more. So that, by the end of May, my belly became again ripe for the trochar, and I was a third time tapped; upon which two very favourable fymptoms appeared. I had three quarts of water taken from me less than had been taken the last time; and I bore the relaxation with much less (indeed with scarce any) faintnefs.

THOSE of my phyfical friends, on whofe judgment I chiefly depended, feemed to think my only chance of life confifted in having the whole fummer before me; in which I might hope to gather fufficient ftrength to encounter the inclemencies of the enfuing winter. But this chance began daily to lessen. I faw the fummer mouldering away, or rather, indeed, the year paffing away without intending to bring on any fummer at all. In the whole month of May the fun scarce appeared three times. So that the early fruits came to the fulness of their growth, and to fome appearance of ripenefs, without acquiring any real maturity; having

wanted

wanted the heat of the fun to foften and meliorate their juices. I faw the dropfy gaining rather than lofing ground; the diftance growing ftill fhorter between the tappings. I faw the asthma likewife beginning again to become more troublefome. I faw the midfummer quarter drawing towards a clofe. So that I conceived, if the Michaelmas quarter fhould steal off in the fame manner, as it was, in my opinion, very much to be apprehended it would, I fhould be delivered up to the attacks of winter, before I recruited my forces, fo as to be any wife able to withstand them.

I Now began to recal an intention, which from the firft dawnings of my recovery I had conceiv'd, of removing to a warmer climate; and finding this to be approv'd of by a very eminent phyfician, I refolved to put it in o im

mediate execution.

Aix in Provence was the place first thought on; but the difficulties of getting thither were infuperable. The journey

of

journey by land, befide the expence it, was infinitely too long and fatiguing; and I could hear of no fhip that was likely to fet out from London, within any reasonable time for Marfeilles, or any other port in that in that part of

the Mediterranean.

LISBON was presently fixed on in its room. The air here, as it was near four degrees to the fouth of Aix, must be more mild and warm, and the winter shorter and lefs piercing.

IT was not difficult to find a ship bound to a place with which we carry on fo immense a trade. Accordingly, my brother foon informed me of the excellent accommodations for paffengers, which were to be found on board a fhip that was obliged to fail for Lisbon in three days.

I EAGERLY embraced the offer, notwithstanding the fhortnefs of the time; and having given my brother full power to contract for our paffage, I began to prepare my family for the voyage with the utmost expedition.

BUT

BUT our great hafte was needlefs; for the captain having twice put off his failing, I at length invited him to dinner with me at Fordhook, a full week after the time on which he had declared, and that with many affeverations, he muft, and would, weigh anchor.

He dined with me, according to his appointment; and when all matters were fettled between us, left me with positive orders to be on board the Wednesday following; when he declared he would fall down the river to Gravefend; and would not stay a moment for the greatest man in the world.

He advised me to go to Gravefend by land, and there wait the arrival of his fhip; affigning many reafons for this, every one of which was, as I well remember, among those that had before determined me to go on board near the Tower.