and getting out the powder, with all the other operations required in the cultivation of a head of hair; yet let it be combed, at least, once in three months on the quarterday.—­I could wish it might be combed once at least, in six weeks; if I were to indulge my wishes but what are wishes without hopes, I should fancy the operation performed—­one knows not when one has enough—­perhaps, every morning.  I am, dearest lady, your, &c.

XXXIX.—­To MRS. THRALE.

Ashbourne, June 14, 1779.

DEAR MADAM,—­Your account of Mr. Thrale’s illness is very terrible; but when I remember that he seems to have it peculiar to his constitution, that, whatever distemper he has, he always has his head affected, I am less frighted.  The seizure was, I think, not apoplectical but hysterical, and, therefore, not dangerous to life.  I would have you, however, consult such physicians as you think you can best trust.  Broomfield seems to have done well and, by his practice, appears not to suspect an apoplexy.  This is a solid and fundamental comfort.  I remember Dr. Marsigli, an Italian physician, whose seizure was more violent than Mr. Thrale’s, for he fell down helpless, but his case was not considered as of much danger, and he went safe home, and is now a professor at Padua.  His fit was considered as only hysterical.

I hope sir Philip, who franked your letter, comforts you as well as Mr. Seward.  If I can comfort you, I will come to you; but I hope you are now no longer in want of any help to be happy.  I am, &c.

The doctor sends his compliments; he is one of the people that are growing old.

XL.—­To MRS. THRALE.

Ashbourne, June 14, 1779.

DEAR MADAM,—­How near we are all to extreme danger.  We are merry or sad, or busy or idle, and forget that death is hovering over us.  You are a dear lady for writing again.  The case, as you now describe it, is worse than I conceived it, when I read your first letter.  It is still, however, not apoplectick, but seems to have something worse than hysterical—­a tendency to a palsy, which, I hope, however, is now over.  I am glad that you have Heberden, and hope we are all safer.  I am the more alarmed by this violent seizure, as I can impute it to no wrong practices, or intemperance of any kind, and, therefore, know not how any defence or preservative can be obtained.  Mr. Thrale has, certainly, less exercise than when he followed the foxes; but he is very far from unwieldiness or inactivity, and further still from any vitious or dangerous excess.  I fancy, however, he will do well to ride more.

Do, dear madam, let me know, every post, how he goes on.  Such sudden violence is very dreadful; we know not by what it is let loose upon us, nor by what its effects are limited.

If my coming can either assist or divert, or be useful to any purpose, let me but know:  I will soon be with you.  Mrs. Kennedy, Queeney’s Baucis, ended, last week, a long life of disease and poverty.  She had been married about fifty years.