s matter, that I
might not affront the blood of Caractacus, by a refusal which might
have intimated a diffidence of his physical capacity, for he acted as
my physician; Doctor Mackshane never once inquiring about me, or even
knowing where I was. When my distemper was at the height, Morgan thought
my case desperate, and, after having applied a blister to the nape of my
neck, squeezed my hand, bidding me, with a woful countenance, recommend
myself to Cot and my Reteemer; then, taking his leave, desired the
chaplain to come and administer some spiritual consolation to me;
but, before he arrived, I made shift to rid myself of the troublesome
application the Welshman had bestowed on my back. The person, having
felt my pulse, inquired into the nature of my complaints, hemmed a
little, and began thus: "Mr. Random, God out of his infinite mercy has
been pleased to visit you with a dreadful distemper, the issue of which
no man knows. You may be permitted to recover and live many days on the
face of the earth; and, which is more probable, you may be taken
away, and cut off in the flower of your youth. It is incumbent on you,
therefore, to prepare for the great change, by repenting sincerely of
your sins; of this there cannot be a greater sign, than an ingenuous
confession, which I conjure you to make without hesitation or mental
reservation; and, when I am convinced of your sincerity, I will then
give you such comfort as the situation of your soul will admit of.
Without doubt, you have been guilty of numberless transgressions
to which youth is subject, as swearing, drunkenness, whoredom, and
adultery: tell me therefore, without reserve, the particulars of each,
especially of the last, that I may be acquainted with the true state of
your conscience; for no physician will prescribe for his patient until
he knows the circumstances of his disease."

As I was not under any apprehensions of death, I could not help smiling
at the chaplain's inquisitive remonstrance, which I told him savoured
more of the Roman than of the Protestant church, in recommending
auricular confession; a thing, in my opinion, not at all necessary
to salvation, and which, for that reason, I declined. This reply
disconcerted him a little; however, he explained away his meaning, in
making learned distinctions between what was absolutely necessary
and what was only convenient; then proceeded to ask what religion I
professed. I answered, that I had not as yet conside