certainly be a dead man in ten days." And the event, we are told, did not falsify the prediction; for the old usurer returned to his house, quite confounded with the sentence that had been passed upon him, and died in eight days after..

In 1712, the young duke of Beaufort, who was an intimate friend and companion of Dr. Radcliffe, was taken ill of the smallpox at his house in London. The doctor being sent for, found his chamber window-shutters closed in such a manner, by the order of the dutchess his grandmother, that hardly `a breath of air could come into the room, so that the duke was almost deprived of the means of respiration. This had been the praetice of the physicians when the dutchess was young, and therefore she was resolved to abide by this method, as the most proper in this conjuncture, being fearful that her grandson might otherwise catch cold, by which means they might lose a life that was so dear to her. She had taken a resolution to give her attendance upon the duke in person, during his sickness, and was in the most violent consternation and passion imaginable, when Dr. Radcliffe, at his first visit, ordered the curtains of the bed to be drawn open, and the light to be let in as usual into his bedchamber. "How! (said the dutchess) have you a mind to kill my grandson? Is this the tenderness and affection you have always expressed for his person? It is most certain, his grandfather and I were used after another manner, nor shall, he be treated otherwise than we were, since we recovered and lived to a great age, without any dangerous experiments." “ All this may be (replied Radcliffe), but I must be free with your grace, and tell you, that unless you will give me your word, that you will instantly go home to Chelsea, and leave the duke wholly to my care, 1 shall not stir one foot for him which if you will do, without intermeddling with your unnecessary advice, my life for his that he never miscarries, but will be at liberty to pay you a visit in a month's time.

At last, with much difficulty, the dutchess was persuaded to acquiesce; and had the satisfaction to see her grandson in the time limited at Chelsea, and restored to perfect health. In consequence of which, she had such an implicit faith in Radcliffe's skill afterwards, that though she was then in the 85th year of her age,

she declared, "it was her opinion, she would never die while he lived, it being in his power to give length to her days, by his never-failing medicines."

About this time, the renowned prince Eugene came over into England; and it happened in a short time after his arrival, that the Chevalier de Soissons, his highness's nephew, in a nightly encounter with 'the watch, was so bruised, that he was thrown into a violent fever, which was falsely said to terminate in the smallpox, to cover the reproach of such an unprincely disaster. Hereupon Dr. Radcliffe, being called upon for his advice, very frankly told the prince," that he was extremely concerned he could be of no service to him, in the recovery of a person so dear and nearly related to him, as the chevalier, since the Sieur Swartenburgh, his highness's physician, had put it out of his power, by mistak ing the nature of the distemper; but that he should hold it among the greatest honors he had ever received, if he might have the ho nor of entertaining so great a general, to whose noble atchievements the world was indebted, at his poor habitation." The che valier died soon after, and was interred in Westminster-abbey. But prince Eugene, afterwards remembering Dr. Radcliffe's invitation sent him word, that he intended to come and dine with him on a certain day. The doctor made provision accordingly, but instead of ragouts and other fashionable dishes, ordered his table to be covered with solid dishes of beef, pork, and mutton, dressed after the English manner for the first course, at which several of the nobility who were present, and were little accustomed to whole joints of butchers meat, made light of the doctors entertainment. But the prince, upon taking leave of him said in French, "Doctor, I have been fed at other tables like a courtier, but received at yours as a soldier; for which I am highly indebted to you, since I must tell you, that I am more ambitious of being called by the latter appellation than the former. Nor can I wonder at the bravery of the British nation, that have such food and liquors (alluding to some very fine ale) of their own growth, as what you have this day given us a proof of."

In 1713, Dr. Radcliffe was elected member of parliament for the town of Buckingham; and when the malt tax bill was brought in, whereby the scots were to be assessed in proportion to that

part of Great Britain called England, the doctor made the follow ing short speech in the house of commons in favour of the bill;

"Mr. Speaker,

"I am sensible, that though I am an old man, I am but a young member, and therefore should decline speaking till my bet.. ters have delivered their sentiments; but young and old are oblig. ed to shew their duty to their country, which I look upon with the eyes of a son to his parent. Croesus's son, that was tonguetied, spoke when his father was in danger; and I, who otherwise should have no relish for speech-making, do the same upon much the same motive. The North British member that spoke last says, their nation has had hardships enough put upon them in other matters, relating to the Union, not to have an addition made to them in this article of the malt-tax. But by that worthy gentleman's leave 1 must beg leave to say, that all the hardships, if any, lay on the side of England. For as I take it, to give on the one part, and to receive on the other, are two different cases; therefore, it is but fitting they should refund the equivalent we, who are such great gainers by it, made them a present of, or acquiesce in this duty upon malt, which will not come to the 20th part of it. Since it is very reasonable that we who have given them money to come and incorporate with us, ought to have it returned us again, if they refuse to be upon equal terms with us. This is my sense of the matter; therefore I am for reading the bill a second time." The doctor also made a speech in favour of the bill to prevent the growth of schism.

On the first of August 1714, queen Anne died; and a report was soon after propogated, that not only the privy-council, but the queen herself, had given orders for Dr. Radcliffe to be present at a consultation with the other physicians, and that he excused himself from coming, under pretence of an indisposition, The rumour caused a considerable part of the nation to be much incensed against Radcliffe but the truth is said to be, that his name was never so much as mentioned, either by the queen or any one lord of the council; and that he was only sent to by the lady Masham, two hours before her majesty's death, without their knowledge, after the doctor had received the particulars of her case from Dr. Mead.

1

Radcliffe was then down at his seat at Casehalton, or Carshalton,, much afflicted with the gout, which had seized his head and sto mach, and made him utterly unfit to travel. However, he sent word by the messenger, "that his duty to her majesty would oblige him to attend her, had he proper orders for so doing; but be judged as matters at that juncture stood between him and the queen, who had taken an antipathy against him, that his presence would be of more disservice to her majesty than use; and that since her majesty's case was desperate, and her distemper incurable, he could not at all think it proper to give her any disturbance in her last moments, which were so very near at hand; but rather an act of duty and compassion, to let her majesty die as easily as was possible."

Many persons however, continued to be much exasperated against Radcliffe, for his supposed neglect of the late queen; so that one of his old friends, and with whom he had always voted on the tory side, made a motion in the house of commons, that Dr. Rad cliffe might be summoned to attend in his place, in order to be censured for not waiting upon the queen in her last extremities. This is referred to in the following letter which the doctor wrote to another of his friends;

Casehalton, August, 1714.

me.

"Dear Sir,

*I could not have thought so old an acquaintance, and so good a friend as sir John always professed himself, would have made such a motion against God knows my will to do her majesty any service has ever got the start of my ability; and I have nothing that gives me greater anxiety and trouble, than the death of that great and glorious princess. I must do that justice to the physicians that attended her in her illness, from a sight of the method that was taken for her preservation, transmitted me by Dr. Mead, as to declare nothing was omitted for her preservation; but the people about her (the plagues of Fgypt fall on them) put it out of the power of physic to be of any benefit to her. I know the nature of attending crown. ed heads in their last moments, too well, to be fond of waiting upon them, without being sent for by a proper authority. You have heard of pardons being signed for physicians before a sovereign's demise. However, as ill as I was, I would have went to the queen in a horse-litter, had either her majesty, or those in commission next to her, commanded me so to do. You

may tell sir John as much, and assure him from me, that his zeal for her majesty will not excuse his ill usage of a friend, who has drank many a hundred bottles with him, and cannot, even after this breach of a good understanding, that ever was preserved between us, but have a very good esteem for him. I must also desire you to thank Tom Chapman for his speech in my behalf, since I hear it is the first he ever made, which is taken the more kindly; and to acquaint him that I shall be glad to see him at Casehalton, since I fear (for so the gout tells me) that we shall never sit any more in the house of commons together.

"I am, Dear Sir,

"Yours, with the greatest friendship and observance,

JOHN RADCLIFFE."

The indignation of many against the doctor, especially of the more violent tories, who professed a great reverence for the memory

of

queen Anne, was at length carried to such a height, that he was not without strong apprehensions of being assassinated. This appears from the following letter, which he wrote to Dr. Mead, and which was directed to that physician, at Child's coffee-house, in St. Paul's church-yard:

"Dear Sir,

Casehalton, August 3, 1714,

" I give you and your brother many thanks for the favor you intend me

to-morrow; and if there is any other friend that will be agreeable to you, he shall meet with an hearty welcome from me: dinner shall be on the table by two, when you shall be sure to find me ready to wait on you. Nor shall I be at any other time from home, because I have received several letters that threaten me with being pulled in pieces, if ever I come to Lon don. After such menaces as these, it is easy to imagine, that the conversation of two such very good friends, is not only extremely desirable, but the enjoyment of it will be a great happiness and satisfaction to him, who is,

"Dear Sir,

"Your most obliged humble servant,

JOHN RADCLIFFE."