xxxvi 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



the plaid having gone wrong on the shoulders, I 

 arose from the chair to rectify it, and the servant 

 supposing that I was about to retire, unluckily 

 withdrew the chair. Unaware of this act on his 

 part, I came backwards to the ground with an 

 awful shock, and this no doubt caused concussion 

 of the brain to a considerable amount. 



Symptoms of slowly approaching dissolution 

 now became visible. Having settled with my 

 solicitor all affairs betwixt myself and the world, 

 and with my Father confessor, betwixt myself and my 

 Maker ; nothing remained but to receive the final 

 catastrophe with christian resignation. My affec- 

 tionate sisters, ever on the watch, had telegraphed 

 Doctor Hobson,* of Leeds, their sole remaining 

 hope ; whilst my son had taken his departure for a 

 dear friend. The doctor, on his arrival exerted his 

 giant powers with wonderful precision, ordering the 

 immediate application of leeches and blisters to 

 the head. This masterly practice made death 

 surrender his devoted prey ; for although, after this, 

 I lay insensible, with hiccups and subsultus tendin- 

 um for fifteen long hours, — I at last opened my 



* Doctor Hobson found me with spasmodic twitchings, 

 and notwithstanding the previous loss of sixty ounces of 

 blood, ordered the immediate application of one dozen and 

 a half of leeches. 



