pain. I did not pay much attention to the hurt, till it became a serious
wound; being obliged to work as usual, or starve. But, finding myself
at length unable to stand for any time, I thought of getting into an
hospital. Hospitals, it should seem (for they are comfortless abodes for
the sick) were expressly endowed for the reception of the friendless;
yet I, who had on that plea a right to assistance, wanted the
recommendation of the rich and respectable, and was several weeks
languishing for admittance; fees were demanded on entering; and, what
was still more unreasonable, security for burying me, that expence
not coming into the letter of the charity. A guinea was the stipulated
sum--I could as soon have raised a million; and I was afraid to apply
to the parish for an order, lest they should have passed me, I knew
not whither. The poor woman at whose house I lodged, compassionating
my state, got me into the hospital; and the family where I received the
hurt, sent me five shillings, three and six-pence of which I gave at my
admittance--I know not for what.

"My leg grew quickly better; but I was dismissed before my cure was
completed, because I could not afford to have my linen washed to
appear decently, as the virago of a nurse said, when the gentlemen (the
surgeons) came. I cannot give you an adequate idea of the wretchedness
of an hospital; every thing is left to the care of people intent on
gain. The attendants seem to have lost all feeling of compassion in the
bustling discharge of their offices; death is so familiar to them,
that they are not anxious to ward it off. Every thing appeared to be
conducted for the accommodation of the medical men and their pupils, who
came to make experiments on the poor, for the benefit of the rich. One
of the physicians, I must not forget to mention, gave me half-a-crown,
and ordered me some wine, when I was at the lowest ebb. I thought
of making my case known to the lady-like matron; but her forbidding