954 Passages from the Diary of a late Physician. an attendance at the House of Lords, long before he was in a fit state for removal, even from his bedchamber; and the consequences of such a shattered invalid's premature exposure to a bleak winter's wind may be easily anticipated. He was laid again on a bed of suffering; and having, through some sudden pique, dismissed his old family physician, his lordship was pleased to summon me to supply his place. The Earl of for his enormous riches, and the was celebrated more than Oriental scale of luxury and magnificence on which his establishment was conducted. The slanderous world further gave him credit for a disposition of the most exquisite selfishness, which, added to his capricious and choleric humour, made him a very unenviable companion, even in health. What, then, must such a man be in sickness? I trembled at the task that was before me!-It was a bitter December evening on which I paid him my first visit. Nearly the whole of the gloomy secluded street in which his mansion was situated, was covered with straw; and men were stationed about it to prevent noise in any shape. The ample knocker was muffled, and the bell unhung, lest the noise of either should startle the aristocratical invalid. The instant my carriage, with its muffled roll, drew up, the hall-door sprung open as if by magic; for the watchful porter had orders to anticipate all comers, on pain of instant dismissal. Thick matting was laid over the hall-floor-double carpeting covered the staircases and landings, from the top to the bottom of the house-and all the door-edges were lined with list! How could sickness or death presume to enter, in spite of such precautions? A servant, in large list-slippers, asked me, in a whisper, my name; and, on learning it, said the Countess wished to have a few moments' interview with me before I was shewn up to his lordship. I was therefore led into a magnificent apartment, where her ladyship, with two grownup daughters, and a young man in the Guards' uniform, sat sipping coffee for they had but just left the diningroom. The Countess looked pale and dispirited. "Doctor," [June, said she, after a few words-of-course had been interchanged, "I'm afraid you'll have a trying task to manage his lordship! We are all worn out says, we neglect him! Nothing can with attending on him, and yet, he please or satisfy him!-What do you imagine was the reason of his dismissing Dr sisted in attributing the present sei-? Because he perzure to his imprudent visit to the House!" that instant the door was opened, "Well, your ladyship knows I and a sleek servant, all pampered can but attempt to do my duty." At and powdered, in a sotto voce tone, informed the Countess that his lordship had been enquiring for me. diately," said her ladyship, eagerly, “Oh, for God's sake, go-go imme or we shall have no peace for a all this-my patient. Ay, there he visible of him being his little sallow wrinkled visage, worn with illness, age, and fretfulness, peering curiously at me from the depths of his pillow-and his left hand, lying outside the bedclothes, holding a white embroidered handkerchief, with which he occasionally wiped his clammy features. U-u-gh!-U-u-gh!" he groaned, or rather gasped, as a sudden twinge of pain twisted and corrugated his features almost out of all resemblance to humanity-till they looked more like those of a strangled ape, than the Right Honourable the Earl of The paroxysm presently abated. "You've been-down stairs-more than-five minutes-I believe-Dr ?" he commenced in a petulant tone, pausing for breath between every two words-his features not yet recovered from their contortions. I bowed. "I flatter myself-it was I-who sent-for you, Dr ——, and—not her ladyship," he continued. I bowed again, and was going to explain, when he resumed"Ah! I see! Heard-the whole story-of Dr -'s dismissal-ugh -ugh-eh?-May I-beg the favour -of hearing-her ladyship's version -of the affair?" My lord, I heard nothing but the simple fact of Dr's having ceased to attend your lordship" "Ah!-ceased to attend! Good!" he repeated, with a sneer. "Will your lordship permit me to ask if you have much pain just now?" I enquired, anxious to terminate his splenetic display. I soon discovered that he was in the utmost peril; for there was every symptom of the gout's having been driven from its old quarter, the extremities, to the vital organs-the stomach and bowels. One of the most startling symptoms was the sensation he described as resembling that of a platter of ice laid upon the pit of his stomach; and he complained also of increasing nausea. Though not choosing to apprize him of the exact extent of his danger, I strove so to shape my questions and comments that he might infer his being in dangerous circumstances. He either did not, however, or would not, comprehend me. I told him that the remedies I should recommend "Ah-by the way-" said he, turning abruptly towards me, "it mustn't be the execrable stuff that Dr half poisoned me with! Gad, sirit had a most diabolical stench garlic was a pine-apple to it-and here was I obliged to lie soaked in eau de Cologne, and half stifled with musk. He did it on purpose, he had a spite against me!" I begged to be shewn the medicines he complained of, and his valet brought me the halfemptied phial. I found my predecessor had been exhibiting assafœtida and musk-and could no longer doubt the coincidence of his view of the case and mine. "I'm afraid, my lord," said I, hesitatingly," that I shall find myself compelled to continue the use of the medicines which Dr prescribed" "I'll be if you do, thoughthat's all-" replied the Earl, continuing to mutter indistinctly some insulting words about my "small acquaintance with the pharmacopeia." I took no notice of it. "Would your lordship," said I, after a pause, "object to the use of camphor, or ammonia?”* "I object to the use of every medicine but one, and that is, a taste of some potted boar's flesh, which my nephew, I understand, has this morning sent from abroad." 66 My lord, it is utterly out of the question. Your lordship, it is my duty to inform you, is in extremely dangerous circumstances" "The d-1 I am!" he exclaimed, with an incredulous smile. "Pho, pho! So Dr - said. According to him, I ought to have resigned about a week ago! Agad-but-but-what symptom of danger is there now?" he enquired abruptly. "Why, one-in fact, my lord, the worst is-the sensation of numbness * His lordship, with whom, as possibly I should have earlier informed the reader, I had some little personal acquaintance before being called in professionally, had a tolerable knowledge of medicine; which will account for my mentioning what remedies I intended to exhibit. In fact he insisted on knowing. at the pit of the stomach, which your lordship mentioned just now." "Pho!-gone-gone-gone! A mere nervous sensation, I apprehend. I am freer from pain just now than I have been all along," his face changed a little. "Doctor-rather faint with talking-can I have a cordial? Pierre, get me some brandy!" he added, in a feeble voice. The valet looked at me I nodded acquiescence, and he instantly brought the Earl a wine glassfull. "Another-another-another-" gasped the Earl, his face suddenly bedewed with a cold perspiration. A strange expression flitted for an instant over the features; his eyelids drooped; there was a little twitching about the mouth "Pierre Pierre! Pierre ! call the Countess!" said I, hurriedly, loosing the Earl's shirt-neck, for I saw he was dying. Before the valet returned, however, while the muffled tramp of footsteps was heard on the stairs, approaching nearer-nearer-nearer -it was all over! the haughty Earl of had gone where rank and riches availed him nothing-to be alone with God! * On arriving home that evening, my mind saddened with the scene I had left, I found my wife-Emily-sitting by the drawingroom fire, alone, and in tears. On enquiring the reason of it, she told me that a char-woman who had been that day engaged at our house, had been telling Jane my wife's maid-who, of course, communicated it to her mistress, one of the most heart-rending tales of distress that she had ever listened to-that poverty and disease united could inflict on humanity. My sweet wife's voice, ever eloquent in the cause of benevolence, did not require much exertion to persuade me to resume my walking-trim, and go that very evening to the scene of wretchedness she described. The char-woman had gone half an hour ago, but left the name and address of the family she spoke of, and after learning them, I set off. The cold was so fearfully intense, that I was obliged to return and get a "comfortable" for my neck-and Emily took the opportunity to empty all the loose silver in her purse, into my hand, saying, "you know what to do with it, love!" Blessing her benevolent heart, I once more set out on my errand of mercy. With some difficulty I found out the neighbourhood, threading my doubtful way through a labyrinth of obscure back-streets, lanes, and alleys, till I came to "Peter's Place," where the objects of my visit resided. I began to be apprehensive for the safety of my person and property, when I discovered the sort of neighbourhood I had got into. "Do you know where some people of the name of O'Hurdle live?" I enquired of the watchman, who was passing, bawling the hour. "Yis, I knows two of that 'ere name hereabouts-which Hurdle is it, sir?" enquired the gruff guardian of the night. "I really don't exactly know-the people I want are very, very poor." "Oh! oh! oh! I'm thinking they're all much of a muchness for the matter of that, about here," he replied, setting down his lantern, and slapping his hands against his sides to keep himself warm. "But the people I want are very ill-I'm a doctor." "Oh, oh! you must be meaning 'em 'oose son was transported yesterday? His name was Tim O'Hurdle, sir-though some called him Jimmy and I was the man that catch'd him, sir-I did! It was for a robbery in this here" "Ay, ay-I dare say they are the people I want. Where is their house?" enquired hastily, somewhat disturbed at the latter portion of his intelligence-a new and forbidding feature of the case. "I'll shew 'ee the way, sir," said the watchman, walking before me, and holding his lantern close to the ground to light my path. He led me to the last house of the Place, and through a miserable dilapidated doorway; then up two pair of narrow, dirty, broken stairs, till we found ourselves at the top of the house. He knocked at the door with the end of his stick, and called out, "Holloa, missus! Hey! Withint here! You're wanted here!" adding suddenly, in a lower tone, touching his hat, " It's a bitter night, sir-a trifle, sir, to keep one's self warm-drink your health, sir." Igave him a trifle, motioned him away, and took his place at the door. "Thank your honour! Mind your watch and pockets, sir-that's all," he muttered, and left me. I felt very nervous, as the sound of his retreating footsteps died away down stairs. I had half a mind to follow him. "Who's there?" enquired a female voice through the door, opened only an inch or two. "It's I-a doctor. Is your name O'Hurdle? Is any one ill here? I'm come to see you. Betsy Jones, a char-woman, told me of you." "You're right, sir," replied the same voice, sorrowfully. "Walk in, sir;" and the door was opened wide enough for me to enter. Now, reader, who, while glancing over these sketches, are perhaps reposing in the lap of luxury, believe me when I tell you, that the scene which I shall attempt to set before you, as I encountered it, I feel to beggar all my powers of description; and that what you may conceive to be exaggerations, are infinitely short of the frightful realities of that evening. Had I not seen and known for myself, I should scarce have believed that such misery existed. "Wait a moment, sir, an' I'll fetch you a light," said the woman, in a strong Irish accent; and I stood still outside the door till she returned with a rushlight, stuck in a blue bottle. I had time for no more than one glimpse at the haggard features and filthy ragged appearance of the bearer, with an infant at the breast, before a gust of wind, blowing through an unstopped broken pane in the window, suddenly extinguished the candle, and we were left in a sort of darkness visible, the only object I could see being the faint glow of expiring embers on the hearth. "Would your honour be after standing still a while, or you'll be thredding on the chilther?" said the woman; and, bending down, she endeavoured to re-light the candle by the embers. The poor creature tried in vain, however; for it seemed there was but an inch or two of candle left, and the heat of the embers melted it away, and the wick fell out. "Oh, murther-there! What will we do?" exclaimed the woman, "that's the last bit of candle we've in the house, an' it's not a farthing I have to buy another!" "Come-send and buy another," said I, giving her a shilling, though I was obliged to feel for her hand. "Oh, thank your honour!" said she, "an' we'll soon be seeing one another. Here, Sal! Sal! Sally!Here, ye cratur !" "Well, and what d'ye want with me?" asked a sullen voice from another part of the room, while there was a rustling of straw. "Fait, an' ye must get up wid ye, and go to buy a candle. Here's a shilling" "Heigh-and isn't it a loaf o' bread ye should rather be after buying, mother?" growled the same voice. "Perhaps the Doctor won't mind," stammered the mother; "he won't mind our getting a loaf too." "Oh, no, no! For God's sake, go directly, and get what you like!" said I, touched by the woman's tone and manner. "Ho, Sal! Get up-ye may buy some bread too" "Bread! Bread! Bread!-Where's the shilling?" said the same voice, in quick and eager tones; and the ember-light enabled me barely to distinguish the dim outline of a figure rising from the straw on which it had been stretched, and which nearly overturned me by stumbling against me, on its way towards where the mother stood. It was a grownup girl, who, after receiving the shilling, promised to bring the candle lighted, lest their own fire should not be sufficient, and withdrew, slamming the door violently after her, and rattling down stairs with a rapidity which shewed the interest she felt in her errand. "I'm sorry it's not a seat we have that's fit for you, sir," said the woman, approaching towards where I was standing; "but if I may make so bold as to take your honour's hand, I'll guide you to the only one we have-barring the floor-a box by the fire, and there ye'll sit perhaps till she comes with a light.” "Anywhere-anywhere, my good woman," said I; "but I hope your daughter will return soon, for I have not long to be here," and giving her my gloved hand, she led me to a deal-box, on which I sat down, and she on the floor beside me. I was beginning to ask her some questions, when the moaning of a little child interrupted me. "Hush! hush!-ye little divelhush!-ye'll be waking your poor daddy!-hush!-go to sleep wid ye!" said the woman, in an earnest under tone. "Och-och-mammy!-mammy! an' isn't it so could?—I can't sleep, mammy," replied the tremulous voice of a very young child; and directing my eyes to the quarter from which the sound came, I fancied I saw a poor shivering half-naked little creature, cowering under the window. "Hish!-lie still wid ye, ye infortunat' little divel-an' ye'll presently get something to eat.-We ha'nt none of us tasted a morsel sin' the morning, Doctor!" The child she spoke to ceased its moanings instantly; but I heard the sound of its little teeth chattering, and as of its hands rubbing and striking together. Well it might, poor wretch-for I protest the room was nearly as cold as the open air; for, besides the want of fire, the bleak wind blew in chilling gusts through the broken panes of the window. "Why, how many of you are there in this place, my good woman?" said I. "Och, murther! murther! murther! an' isn't there-barring Sal, that's gone for the candle, and Bobby, that's out begging, and Tim, that the ould divels at Newgate have sent away to Bottomless * yesterday," she continued, bursting into tears; "Och, an' won't that same be the death o' me, and the poor father o' the boy-an' it wasn't sich a sintence he deserved-but hush! hush!" she continued, lowering her tones, "an' it's waking the father o' him, I'll be, that doesn't" "I understand your husband is ill?" said I. "Fait, sir-as ill as the 'smatticks [asthmatics] can make him-the Lord pity him! But he's had a blessed hour's sleep, the poor fellow! though the little brat he has in his arms has been making a noise-a little divel that it is-it's the youngest, barring this one I'm suckling-an' it's not a fortnight it is sin' it first looked on its mother!" she continued, sobbing, and kissing her baby's hand; "och, och! that the little cratur had niver been born!" I heard footsteps slowly approaching the room; and presently a few rays of light flickered through the chinks and fissures of the door, which was in a moment or two pushed open, and "Sal" made her appearance, shading the lighted candle in her hand, and holding a quartern loaf under her arm. She had brought but a wretched rushlight, which she hastily stuck into the neck of the bottle, and placed it on a shelf over the fireplace; and then-what a scene was visible! The room was a garret, and the sloping ceiling-if such it might be called-made it next to impossible to move anywhere in an upright position. The mockery of a window had not one entire pane of glass in it; but some of the holes were stopped with straw, rags, and brown paper, while one or two were not stopped at all! There was not an article of furniture in the place; no, not a bed, chair, or table of any kind; the last remains of it had been seized for arrears of rent-eighteenpence a-week-by the horrid harpy, their landlady, who lived on the groundfloor! The floor was littered with dirty straw, such as swine might scorn-but which formed the only couch of this devoted family! The rushlight eclipsed the dying glow of the few embers, so that there was not even the appearance of a fire! And this in a garret facing the north -on one of the bitterest and bleakest nights I ever knew! My heart sunk within me at witnessing such frightful misery and destitution, and contrasted it, for an instant, with the aristocratical splendour, the exqui site luxuries, of my last patient! Lazarus and Dives!-The woman with whom I had been conversing, was a mere bundle of filthy ragsa squalid, shivering, starved creature, holding to her breast a halfnaked infant,-her matted hair hanging long and loosely down her back, and over her shoulders; her daughter" Sal" was in like plight-a sullen, ill-favoured slut of about eighteen, who seemed ashamed of being • Botany Bay, |