io8 DR. LETTSOM CHAP. 



He was indeed extremely generous with his money, 

 jingling it in his pocket, giving to those who asked him, 

 and subscribing to every philanthropic obj ect . A Camber- 

 well tradesman solicits the loan of twenty pounds for a 

 short time. " A short time ! " quoth the doctor, " I 

 might as well give it thee ; go, make good use of it." 

 An old merchant in the American trade had fallen into 

 trouble. Lettsom visited him, sick, in his Essex home, 

 amongst the familiar trees which he had planted, now to 

 be given up to others. The kind doctor left a cheque 

 for his needs, and purchasing the freehold of his house, 

 presented it to him for life. 1 



Late one night Lettsom's carriage was stopped by a 

 highwayman, who put a pistol to his breast and demanded 

 his money, which the doctor gave. The man's genteel 

 appearance and agitated manner showed, however, that 

 he was no common thief. Lettsom reasoned with him, 

 and gave him a card with his address, asking him to call 

 upon him. Two weeks afterwards he came and told his 

 troubles, and how he had lately been driven to such 

 desperate ways, and that this was only his second attempt. 

 Lettsom left no stone unturned until he had reclaimed 

 him ; eventually he became an officer in the army, where 

 he did honourable service. Pratt relates also a journey 

 Lettsom made into Wales to see a once wealthy merchant, 

 at the suggestion of John Howard, who had met the sick 

 man's amiable daughter at an inn. Lettsom left with his 

 patient a small closed box, containing a prescription which 

 would, he said, do him much good ; it contained cheques 

 from the doctor and his generous friend. 2 



His friend, Sir J. Martin, replied to the lampoon : 



" Such swarms of patients do to me apply, 

 Did I not practise, some would surely die. 

 'Tis true, I purge some, bleed some, sweat some, 

 Admit I expedite a few, still many call. I. Lettsom." 



For other rhymes, see Dr. F. Parkes Weber, Aspects of Death and Life, etc., 

 3rd ed. 310; Lancet, 1918, i. 126. 



1 W. Armistead, Select Miscellanies, 1851, iii. 208. 



1 Pratt, Gleanings, 7th ed. 1802, i. 182. Lettsom was very kind to Captain 

 J. Carver, explorer of the Indian Territories, and to his family. See Fothergill. 

 Works, iii. p. Ixxx note ; Carver, Travels through the Interior Parts of North 

 America, 3rd ed. 1781. 



