MOSCOW. 
189 
and Norway, there is no cottage so poor, no hut f y]f r p ' 
so destitute, but it possesses its vapour hath -, ' * — 
whither all the family resort every Saturday at the 
least, and every day in case of sickness. Lady 
Mary Wortley Montague, in despite of all the 
prejudices then prevalent in England against 
inoculation, introduced this blessing from 
Turkey. And if some other patriotic individual, 
of equal influence, would endeavour to establish 
throughout Great Britain the use of warm and 
vapour baths, the inconveniences of our climate 
might be done away. Perhaps, at a future pe- 
riod, donations for public baths may become as 
frequent as the voluntary subscriptions whereby 
hospitals are maintained ; and a grateful people 
may commemorate the service they have ren- 
dered to society by annual contributions for their 
support. But when we recollect that the illus- 
trious Bacon in vain lamented the disuse of baths 
among Europeans, we have little reason to indulge 
the expectation. At the same time, an addi- 
tional testimony to their salutary effects, in 
affording longevity and vigorous health to a 
people otherwise liable to mortal diseases from 
their rigorous climate and unwholesome diet, 
may conduce towards their introduction. Among 
the Antients, baths were public edifices, under the 
immediate inspection of the Government : they 
were considered as institutions founded in abso- 
