ogress he had made in the
experiment of distilling tinder-water; and he told us he had been at all
the glass-houses about town, but could find nobody who would undertake
to blow a retort large enough to hold the third part of the quantity
prescribed; but he intended to try the process on as much as would
produce five drops, which would be sufficient to prove the specific,
and then he would make it a parliamentary affair; that he had already
purchased a considerable weight of rags, in reducing which to tinder, he
had met with a misfortune, which had obliged him to change his lodgings;
for he had gathered them in a heap on the floor, and set fire to them
with a candle, on the supposition that the boards would sustain no
damage, because it is the nature of flame to ascend; but, by some very
extraordinary accident, the wood was invaded, and began to blaze with
great violence, which disordered him so much, that he had not the
presence of mind enough to call for assistance, and the whole house must
have been consumed with him in the midst of it, had not the smoke that
rolled out of the windows in clouds alarmed the neighbourhood, and
brought people to his succour: that he had lost a pair of black velvet
breeches and a tie-wig in the hurry, besides the expense of the rags,
which were rendered useless by the water used to quench the flame, and
the damage of the floor, which he was compelled to repair; that his
landlord, believing him distracted, had insisted on his quitting
his apartment at a minute's warning, and he was put to incredible
inconvenience; but now he was settled in a very comfortable house, and
had the use of a large paved yard for preparing his tinder; so that he
hoped in a very short time to reap the fruits of his labour.

After having congratulated the doctor on his prospect, and read the
papers, we repaired to an auction of pictures, where we entertained
ourselves an hour or two; from thence we adjourned to the Mall, and,
after two or three turns, went back to dinner, Banter assuring us, that
he intended to roast Medlar at the ordinary; and, indeed, we were no
sooner set than this cynic began to execute his purpose, by telling
the old gentleman that he looked extremely well, considering the little
sleep he had enjoyed last night. To this compliment Medlar made no
reply, but by a stare, accompanied with a significant grin; and Banter
went on thus; "I don't know whether most to admire the charity of your
mind, o