nary heat upon the Duke's skin in the morning, he
proposed ordering a small quantity of blood to be taken from
him at two o'clock, but upon returning at that hour he found
him so very cool and easy that he judged it unnecessary.
When a French physician judges bleeding unnecessary, you may
be sure that the fever is not very violent. The Duke has
never had the smallest headache nor any pain in any part of
his body; he has good spirits; his head and his eye are
both clear; he has no extraordinary redness in his face; his
tongue is not more foul than in a common cold. There is some
little quickness in his pulse, but it is soft, full, and
regular. In short, there is no one bad symptom about him,
only he has a fever and keeps his bed.... De la Saone
imagines the whole illness owing to the indigestion of
Thursday night. Some part of the undigested matter having
got into his blood, the violent commotion which this had
occasioned had burst, he supposes, some small vessel in his
veins.... Depend upon hearing from me by every post till his
perfect recovery; if any threatening symptom should appear I
shall immediately despatch an express to you; so keep your
mind as easy as possible. There is not the least probability
that any such symptom ever will appear. I never stirr from
his room from eight in the morning till ten at night, and
watch for the smallest change that happens to him. I should
sit by him all night too if the ridiculous, impertinent
jealousy of Cook, who thinks my assiduity an encroachment
upon his duty, would not be so much alarmed, as it gave some
disturbance even to his master in his present illness.

The King has inquired almost every day at his levee of my
Lord George and of Mr. De la Saone concerning the Duke's
illness. The Duke and Dutchess of Fitzjames, the Chevalier
de Clermont, the Comte de Guerchy, etc. etc., together with
the whole English nation here and at Paris, have expressed
the greatest anxiety for his recovery. Remember me in the
most respectful manner to Lady Dalkeith, and believe me to
be with the greatest regard, dear sir, your most obliged and
most humble servant,

ADAM SMITH.

COMPIEGNE, _26th August 1766_.

Wednesday, 5 o'clock afternoon.[184]

Could there be a more pleasing exhibition of the t