lood in my body, and yet I
found myself never a whit the better. Indeed, I was so much exhausted by
these evacuations, and my constitution so much impaired by fatigue and
perturbation of mind, that I had no other hope of recovering but that of
reaching England, and putting myself under the direction of a physician
on whose ability I could depend.

"With this doubtful prospect, therefore, I determined to attempt a
return to my native air, and actually departed from Lisle, in such a
melancholy, enfeebled condition, that I had almost fainted when I was
put into the coach. But before I resolved upon this journey, I was
reduced to the utmost exigence of fortune, so that I could scarce afford
to buy provisions, had it been in my power to eat, and should not have
been able to defray my travelling expenses, had I not been generously
befriended by Lord R-- H--, who, I am sure, would have done anything
for my case and accommodation, though he has unjustly incurred the
imputation of being parsimonious, and I had no reason to expect any such
favour at his hands.

"In this deplorable state of health I was conveyed to Calais, being all
the way, as it were, in the arms of death, without having swallowed the
least sustenance on the road. So much was my indisposition augmented by
the fatigue of the journey, that I swooned when I was brought into the
inn, and had almost expired before I could receive the least assistance
or advice. However, my spirits were a little revived by some bread and
wine, which I took at the persuasion of a French surgeon, who, chancing
to pass by the door, was called up to my relief. Having sent my servant
to Brussels, to take care of my clothes, I embarked in the packet-boat,
and by the time we arrived at Dover was almost in extremity.

"Here I found a return coach, in which I was carried to London, and was
put to bed at the house we put up at, more dead than alive. The people
of the inn sent for an apothecary, who administered some cordial that
recalled me to life; and, when I recovered the use of speech, I told him
who I was, and desired him to wait upon Dr. S--, and inform him of my
situation. A young girl, who was niece to the landlord's wife, seeing
me unattended, made a tender of her service to me, and I accepted the
offer, as well as of a lodging in the apothecary's house, to which I was
conveyed as soon as my strength would admit of my removal. There I was
visited by my physician, who was shocked to f