140 'OLD q' 



from the written and pictured deathbeds of sinners. 

 This many have been led to remark on most em- 

 phatically by the great fear one of his contemporaries, 

 Dr. Johnson — recognised as a good man — had of the 

 grim tyrant. 



The Earl of March and Ruglen, whatever may be 

 thought to the contrary, was always a valetudinarian ; 

 thus, in the letter under notice, he is found sympa- 

 thising with a common friend, 'poor James,' who 

 was confined to his room with an inflammation of 

 the gums. This gives Lord March an opportunity 

 of telling his friend George Selwyn that he was 

 suffering from a like complaint, and was likely to 

 lose his fore-teeth. To prevent this he had given 

 ' March fifty guineas to cure him, which he behoves 

 he will do, as he considers this a very serious thing.' 

 But this was only what might be expected from one 

 endowed with so great a share of that uncommon 

 commodity — common-sense. Many might do worse 

 than emulate his lordship by obtaining the best 

 advice when their fore-teeth ache, instead of seeking 

 it when the whole jaws are affected ; in other words, 

 he took things in time, and, if his finger ached, did 

 not wait till his arm shared the same pain before 

 seeking surgical or medical skill, and that the best 

 money could procure. Indeed, Lord March's career 



