( 4 ) 



I was exposed to contagion of any kind. Believing, however, that 

 my complaint was only a bad cold, I took some tea and retired to 

 bed, but passed a restless night. In the morning while at break- 

 fast, among the Spanish family with whom I lodged, my appear- 

 ance, and aversion to food, excited the apprehensions of the lady 

 of the house, a humane and (to use an expressive family-phrase) 

 a motherly woman, who assured me that I had the plague. Un- 

 willing to believe her, though continually growing worse, I increased 

 my dose of calomel and took tea very copiously. In the afternoon 

 of the day following I wrote to the worthy Mr. Duff, the consul- 

 general, requesting him to send Dr. Fife, an English physician, 

 who, on visiting me, confirmed what my hostess had said, adding 

 however that the symptoms were favourable. He prescribed no 

 medicines, but ordered me to take tamarinds and hot mint tea at 

 intervals in large quantities. After a third restless night, I found 

 my pulse was above 130, and the fourth day brought the crisis of 

 my disorder. At night I was suddenly seized with extreme sick- 

 ness, which lasted the longer, by reason of the great quantities of 

 liquid I had taken; a profuse perspiration ensued, and did not 

 abate until I was reduced from a robust habit of body to a state 

 of extreme meagreness and debility. I now recovered rapidly, 

 and in six days was enabled to visit my friends. Dr. Fife assured 

 me that the favourable turn of my illness was owing to the calomel 

 I had previously taken, and added, that if I had doubled the 

 dose on the first appearance of the symptoms, there would, pro- 

 bably, have been no occasion for his attendance. 



War being now formally declared, the port of Cadiz was 

 blockaded with greater rigour than ever, and I had many diflS- 

 culties to encounter in preparing to continue my voyage. The ill 

 onduct of my captain threw additional obstacles in my way, 

 and gave me doubts respecting his character and experience, vvhich 

 in the sequel proved but too well-founded. At length the cargo, 

 having passed the Custom-House conformably to the understood 



9 



