6i MEMOIRS OP 



farily employed to regulate a piece of ma- 

 chinery contrived, but not well contrived, for 

 that purpofe. From this whimfical car- 

 riage the Doclor was feveral times thrown, 

 and the laft time he ufed it, had the mif- 

 fortune, from a fimilar accident, to break 

 the patella of his right knee, which caufed, 

 as it always muft caufe, an incurable weak- 

 riefs in the fradured part, and a lamenefs^ 

 not very difcernible indeed, when walking 

 on even ground. 



It is remarkable, that this uncommon 

 accident happened to three of the inha- 

 bitants of Lichfield in the courfe of one 

 year ; firft, to the author of thefe me- 

 moirs in the prime of her jouth ; next, to 

 Dr. Darwin ; and, laftly, to the late Mr. 

 Levett, a gentleman of wealth and confe- 

 quence in the town. No fuch misfortune 

 was previously remembered in that city, 

 nor has it once recurred through all the 

 years which have fmce elapfed. 



Dr. Darwin was happy in the talents, do- 

 cility, 



