mistakes; there is no gratitude in those fellows; for I am sure
they have greater obligations to me than to any other disease,
except the Vapors." These relations were no sooner over than one
of the company informed us we were approaching to the most noble
building he had ever beheld, and which we learned from our
coachman was the palace of Death. Its outside, indeed, appeared
extremely magnificent. Its structure was of the Gothic order;
vast beyond imagination, the whole pile consisting of black
marble. Rows of immense yews form an amphitheater round it of
such height and thickness that no ray of the sun ever perforates
this grove, where black eternal darkness would reign was it not
excluded by innumerable lamps which are placed in pyramids round
the grove; so that the distant reflection they cast on the
palace, which is plentifully gilt with gold on the outside, is
inconceivably solemn. To this I may add the hollow murmur of
winds constantly heard from the grove, and the very remote sound
of roaring waters. Indeed, every circumstance seems to conspire
to fill the mind with horror and consternation as we approach to
this palace, which we had scarce time to admire before our
vehicle stopped at the gate, and we were desired to alight in
order to pay our respects to his most mortal majesty (this being
the title which it seems he assumes). The outward court was full
of soldiers, and, indeed, the whole very much resembled the state
of an earthly monarch, only more magnificent. We passed through
several courts into a vast hall, which led to a spacious
staircase, at the bottom of which stood two pages, with very
grave countenances, whom I recollected afterwards to have
formerly been very eminent undertakers, and were in reality the
only dismal faces I saw here; for this palace, so awful and
tremendous without, is all gay and sprightly within; so that we