# Memoirs of the Twentieth Century/Moscow, March 8, 1997

To the Lord High-Treasurer, &c.
Moscow, March 8. 1997.
My LORD,
SINCE mine of the 29th of November and 17th of January, I have receiv'd but one short one from your Lordship of the 26th of February, in which you acknowledge the receipt of mine, and are so good as to desire the continuance of my correspondence, and to express some satisfaction in the accounts I have hitherto had the happiness to send you.
You are pleas'd also to desire the best information I can procure you, in relation to the Jesuits practising Physick here with surprizing success; which, you are told, has ​contributed to their interest in this Court, as much as any one method I took notice of to your Lordship, in relation to the prodigious growth of that Society in Muscovy.
As I have endeavour'd to prepare myself to obey your Lordship's commands on this head, I shall begin such accounts as I have been able to procure for you, with ingenuously confessing, that I quite overlook'd that particular; which was chiefly occasion'd by my considering them only as Ecclesiasticks, and omitting the disguises they wear here, and in all Courts, in every kind of profession that can give them interest and favour.
And indeed it must be allowed, that their great application to the study of this profession has been of infinite credit and service to them, by the prodigious success they have had in their practice at the Czar's Court, and throughout his Empire; and tho' this is ascrib'd, by common report, to the prayers of the Society, that bring a blessing down on all their prescriptions, yet I fancy I shall have no difficulty to persuade your Lordship, that 'tis owing to their employing some of the most learned and ingenious men of their whole body in the business of this profession. For as by the Athenian Law, all ​mean, illiterate people, and slaves particularly were forbid to practice Physick; which, if put in force now, would exclude numbers of base, servile, mercenary creatures, who follow that employment, and would force them to turn Horse-farriers and Rat-catchers; so these Fathers have taken care that none of their body should study this branch of learning, who were either of mean parts or griping spirits. By this means, what between vast reading and a generous neglect of fees, as well as close attendance on their patients, and several new methods they have establish'd, it is hardly credible how few that have recourse to their medicines, have fail'd of being recover'd, where old age, or a weakness of nature, or a long course of intemperance and debauchery, did not occasion it. I have as little faith in the common run of Physicians as most people, but I must own I have alter'd my thoughts on that article, since I have seen such effects of their skill; and I fancy were the ingenious Petrarch now living, he would not write in the title page of his Hippocrates's Aphorisms, as he did in his days that odd Axiom, Nulla certior via ad salutem quam medico ​caruisse, for the reverse of it is now become true.
There have of late years prodigius genius's in physick appear'd in Great-Britain, who, like new stars, have enlightned the darkness of the last age, and have plainly shewn, not to say demonstrated, the reasons of the several virtues and operations, by means of which their prescribed Medicines produce such vast changes in our bodies. Nay, Dr. Turner, in his Treatise de principiis rerum, has found out evidently the fountain and first principle of life and action in all animated and vegetable bodies, which formerly appear'd such an unfathomable mystery to our Ancestors, who were wandering about and groping in the dark after knowledge; or, at most, wishing in the dawn of its morning for that bright and glorious Day that has since broke out upon us.
The Jesuits have studied the works of these great men with no small application, and by improving their hints, and introducing several new methods and rules, have been of vast service to the publick; some of these I shall now lay before your Lord​ship, as I have observ'd them my self, or have been appriz'd of them by others.
And I shall begin with that excellent one of prohibiting all Apothecaries to practise on the severest penalties. For besides the want of skill in a profession they can never be supposed masters of, it is certain those Gentlemen used to bestow their attendance on the poor Russians, merely with a view to be well paid for their drugs, (that would otherwise have rotted on their shelves) just as Vintners give a sunday's dinner to their customers, provided they pay for the wine they drink. After all, my Lord, there is methinks as good ground for this Law, as for one we have in Great-Britain, that forbids Drovers to be Butchers, it being unreasonable that the same persons who provide the cattle we are to make use of, should also have liberty to kill.
Another method they introduc'd here, and which produc'd a great care in the physician of his patient's recovery, was, obliging the Doctor to refund half his fees in case of the death of the sick person. This ingratiated them much with the people, as it shew'd a generous neglect of gain in the college that establish'd the rule, and ​also spurr'd on all practitioners to do their utmost to serve their patients, or to pay a reasonable fine for their want of success.
In the next place, all that were licens'd to practise, were oblig'd to keep regular Diaries of every symptom in their patients from the least to the greatest, and to have the Friends and nurse-keepers that were about them write down all things observable in their absence, and to give copies (if demanded) of their prescriptions, in case the sick person died, to the censors of the college, where any ignorant or faulty conduct was fineable. By this means the hands of those dangerous animals, officious Physicians as well as ignorant ones, were severely tied up, and caution and judgment made necessary in prescribing.
But further, all were obliged to see their prescriptions made up themselves, and that right and good drugs were only used; by which means thousands of lives were sav'd, that us'd to be sacrific'd to the knavery of Apothecaries, who gave bad ones, or the ignorance of their apprentices, who often gave wrong ones; both which evils were thus effectually prevented.
​Another method they were oblig'd to observe, was, that each practitioner was sworn to report to the college and censors all such extraordinary cases as occurr'd in his practice, and his observations on them, and at least three each year; out of which a choice collection was made, and annually publish'd for the service of the publick, with proper notes and reflections: and this occasion'd great helps to the advancement of the Science in general, and the improvement of each member of the college in particular.
In the next place, the Czar, at their request, gave the college the lives and bodies of so many condemn'd Felons as they pleas'd, to try all such experiments on, which they judg'd useful to improve their Science. By this means many thousands of such experiments were made, to the vast emolument of the world, and at the same time the lives of as many thousand honest Russians sav'd, that us'd to be sacrific'd to the folly, the curiosity, or rashness of their Doctors, by substituting Malefactors to be purg'd, blooded, and vomited, and to run thro' all the ordeal fire of experiments, in their room.
​But again, the college having divided all diseases incident to the human body into four parts, each member was oblig'd, after ten years practice, to confine themselves entirely to the list of such diseases, as they judg'd themselves best qualified to succeed in the cure of, and all the rest of their lives to meddle with no other distempers, unless in case of necessity. By this means their studies and experience being thus entirely apply'd to a narrower province, they grew in time so absolutely masters of all that lay within their own district, that they frequently perform'd cures in the most desperate cases, and were able to exert the whole force of their art in that particular branch which they apply'd their studies and practice to. And certainly, my Lord, it is to this regulation of the Jesuit Physicians in Russia, as much as any thing I have observ'd, that we have found out since the 19th Century so many wonderful specificks for the Jaundice, Bloody-Flux, Small-Pox, Dropsy, Green-Sickness, and Cholick, which otherwise would never have been discover'd, or at least not so soon. With the same sagacity they have introduc'd the use of scales into their practice, and the weighing Urine with greater caution than ​Bankers do Gold; from whence in many cases what advantages have arisen, is known to all. Nor with less care and judgment have they brought Musick into use in particular disorders, which before their cultivating this Science, was never once thought of any service, even in melancholy or phrenetick disorders themselves.
But I must not pass by unmention'd another singular method they have ever used this last forty years here, and that is, curing several disorders by milk of goats and asses, which they have brought to prodigious perfection by several methods that are reserv'd to themselves. One of these I know by experience, is dieting the animal whose milk they prescribe with particular kinds of herbs, whose juices and qualities they judge most efficacious and conducive to the circumstances of the distemper. The service, (the miracles, I may say) they have done in this way is perfectly prodigious; and indeed as they first introduc'd the skilful use of the admirable Chinese Root Ginseng with such success in most cases, so they are observed as much as possible to deal in the simplest medicines, and frequently restore men to health with as much ease as Asclepiades did, who ​only used cold water and wine in his method of cure.
This single circumstance in the practice of Physick is surely of vast importance; and as one of the prayers in the wise Italian's Litany, is, Da Guazzabuglio di medici; so certainly that terrible hodge-podge of drugs, powders, and a thousand compounded recipes we are obliged to swallow for a little ease or health, is as hazardous and as unpleasant a circumstance as I know in all their method of prescribing. I remember to have read in a great physician's works, that what naturalists assert, that whoever draws the root of Moly, Cynospastus, or Mandrake, out of the earth, will die soon after, is a meer vulgar error; but I wish he could as easily convince us, that those who take their roots and drugs inwardly, are not often seiz'd with death for their pains. And indeed there is nothing I admire more in their conduct, than their banishing those heaps of drugs which used to enter into the prescriptions of most physicians, and which formerly many of them were obliged to keep up, propter metum Judæorum, tho' thereby they sacrific'd our lives to the dishonest gain of those vermin ​the Apothecaries, whom they were afraid to disoblige.
Their gentleness and caution to avoid violent courses, is much applauded also. Some physicians purge, bleed, blister and vomit with such haste and fury, that they may be said rather to murther the disease than to cure the man, who is left weak and spent may be for life; and, like a Country where the King gets the better by a bloody civil war, they save the man, by ruining the happy constitution he enjoyed before. This is what the Jesuits are remarkable for avoiding, unless where it is absolutely necessary indeed; which, as they manage matters, seldom happens.
There is another particular, which is entirely owing to them, and which has been very serviceable to these people, that I must not forget to take notice of. Your Lordship has often heard how epidemical pleurisies used to be here, and what numbers they swept away of the poor Russians every year, like the plague in Turky.
To remedy this, the Czar, at the instigation of the Jesuits, introduc'd the custom of using linseed-oil by the common people with all eatables, where olive or sallad-oil was for​merly used (on which last he laid great duties;) and by means of this medicinable kind of sustenance, they have so effectually removed this reigning kind of pestilence, as I may call it, that it is seldom known to make any ravage among them now. This was at once restoring the health of a nation, my Lord; there remain'd only to banish the gluttony and drunkenness of the Nobility and Knezzes, to have in a manner compleated the cure.
One would think, my Lord, I had reckon'd up enough of their performances, and yet I have one more to touch upon that is sufficiently remarkable, and that is, a pleasant Elixir which they have invented, a few drops of which, taken just going to bed, never fails to give easy rest, and, what is most extraordinary, pleasant dreams. You see, my Lord, their skill has contriv'd to reach to that half of our lives (which we give to sleep) that before lay entirely out of our power and theirs; and as they have invented a specifick, to make it not only easy but delightful to us, I think they almost deserve to have altars and monuments raised to them.
​But, my Lord, after what I have said to the advantage of these Gentlemen, I am sorry to add one reflection that overturns all their glory; and that is, tho' they have made the practice of Physick extremely laborious to themselves, and useful to others (beyond what it ever was known to be) by these methods and inventions; yet they have done it all with faulty views, to enslave those they pretend to serve, and establish the Empire of the Vatican, and all its superstitions and errors. Nay, my Lord, it is said, that they watch the sinking spirits and the dying hours of their patients, to screw from them, by their sollicitations and importunity, large legacies and considerable donations to their society; and, what is still more detestable, that they are as industrious and artful to dispatch their enemies out of the way, as they are to preserve the health and lives of their friends. It is certain, there have not wanted instances in this kind that have occasion'd such suspicions; yet they have entirely surmounted them, and beat down all opposition, by letting every one see it was in vain to contrive any remedy against their power; it being as useless an attempt (in Caligula's ​words) as Agrippina's Antidotum versus Cæsarem.
But it is time to quit this subject, to acquaint your Lordship with something more material, and that is, the apprehension every one is in here, that the war between this Crown and Sweden is like to be carried on by both sides, with greater animosity and resolution than ever, this approaching season. They work night and day at Petersburg in their preparations to have their fleet in the Baltick, before the Swedes can be able to leave their ports; and indeed, if the frost were once gone, and the Harbours open, I believe we should soon see the Muscovite squadron at sea. They carry on their levies for their land forces with all possible application, and have made large remittances to Poland and Germany, to remount their cavalry; and tho' I am inform'd by a sure hand, that the Swedes are doing their utmost not to be unprepared for them; yet I am very doubtful they will not prove so good a match for them this campaign as they did last. How far his Majesty's mediation between the contending powers may be proper, your Lordship and the King are the best Judges; but I am privately assured, it would be very ​useful to the Swede, and probably not unacceptable to this Court.
I know not, while the Princes of the Earth are contending for these little corners of it, whether it may entertain your Lordship, to give you a little history of an honest Gentleman here, one Rabbi Abraham Abrabanel, who has very fairly put in his claim to the whole of it.
He is a mad enthusiastical Jew, who followed merchandize, and broke; and after travelling over most part of Europe, settled here at Mosco, and was employ'd at last by the Czar, as his first herald, and got a good deal of money by drawing up genealogies for the Russian Knezzes and Noblemen, whose pride he flatter'd, by tracing up the source of their families further than history or truth could carry them. He had a very numerous family, and as the Jews here paid him great respect, as being a descendant from the famous Abrabanel of the tribe of Judah, and the house of David; his pride and some losses in his fortune turned his head, and made him take up one of the oddest fancies that ever madman thought of, that ​he is the direct descendant from Adam in a right line by Noah, and has a full title to his father's inheritance, the world. Tho' he behaved very oddly in his family and neighbourhood, yet no one ever disturbed him, till he went one day directly to the Czar's apartments, and making way for himself thro' all the crowd, humbly acquainted him with his pretensions, and desired him to set a good example to the princes of the world, by resigning his Empire to him.
The Czar was so good as to compassionate the poor creature's disorder, which he soon perceiv'd by his appearance and gestures, as well as his speech, and very gently desired him to give him some time to settle his private affairs, before he resigned his crown; and promised him to have all possible regard shewn in the mean while, both to his person and remonstrances: But as he happen'd to smile in speaking these words, Rabbi Abraham's passion was raised so high, that he called him a vile dissembling usurper, and ordered the guards to seize him. Your Lordship may easily imagine the consequence was, that they very basely neglected his commands, and convey'd him with less respect than became his station as Emperor ​of the World, to the pnblick Bedlam where they confine madmen.
This affair has occasion'd much mirth; and as the Czar has order'd great care to be taken of him, I had the curiosity to pay him a visit yesterday along with the Danish Envoy here, to see if we cou'd make any tolerable terms for our royal Masters. We found him in a neat, clean room, where his wife was sitting by him weeping bitterly; but he was in no manner of concern, but writing a great many letters which lay in heaps before him. As he offends no body, we began to discourse with him of his affairs, and desir'd to know calmly what his pretensions were; because we were confident if the Princes of the World could be convinc'd of the justice of them, they would rather come to an amicable treaty, than dispute it with him against Conscience and Reason, by arms. As he knew us both, and our characters, by seeing us often at Court, he seem'd mightily pleas'd; and pulling a prodigious long genealogy out of his papers, he bid us read them there, and we should find he was the lineal descendant in the right line from Adam, and consequently had an undoubted title to every acre on the globe.
​We look'd over his paper with great respect, and told him we should represent the affair and his pretensions at our several Courts; but would be glad to know, whether he was not inclinable to compromise matters, and accept some kind of tribute, by way of acknowledgment of his title, and allow the present possessors to hold their Crowns under him as Fiefs of his great Empire. By the Crown of David, said he, it is a very fair proposal; and tho' I have eight sons who could fill the Thrones of Europe, to say nothing of the rest of the Earth, better than they have been for these five Centuries past, if your masters and the rest of their brethren will pay me 1 s. per acre, rough and smooth, I shall give them no farther disturbance, nor trouble my head with writing to my subjects on this dispute. It is true, says he, finding the Czar trifling with me, and putting off matters from week to week, I was drawing up manifestoes to all my vassals, and discharging them from owning their pretended masters any longer; and I have order'd all the inhabitants of the Earth to pay no further rents, taxes or customs to them; and if I can once cut off those supplies of their power and pride, I shall soon ​humble them so far as to submit to me. The truth is, says he, taking me aside, and whispering me in the ear, I am under some perplexity what place to receive the money they bring me in; for having at present no one of my Territories in my possession, if they should pay it me here, this Usurper the Czar might be so dishonest and base, as to seize on it for his own use, and possibly might hang up some of my poor, faithful vassals for their loyalty to me.
I told him very freely as his friend, that his doubts were reasonable, and that he should first try to get into some one of his Kingdoms by the way of treaty, before he order'd any of his rents or subsidies to come into him, unless a few for his private occasions. He thank'd me very gratefully for my good advice, and told me he was resolv'd to follow it; and in the mean time, says he, I shall send four general manifestoes to the four quarters of the World, and circular letters to the several Princes and their subjects, acquainting them with my title, and commanding them to acknowledge it. After all, said he with tears in his eyes, God knows how far they may regard my remonstrances; but considering how few of them ​can pretend the least title under my great Ancestor; and besides that defect in their titles, how much worse they govern my poor people than I should, I think they might in conscience either submit to me, or at least pay me a few millions of Rubles by way of an annual tribute. Besides, as I should be willing to take half those taxes and rents from my subjects which they extort from them, it is certain the poor people would gladly revolt to me if they durst, and if I had a tolerable army to maintain my just title.
I told him he spake very reasonably; but it was so difficult an affair, either to conquer his antagonists by force, or convince them by reason, that he must necessarily manage with the greatest caution and prudence to compass his ends. Sir, says he, you know not the circumstances of mankind as well as I do, who both from interest and inclination have so long consider'd their hardships and oppressions, and their uneasiness under their Tyrants, whose titles to their Empire are only founded in blood and violence, and a few sorry Laws which their swords have cut out for their own purposes. My people are torn in pieces by new Religi​ons of a hundred different cuts and fashions, by unjust Laws and worse Judges, by Poisons they call Physick, and Murderers they call Doctors, by Plunderers they call Landlords, and publick Villains whom they call Tax-gatherers. They have departed from all the good customs of their Ancestors before the flood, and after it; and have so far deviated from the right of succession in the lineal descendants, that I can maintain there is not this day in the world a single family that has the least title to the estates they enjoy.
There is no Prince in Europe, whose Genealogy I cannot trace up to people that were no later than 2000 years ago; either Pedlars or Tinkers, Lieutenants, Lacqueys or Lawyers, or at most menial Servants to several of my relations. There is not a Nobleman, Knight or Gentleman on earth, who is a lineal descendant from his own forefathers: I have search'd into their Genealogies, and I find them in their different successions the sons of Coachmen and Footmen, Soldiers and Courtiers, Priests, Friars, Jesuits, and Valet de Chambres.
Besides all this, they have confounded right and wrong, vice and virtue; they take ​corruption for justice, hypocrisy for religion, falshood for truth, lust for love, brutal fury for courage, cheating and fraud for honest gain, prodigality for generosity, pride for greatness of spirit, ribaldry for wit, debauchery for pleasure, purchases for legal titles, cunning for wisdom, slavery for liberty, and irreligion and infidelity for strength of reason and zeal for truth.
Nay, they mistake the butchers of mankind for heroes, readers for scholars, bastards for heirs at law, soldiers for patriots, flatterers for friends, and honest advisers for open enemies; they look on atheists as moral men: and in short, their conduct in every view is so equally absurd and wicked, that I am no longer able to bear with them; and I see evidently I must take the government of them into my own hand, to be able to reform them as they ought to be. Neither in truth do I resolve on this from any interested views of power and profit to myself and children, but barely for the general good of mankind, being willing to sacrifice the unquestionable title I have to the Empire of the World, to their service, if I could otherwise contrive any way to work a proper reformation among them in this depraved state of things.
​I told him I very much approv'd his generous intentions to serve the publick, and be as instrumental as his high birth and station entitled him to be; but that I was apprehensive his setting up his title, how just soever, might occasion prodigious wars and commotions in the world, which must certainly be a great affliction to him. Dear Sir, says he, what you say would deserve my consideration, if I did not certainly know, that obliging men, even by force (if force must be us'd) to acknowledge my title, would still deliver them from much greater evils. For be assur'd, fays he, (in a very important whisper) all the famines, pestilences, commotions, desolations and wars that have afflicted the world these last 40 Centuries, have fallen upon men by the vengeance of a just Providence, enrag'd to see the succession and claim of my family laid aside and neglected by a wicked and degenerate race of villains and traitors. He accompanied this with a flood of tears; and turning to his wife, My dear, says he, if your Majesty will reach me those papers I have written, I think this will be an excellent opportunity for dispersing them through my subjects; and Gentlemen, says he, as ​you are the first of my vassals who have shewn a sense of your duty and inclinations to return to your allegiance, if you will send them to the several Princes they are directed to, and assist me to bring about the Revolution I have resolv'd on, I shall both consider your respective Masters, and (tho' I can't part with any of my dominions in Europe) I hereby promise them the best Territories in my Asian or African, or at worst in my American Continent. But by this time the farce grew too tedious; and therefore desiring a few weeks to consider of his demands, we thought fit to retire, and leave his Imperial Majesty to write his dispatches without the help of Secretaries or Counsellors. I am sorry I forgot to beg his Majesty to take care of his precious health, and to be on his guard against his mighty rivals for the Empire of the World the Jesuits, and the dangerous Monarchy of the Solipsi, who I fear are so jealous of all rivals in interest and power, they will be very apt, by fraud, or poison, or violence, to remove so dangerous a Competitor out of the way.
But I must make amends to your Lordship for this trivial amusement, by a present that is really worth your consideration and ​regard, which I send you by this bearer; and that is no less than sixty volumes in Folio of the late Czar's travels thro' Europe, who, as your Lordship knows, never stirr'd out of his own Empire. He was a Prince of great natural genius and abilities; but as he did not approve of his own or any great Princes travelling, he employ'd a number of the most able and understanding men he cou'd procure, to take that trouble for him, and travel thro' the whole tour of Europe, accompanied with excellent designers, who at all proper stations should graphically design the face of nature, and the situation of rivers, towns, palaces, castles, mountains and plains, in the very manner the eye survey'd them on the spot. Besides this, they were oblig'd to take draughts of all the finest gardens and improvements, the most famous performances in Architecture, Painting and Sculpture; and even the very habits, the very looks, shape and air of the people of every country they pass'd thro'. Nay, they were to design the very cattle, fishes, birds; and, in a word, every thing that could deserve their notice in their journeys: all which they were to accompany with the best notes, remarks and observations possible. But this ​is not the only treasure that has enrich'd these volumes; for here are all the rarities of the best cabinets in Europe for choice collections in all kinds, express'd to the life in admirable cuts, and explained by short judicious dissertations. In these, all the best statues, and their habits, medals, seals, intaglias and basso-relievos, inscriptions, vases, mausoleums, sacrificing instruments and vessels, sepulchral and other lamps, lachrymatory and sepulchral urns, idols, engines, and instruments of war; rings, symbols of cities and countries, instruments of musick, and the weights and measures of the ancients, are incomparably represented, as well as whatever relates to the temple and worship of their Gods; not omitting all the modern productions of art and nature in animals, plants, minerals, metals, and the manual improvements of the several Sciences. An immense profusion of all these, digested under their proper heads, are engrav'd on these copper plates in a beautiful and regular order, where we may at once form the clearest notions of all such things, without running the hazards of ill health, as well as the corruption of faith and manners, which travelling is generally accompanied with, and ​have at least all the benefits that one can borrow from the eye in performing the tour of Europe. The Czar has about 1000 Copies made of them, which are presented as the greatest favours to those they design to oblige; and as I owe this I have receiv'd to your Lordship's friendship, by whose means I am fix'd here, I thought it a piece of justice to restore them to the hand, by whose mediation I became possess'd of it from the Czar's bounty.
If it were not for the Patriarch's death, who died here last week, I should have no news of any consequence to communicate to your Lordship. Tho' he was brought over, in the latter part of his life, to all the Jesuits measures in modelling this Church to submit to the Pope, yet he would have been an excellent Bishop but for one fault, which I believe few men were ever guilty of before him. He was a learned, sensible, pious man, and with the greatest zeal to serve the cause of Religion and Virtue, he had an utter contempt for that epidemical evil in the Christian Church, the building up a fortune, and making a family. But as he ow'd his advancement to the Prince Dolhorouky, thro' a false notion of gratitude to the end of his ​life, he never ceas'd heaping preferments on every relation or friend, nay, on every dependant of that Prince, how worthless soever, (against all reason, nay, against his own) on the sole merit of their belonging to that family. This a little obscur'd the lustre of his virtues, and might teach us (but, alas! we do not want the caution) that we should not be too violently grateful; which is almost as dangerous as being too violently in love, and distracts and biasses the judgment as much. But we may forgive this excellent Person this weakness, which was compensated by so many great and shining virtues; and besides, there is so little danger of his example being infectious, that I fancy he is the first man in this age, who (in his character) fell a martyr to gratitude. He is to be buried with a great solemnity, which the Jesuits are to have the management of, as well as of providing him an humble, docible Successor, who, 'tis said, will certainly be the Bishop of Novogorod. One very unfit for such a charge, being an old, weak, injudicious creature, without will, or even speech or passions of his own, but as he is inspir'd and mov'd, like a puppet, by the hands of these jugglers behind the curtain; and so ​notoriously dull, that the Knez Petrowisky told him in a violent quarrel this winter, his head was so barren (he is very bald) that it would not even bear hair. Yet to these very defects, which ought to have prevented his promotion, it is that he owes his advancement: a thing, miserable and unfortunate as it is, that often happens in the world; these Jesuits being like those mungrel sort of curs, that would never find a master to own them, but for such poor blind wretches, who cherish and feed them, that they may lead and guide them in the ways of the world.
But I detain your Lordship too long with these trifles, and therefore will not increase their number by vain and useless professions of being on a thousand accounts, and by a thousand ties,
My LORD,
Your Lordship's, &c.
CLARE.