sumed, of course, that you were alluding to Nelson. Any other news stirring?"

"None but what I presume you must have heard, the failure this morning of the house of Phillpotts and Patterson, an unlucky affair for me, for I lately attended Mr. Patterson's family of seven children, in measles and scarlatina, and I apprehend, from what I hear, that I must now be contented with a small dividend on my bill."

"You will be nothing out of pocket," said the physician, with a quiet smile.

"Nay, Doctor, you are not to suppose that our business, like your's, is all profit."

"True, true: I had forgotten the phials and pill-boxes. Sailed back again for the coast of Egypt, has he? He will miss them, mark my words. I am seldom wrong; he will miss them a second time."

"With regard to our patient," resumed the apothecary.

"I cannot quite agree with you," said the second practitioner, addressing himself to the first. "Nelson is a lucky man, or, in other words, a skilful and persevering commander. Depend upon it he will yet give a good account of the enemy."

Snuff-boxes were now produced, the fire was again stirred, and the medical politicians, who had totally forgotten the ostensible object of their meeting, entered into an animated discussion, which lasted several minutes, as to the probabilities of an engagement between the hostile fleets.

Availing himself of a momentary pause, the apothecary ventured to repeat :-"I hope, Dr. H-, that you approve of what I have done. May I ask what you consider to be our patient's particular and immediate complaint?"

"Old age; a disease that we have little chance of palliating, since one day adds more to it than twenty physicians can take from it."

"I am proud to find, Doctor, that your opinion coincides with mine. I saw from the first that it was an utterly hopeless case."

"If you were aware that professional advice was of no earthly use, I wonder you did not call me in sooner," said the second Esculapean, in a tone of reproach.

"I should have done so, Doctor, as usual in all such cases, but that my patient, who is as obstinate as a mule, would not consent to it."

"Upon such emergencies you should be imperative. We must not let a rich man slip out of the world without paying the customary tolls. In two or three days, although nature has rallied for the moment, he will no longer be a subject for any fees but those of the clergyman and undertaker."

"As all further consultations, then, are manifestly useless," resumed the apothecary, "we had better make up for lost time, and arrange

to meet twice a day, until we receive a mortuary dismissal."

"You are a man of business," said Dr. H--, with his accustomed tranquil smile. "From a rich, childless, penurious patient, like Diedrich Hoffman, I never decline a fee, in order that I may be enabled to refuse it when tendered by those who can less afford its disbursement."

"The first half of your example," said the second doctor, "is worthy of all imitation; but the latter clause must be executed with great discretion."

"I presume you will think it necessary to prescribe," hesitated the apothecary, pushing forward the pens and paper. "It is of little use, however, for my wrong-headed patient will no longer take any of my medicines." "In that case," smiled Dr. H——, cannot possibly object if we order all the doses to be doubled. What say you, brother?"

"he

"Nothing can be more reasonable; and I will write accordingly."

A couple of illegible lines having been scribbled in Latin and duly signed, the sons of Galen, apparently not much exhausted by their deep and anxious deliberation, were about to quit the apartment, when the apothecary observed that the patient, so far from being aware of his rapidly-approaching dissolution, flattered himself with the hope that he was recovering, and would shortly be enabled to return to business. "How would you have me act," he continued, addressing himself to Dr. H, "as to communicating to him his real situation? What is your own rule upon such occa

sions ?"

"That depends upon circumstances. Where I have reason to believe that the patient has settled all his worldly affairs, a fact which it is generally easy to ascertain from some of the. family, I am anxious to leave him all the con

VOL. I.

C