CATHOLIC PRIEST. 191 



my friend P6pe being very liberal in his 

 religious ideas : I took the opportunity to 

 escape, and order the horses to be saddled. 

 On my return, the Doctor said, I believe 

 you English are better medicos than Chris- 

 tians, — therefore, although you will shut 

 your eyes to the truth, and not be convert- 

 ed, yet I w^ill allow you to be a clever man, 

 if you will cure me of the rheumatism in my 

 knee." I accordingly turned doctor, put on 

 a long face, examined his knee, and found it 

 to be gout, a disease scarcely known in the 

 country. I immediately prescribed for him 

 warm flannels dipped in spirits, until he could 

 procure some fine oil-cloth, such as bathing- 

 dresses are made of, with which to cover 

 the limb, to create perspiration, and accele- 

 rate circulation. He promised to follow 

 my prescription ; but appeared much more 

 pleased and delighted with a bottle of fine 

 old Cogniac, which 1 presented to him. In 

 spite of the gout he took a glass, and said he 



