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I received the pleasure of your last
kind & Friendly letter - together with your very
ingenious advice and minute directions to me
which I have & mean to attend to as much as I can
and for which I return you a thousand thanks
but as you have been pleased to take so much
trouble & pains with me I think proper to give
you some accounts of myself since last I wrote
I had bathed at home 4 times a week – at the temper
of from /90/ to /92/ - the time from half an hour to One
hour & half – this last not above 2 or three times in
general one hour & Quarter – this I continued from
the 13th. September to the 27th. November the day I left home without
me perceiving any inconvenience from it – some
times I did feel myself a little weak after coming
out – but not always. I did think myself better in
the whole – and really thought gained a little flesh
on my bones – but could not walk better – I mean when
I walked I still was attacked – with the tightness &
oppression – at my stomach which occasioned my
difficult of breathing – and the least hasty motion
affected me much – but I rode a little on horseback –
I went to London – on my way to this place – was

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five days there – Bathed once – either in going to my
Lodgings after it – or my taking Rhubarb which
occasioned me getting up in the Night two or three
times in the night – I catched a great cold – in my
throat & Cough – however I went on my journey – three
nights on the road / eat & drank very little - I had
taken a little Rhubarb every day at dinner without
any effect from the Sunday - to Friday I arrived
at Bath – a little fatigued – before dinner that day
I took a little more Rhubarb than usual – thinking
it absolutely necessary to have passage – I had spoke
a good deal – and perhaps exerted myself too much
(speaking always hurts me much) – about 9 oClock
in the Evening found myself inclined to go to stool
I went upstairs – in going I was seized with that
great tightness & oppression at my stomach with
the difficulty of breathing near to suffocation
and after having a very plentifull stool – was
worse in my breathing which surprised and
alarmed me as I thought I wanted nothing else
to make me better - I continued very distressed – put
to bed – after bathing my feet in Warm Water – I
sent for an Apothecary of my acquaintance who sees
me here – I was very weak – and the breathing
very severe - I was so till two oClock when I
fell asleep from really exaustion (↑exhausted↑) after taking
a little paragoric Elixir – I got up in the morning very
weak - & relaxed with the oppression at my Stomach &

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difficulty in breathing – however I went into a Bath
about 2 oClock –– I did not find myself worse by it
I drank a small glass of Bath Water – I took on Sunday
Evening a dose of the Castor Oil – & on Monday Morning had a
motion from it – went that day again into the Bath
private Bath /the temper /92/ staid near an hour
came home – dined – and in the Evening found myself
very ill – weak – exhausted, relaxed – and the oppression
at my stomach – with short breathing – &c I sent for
my acquaintance my Apothecary /Mr. Anderdon/ he could
do little for me in my then state – however after being
quiet I slept tolerably well. I have not bathed since –
nor mean to do till I hear from you – from my own
opinion it might have been the Bath which affec¬
ted me – and as I still continue exceedingly weak
feeble – and relaxed – more I think than ever I was
with unhappy feeling at my stomach - and the
least motion affecting me – even to suffocation
I cant move up one step of stair - without feeling
and ever touching the outside of my stomach
affects me with uneasiness – my Bowels in the
same state – I was very ill last night again – &
had a severe fit of Coughing in the Evening – but I believe
nervous – as I am much better in my cold – the only
symptom of it remaining is Phlegm & a little cough
in the morning – I continue to drink one small

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glass of the Waters – in the morning in bed & at one
oClock – and shall do so till I hear from you
whether to give up the Bathing & it entirely
and leave Bath or not – as indeed – I am much dis¬
tressed I have got a house in one of the most es¬
teemed parts of the Town for free good & open
air /Queens Parade/ – the Cold hitherto /but we have
had little/ does affect me – I feel the good effects of
flannel next my skin my oppression at my
stomach - with the difficulty of breathing – with
my being like to be demolished at the smallest
motion alarms me – I dont desire you to take the
trouble to say a great deal to me – but of these last
affections – whether I should leave Bath or con¬
tinue drinking the Waters or not without bathing
I find the air of Bath considerably warmer than
my own house at home in the Country – indeed very
great the difference – our bed Room particularly
both without fires – 10 – degrees difference – our other
Rooms not so great, but considerable – in speaking of
warmth – a friend of mine who had been most of last
season at Weymouth in Dorsetshire – was advising
me these - for comfortable – heat – & warm – if other places
should fail – I have thought of it – in the summer season
for sea bathing if you approve – I shall remain here
till I hear from ↑you↑ – feeble as I am – I never used Bougies
in my life – that difficulty still remains with me – I beg
pardon for all this but hope forgiveness –

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✍
Col: Clarke
December 1783
V. XV p. 356.