dies, natives of Geneva, formed part of the company. One of them, big with child, accompanied her husband as far as the Hermitage, and was then with difficulty perfuaded to go back; the other actually went to the fummit, and returned with the reft of the company. Before we fet out for Naples, we were refreshed, at a little inn at the bottom of the mountain, with fome glaffes of a very generous and palatable wine, called Lachrima Chrifti; and experienced the truth of what an Italian Poet obferved, that the effects of this wine form a ftrong contrast with its name: Chi fu, ne Contadini il più indifcreto, Diede nome dolente, Al vin, che fopra ogn' altro il cuor fà lieto? *What inconfiderate fellow, to terrify people, could firft give the mournful name of tears to that wine which, above all others, renders the heart glad, and excites cheerfulness? LETTER LXII. YOUR Naples. account of our friend's ftate of health gives me much concern; the more, as I cannot approve the change he has made of a phyfician. You say, the doctor, under whose care he is at present, has employed his mind fo entirely in medical researches, that he scarcely displays a grain of common fenfe, when the conversation turns on any other fubject; and that, although he seems opinionative, vain, and oftentatious in his profeffion, and full of falfe and abfurd ideas in the common affairs of life, yet he is a very able phyfician, and has performed many wonderful cures. Be affured, my dear Sir, that this is impoffible; for medical fkill is not like the rod of an inchanter, which may be found accidentally, and which transfers its miraculous powers indifcriminately to a blockhead or a man of fenfe. The number of weak, goffipping men, who have made fortunes by this profeffion, do not prove the contrary. I do not say that men of that kind cannot make fortunes; I only affert they are not the most likely to cure diseases. An intereft with apothecaries, nurses, and a few talkative old ladies, will enable them to do the firft; but a clear understanding, and a confiderable share of natural fagacity, are qualities effentially neceffary for the fecond, and for every business which requires reflection. Without thefe, falfe inferences will be drawn from experience itself; and learning will tend to confirm a man in his errors, and to render him more completely a coxcomb. The profeffion of phyfic is that, of all others, in which the generality of mankind have the feweft lights, by which they can difcern the abilities of its profeffors; because the ftudies which lead to it are more more out of the road of ufual education, and the practice more enveloped in technical terms and hieroglyphical figns. But I imagine the fafeft criterion by which men, who have not been bred to that profeffion, can form a judgment of those who have, is, the degree of fagacity and penetration they discover on subjects equally open to mankind in general, and which ought to be understood by all who live in fociety. You do not mention particularly what has been prefcribed by either; only that the former phyfician feemed to rely almost entirely on exercife and regimen, whereas the prefent flatters our friend with a speedy cure, by the help of the Pectoral and Balfamic medicines which he orders in fuch abundance; and which he declares are fo efficacious in pulmonary conSumptions. Having lamented with you the mournful events which render the name of that disease peculiarly alarming to you, and knowing knowing your friendly folicitude about Mr. I do not wonder at your earnest defire to know fomething of the nature of a distemper with which he is threatened, and which has proved fatal to fo many of our friends. But I am surprised that you have not chosen a more enlightened inftructor, when you have fo many around you. Though confcious that I have no juft claim to all the obliging expreffions which your partiality to my opinions has prompted you to make use of, yet I am too much flattered by fome of them, to refufe complying with your request. My fentiments, fuch as they are, will at least have the merit of being clearly understood. I shall observe your prohibition, not to refer you to any medical book; and fhall carefully avoid all technical terms, which you fo so much abominate. With regard to your fhewing my Letter to any of the faculty; if you find yourfelf fo inclined, I have not the finalleft objection; for those who |