Star.
London, England, 1826-08-29 00:00:00

A CIVIL DOCTOR!

Mrs. Sarah Booth, a respectable elderly Lady, ap-
peared to a summons issued on the complaint of a Mr.
Bleek,surgeon, cupper, and accoucheur, residing some-
where in or about Hart-street, Bloomsbury, who de-
manded for advice and medicine the sum of 41.175. 6d.

Mrs. Booth denied all knowledge of the debt, and at
the same time produced a receipt of the plaintiff's for
31. 14s. which was the last charge he could have made
for his professional services as far as she was concerned.
Mr. Bleek said, be had not summoned the Lady, who
thought proper to appear, but one much younger, and
much prettier; he meant Miss Sarah Booth (familiarly
called " Sally,") the celebrated actress of all work:
however, if Mrs. Booth thought proper to take her
daughter's character, the business might proceed.
Mrs. Booth said, that she came there, presuming that
the summons was intended for herself, her name being
Sarah as well of that of her daughter. Miss Booth was
at present in the canary, and would not return to Lon-
don for a good while, but assuredly she would not have
permitted a debt of this description to remain unpaid, if
it was fairly due: the fact was that the Gentleman,
though eery intimate with the family, had never at-
tended Miss Booth professionally.
Mr. Bleek—Good Gen! you won't say so?
Mrs. Booth—Yes, Sit, buc I do say so, and will maintain what
I say.
Mr. Beek—Here's a return for all my friendship and eivilityl
The Compassion's—Allow me to ask you, Mrs. Booth, did this
Gentleman ever attend Miss Booth during any illness?
Mrs. Booth—Never professionally; nor indeed hit
she required his services ; but, Sir, if you give me leave,
I shall explain the civility to which this Gentleman al-
ludes. He has been a constant visitor at our house,
always finding himself a seat at the breakfast, dinner,
and supper table; in short, he made himself quite " at
home," and, in return, he was always endeavouring to
dose the whole family. One day, in particular, 1 re-
member, when we were at dinner, my daughter laid
her hand on her bosom, so ; and Mr. B. with his usual
Vigilance to get hold of a patient, jumped up from the
table, and with the most eager solicitude entreated her
to tell him what was the matter? Miss Baoth replied,
" Oh, nothing—only a slight pain, the effect of cold, I
fancy." The Doctor looked grave, felt her pulse, and
dropped some serious hints, such as, " Not so slight—
neglected cold; pain in the breast—may turn to cancer;
poor thing—something must be done in time :" and
away he went to his laboratory, where he ordered a
lotion to be made up for his patient, and returned to dis-
cuss another bottle of witre with her father, 11l the same
way, he had called in at different times subsequently,
and sent some bottles, ,tone of which Miss Booth ever
had occasion to use, but for which it now seemed that
he was disposed to charge her. This was the whole
truth of the matter.
Mr. Bleek would admit that he was on terms of in-
timacy with Miss Booth's family, but declared that he
considered himself as attending professionally, and of
course expected to be paid for his services. But there
was something more, which Mrs. Booth had not thought
proper to explain, but which might account for the non-
payment of his bill. The fact was, that a brother of
Miss Booth's had taken the liberty to fall deeply in love
with his (Mr. Bleek's) sister, and made a formal offer
for her hind ; however, as he knew that the young man
had no means to support a wife, exec. t what he derived
from a rather subordinate situation in Somerset House,

he {Mr. B ) had refused to give his consent to the match.
The Cconammitaa--Was it then that you sent in your bill to
Miss Booth?
Mr. Sleek—Soon afterwards.
The Comsisisousa—And but for that misunderstanding, that
charge never would have bees made. The Rummies is dismissed.
Mr. Bleck—The decision is a most shameful ono; but I will
take it to a higher. Court.

The Lancastrian Schools are increasing every year
In Denmark.
Hop-picking will be general in the course of the
present week, end so great Is the crop that several planters In Kent
offer their whole growth at 51. per cwt.
A woman may be industrious and economical; she
may possess a well-cultivated mind--but destithre of neatness and
taste, she depresses rather than elevates the character of her sex.
Some doubts • have been expressed whether the Rus-
sian squadron, lately seen off the Scottish coast, is really
destined for the Mediterranean, as it is now given out'
that Leith Roads is to be the place of rendezvous, the'
frigates in the river which brought the specie having',
been ordered to repair thither. Admiral CROWN, the
Commander of this squadron, is a native of Scotland.
Yesterday morning, two of the Gravesend coaches
arrived at the Bank, with a part of the gold which has
been brought to England in the Russian frigates. Some
of the Russian Officers accompanied it to London, and
drove to the Bullion Other. The amount of the gold
in value, is from 430,0001. to 460,0001. It is in large
bars, and is, we understand, the produce of the mines
in Russia, which bale of late been worked with so
much success.
•