ein, he desired to know how much blood
I intended to take from him, and, when I answered, "not above twelve
ounces," started up with a look full of horror, and bade me be gone,
swearing I had a design upon his life. Vergette appeased him with
difficulty, and, opening a bureau, took out a pair of scales, in one of
which was placed a small cup; and putting them into my hand, told me,
the captain never lost above an ounce and three drams at one time.

While I prepared for this important evacuation, there came into the
cabin a young man gaily dressed, of a very delicate complexion with a
kind of languid smile on his face: which seemed to have been rendered
habitual by a long course of affectation. The captain no sooner
perceived him, than, rising hastily, he flew into his arms, crying,
"O, my dear Simper, I am excessively disordered! I have been betrayed,
frighted, murdered, by the negligence of my servants, who suffered a
beast, a mule, a bear, to surprise me, and stink me into convulsions
with the fumes of tobacco." Simper, who by this time, I found, was
obliged to act for the clearness of his complexion, assumed an air of
softness and sympathy, and lamented with many tender expressions of
sorrow, the sad accident that had thrown him into that condition; then,
feeling his patient's pulse on the outside of his glove, gave it as his
opinion, that his disorder was entirely nervous, and that some drops of
tincture of castor, and liquid laudanum, would be of more service to him
than bleeding, by bridling the inordinate sallies of his spirits, and
composing the fermentation of his bile. I was therefore sent to prepare
this prescription, which was administered in a glass of sack posset,
after the captain had been put to bed, and orders sent to the officers
on the quarter-deck, to let nobody walk on that side under which he lay.

While the captain enjoyed his repose the doctor watched over him, and
indeed became so necessary, that a cabin was made for him contiguous to
the state room where Whiffle slept, that he might be at hand in case of
accidents in the night. Next day, our commander being happily recovered,
gave orders that none of the lieutenants should appear upon deck without
a wig, sword, and ruffles; nor any midshipman, or other petty officer,
be seen with a check shirt or dirty linen. He also prohibited any person
whatever, except Simper and his own servants, from coming into the
great cabin without first sending in to