THE APOTHECARY'S PRAYER!!

O mighty ESCULAPIUS! hear a poor little man overwhelm'd with misfortunes, grant I be-
feech thee to fend a few fmart Fevers and fome obſtinate Catarrhs amongst us, or thy humble
fupplicant muſt ſhut up ſhop—and if it ſhould pleaſe thee to throw in a few Cramps and
Agues it would greatly help thy miferable ſervant, for on the word of an Apothecary I
have ſcarcely heard the muſic of Mortar theſe two months.

Take notice alſo, I beſeech thee, of the mournful ſituation of my neighbour, CRAPE the
Undertaker, who ſuffers confiderably by my want of practice, and loſes many a job of my
cutting out; enable him to bear his misfortunes with philofophy, and to look forward with
new hope for the tolling of the bell.

Phyſic thofe, I beſeech thee, that will not encourage our proſeſſion, and Blifter their evil
intentions, viz. ſuch as their curſed new-invented waterprooſ; and may all the coats be eaten
by the rats that are ſo made: But pour down the Balm of Gilead on the Overfeers of the
village, and all the Friends of Galen.

May it pleaſe thee to look over my book of bad debts with an eye of compaſſion, and
increaſe my neighbours' infirmities; give additional twingeſ to the Reſtor's Gout, and our
worthy Curate's Rheumatifm; but above all, I beſeech thee to take under thy eſpecial care
the Lady of 'Squire HANDY, for ſhould the child prove an heir, and thy humble ſervant
ſo fortunate as to bring the young gentleman handſomely into the world, it may be the
means of raſing me to the higheſt pinnacle of fortune.

SPRAGG, PRINTER, 27, BOW-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.