me in a present a brace of hares； which he owned he took
in my ground； and I could not persuade the fellow that he did
wrong； or that I would ever prosecute him for poaching I must
desire you will wink hard at the practices of this rascallion；
otherwise I shall be plagued with his presents； which cost me
more than they are worth。 If I could wonder at any thing
Fitzowen does； I should be surprized at his assurance in desiring
you to solicit my vote for him at the next election for the
county： for him； who opposed me； on the like occasion； with the
most illiberal competition。 You may tell him civilly； that I beg
to be excused。 Direct your next for me at Bath； whither I propose
to remove to…morrow； not only on my own account； but for the sake
of my niece； Liddy； who is like to relapse。 The poor creature
fell into a fit yesterday； while I was cheapening a pair of
spectacles； with a Jew…pedlar。 I am afraid there is something
still lurking in that little heart of hers； which I hope a change
of objects will remove。 Let me know what you think of this half…witted
Doctor's impertinent； ridiculous； and absurd notion of my
disorder So far from being dropsical； I am as lank in the
belly as a grey…hound； and； by measuring my ancle with a pack…thread；
I find the swelling subsides every day。 From such doctors；
good Lord deliver us！ I have not yet taken any lodgings in
Bath； because there we can be accommodated at a minute's warning；
and I shall choose for myself I need not say your directions
for drinking and bathing will be agreeable to；
Dear Lewis；
Yours ever；
MAT。 BRAMBLE
P。S。 I forgot to tell you； that my right ancle pits； a symptom；
as I take it； of its being oedematous； not leucophlegmatic。
To Miss LETTY WILLIS； at Gloucester
HOT WELL； April 21。
MY DEAR LETTY；
I did not intend to trouble you again； till we should be settled
at Bath； but having the occasion of Jarvis； I could not let it
slip； especially as I have something extraordinary to communicate。
O； my dear companion！ What shall I tell you？ for several days
past there was a Jew…looking man； that plied at the Wells with a
box of spectacles； and he always eyed me so earnestly； that I
began to be very uneasy。 At last； he came to our lodgings at
Clifton； and lingered about the door； as if he wanted to speak to
somebody I was seized with an odd kind of fluttering； and
begged Win to throw herself in his way： but the poor girl has
weak nerves； and was afraid of his beard。 My uncle； having
occasion for new glasses； called him up stairs； and was trying a
pair of spectacles； when the man； advancing to me； said in a
whisper O gracious！ what d'ye think he said？ 'I am Wilson！'
His features struck me that very moment it was Wilson； sure
enough！ but so disguised； that it would have been impossible to
know him； if my heart had not assisted in the discovery。 I was so
surprised； and so frightened that I fainted away； but soon
recovered； and found myself supported by him on the chair； while
my uncle was running about the room； with the spectacles on his
nose； calling for help。 I had no opportunity to speak to him； but
looks were sufficiently expressive。 He was payed for his glasses；
and went away。 Then I told Win who he was； and sent her after him
to the Pump…room； where she spoke to him； and begged him in my
name to withdraw from the place； that he might not incur the
suspicion of my uncle or my brother； if he did not want to see me
die of terror and vexation。 The poor youth declared； with tears
in his eyes； that he had something extraordinary to communicate；
and asked； if she would deliver a letter to me： but this she
absolutely refused； by my order。 Finding her obstinate in her
refusal； he desired she would tell me that he was no longer a
player； but a gentleman； in which character he would very soon
avow his passion for me； without fear of censure or reproach
Nay； he even discovered his name and family； which； to my great
grief； the simple girl forgot； in the confusion occasioned by her
being seen talking to him by my brother； who stopt her on the
road； and asked what business she had with that rascally Jew。 She
pretended she was cheapening a stay…hook； but was thrown into
such a quandary； that she forgot the most material part of the
information； and when she came home； went into an hysteric fit of
laughing。 This transaction happened three days ago； during which
he has not appeared； so that I suppose he has gone。 Dear Letty！
you see how Fortune takes pleasure in persecutin