MT. 35.] BOPPART. 61 



beautiful ravine running through them. It is at the entrance to 

 one of these ravines that this house stands at a slight elevation 

 above one end of the town, and about a quarter-mile distant from 

 the river. This situation is one of the finest you can conceive 

 the establishment upon a scale of size, elegance, and complete- 

 ness such as could not well be surpassed (I am now speaking of 

 it as a water-cure establishment only). The house was formerly 

 a convent with 150 bedrooms. . . . We have commenced opera- 

 tions. We had our first meal here (supper), and a melancholy 

 piece of business it was, I can assure you, when the prospect of 

 its continuance for three or four weeks is considered. My im- 

 pression is that it is the worst part of the process. I had to 

 get through as well as I could one round of coarse black bread 

 and a soup-plate fall of sour milk and two tumblers of cold 

 water, and I can assure you that I think my performance did me 

 credit. The sour milk is really very nasty. Mr Scott was let 

 off easier, as he is not recommended sour milk, dry bread, and 

 water, but was allowed the luxury of " white bread and butter," 

 compote depommes, and new milk. Happy man ! I must tell you 

 how he puzzled the doctor to-day, shortly after our arrival. We 

 were speaking of the weather, which, the doctor informed us, has 

 been very wet for a few days past so much so that in two days 

 19 millimetres of rain had fallen. To this mode of receiving 

 the information Mr Scott immediately dissented, and suggested 

 that the doctor should solve the problem into legitimate inches 

 and tenths of inches. The doctor was floored. As for me, I 

 shall become as expert a reckoner as the country boy. . . . Give 

 my love to Civil, and kisses to all the dear children. Your affec- 

 tionate brother, Jos. PRESTWICH. 



Another Boppart letter, addressed to his mother, 

 gives a comical account of the process of tubbing and 

 packing in wet sheets. Again, later, he writes to his 

 sister, Mrs Russell Scott : 



MAEIENBERG, Sept. 18, 1847. 



MY DEAREST ISABELLA, Your very welcome letter of the 8th 

 inst. reached me yesterday. ... The effects of the cure appear tojbe 

 very variable. ... On me the effects appear to have reached their 



