Passages from the diary of a late physician / by Samuel Warren, author of 'Ten thousand a-year'.

  • Samuel Warren
Date:
[1890]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Passages from the diary of a late physician / by Samuel Warren, author of 'Ten thousand a-year'. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    in the world, of title and tbitiiuf. The lawyer returned to Eni;Ianil, over-per- suailed liy the baronet, to treat the matter with iiiditlei'euce ; and nothing furtlier was heard for some months, till, soon after Sir Henry's return, he received one evening, at his club—a circumstance whicli apjieared to con- lirni speculations then artoat—a letter, imrportins to come from the solicitor cfthe indivi'iual preferring the claim alluded to. It stated the ad'air ntsome lenj;th, and concluded by requesting in- formation, wliich, said tlie writer, might have tlie effect of convincing his client of his error, and conducing to to the abandonment of his claim. This communication roused the baronet from his lethargy. Several portions of it tallied with jiassages in the family history of Sir Henry, who hurried with consternation to his solicitor, by whom his worst apprehensions were aggravat- ed. Not that the lawyer considered his case des]>erate ; but he prepared his client for harassing and expensive liti- gation, and exposure of the most pub- lic nature. It cannot be wondered at that a sense of his danger should prey on his feelings, and give him that dis- turbed manner which had occasioned the speculations, and inuendoes, men- tioned in an early part of this jiaper. He concealed from his lady the jeopar- dy in which their all on earth was placed :and the efl'ort and constraint— the anxiety—the apprehensions of ruin at length disordered, and Anally over- threw his intellects. What was the na- ture of his adversary's pretentions, I am unable to state technically. I un- derstood it consisted of an alleged ear- lier riglit under the entail. To support his claim, every quarter was ransacked for evidence tiy his attorney. The up- start made his pretentiobs as public as possible; and an imi)rudent overture made by Sir Henry's solicitor, was un- scrupulously seized on by his adver- sary, and tlirough his means found its way into the newspapers. Tlie vexa- tion this occasioned Sir Henry may be readily imagined ; for, independently of his mortification at the circumstance, it was calculated seriously to prejudice . his interests ; and when he kejit before his eyes the day of trial which was ap- ; proachin:;, and the catastrojihe, lie sunk under the opjpression. L uly Anne had for some time entertained susjji- cions of the truth ; but as he sternly interdicted any inquiry on her part, he contrived to keep her in the dark. He frequently t.'ilkej In his slee[>, and often did she lie awake, listening to his mysterious expre-isions with agita- '.tiuD, XUe iilucis of Sir Ueury and Q his lady, with its occasion, were now generally known, and the paragraph in tlie morning paper above copied, was only the prec.uisor of many similar ones, which went to the extent of hint- ing the nature of the new claimant's pretensions, with the grounds of Sir Henry's resistance. Recollecting the event of Lady Anne's last interview with Sir Henry, the reader may imagine the vexation with which I heard her insist on the performance of my promise. Backed by the entreaties of her relatives, and my conviction of the danger that might attend such a step, I rtdiiscd. It was in vain that she implored in tears, al- most frantic at our opposition—we were all inexorable. During a month's interval, greatly to my surprise, her health improved. We had contrived to occupy her attention with agreeable pursuits, and had soothed her with good accounts of Sir Henry. Her son was perpetually with her; and his prattle served to amuse her through many a ilay. She was at length able to leave her bed, and speml hours down stairs ; and under such circumstances, she renewed her importunities with better success. 1 promised to see Sir Henry, and engaged to allow her an interview. In order to ascertain this point, I called one day on the baronet, who continued at Somerlield House. I found no alteration in the mode of his apparel. If his ridiculous appearance shocked me, what must be its ell'ect on his lady? He wore his tight-Htting green baize, and happened to be in ex- cellent humour; for he had just before beaten a crazy gentleman in the esta- blishment, at chess. He was walking to and fro, rubbing his hands, detailing his triumph to his keeper with glee, and received me with cordiality. * * ' What shouM you say to seeing com- pany, Sir Henry?—Will you receive a visitor, if 1 bring one ?' ' Oh, yes—happy to see them—that is, any day but to-morrnw—any day but to-morrow,' he replied; ' fiu'to- morrow I shall be engaged : I am asked to dinner with the king, and am to play billiards with him.' 'Ah! I cingratulate you ! —And, pray, does his majesty come to Sonier- tield, or do you go to'Wiiids<u'?' 'Go to Windsor?—Loid bless you, his majesty lives Aficc—this is his pa- lace ; and I have the honour to till an important office in the household !— Were you not aware of that?' 'True—true; but at what hour do you wait on his majesty?' 'Three o'clock precisely — to the millionth part of a secoud.