Yours,
J. MELFORD
BATH, May 6.



To Dr LEWIS.

You ask me, why I don't take the air a-horseback, during this
fine weather? -- In which of the avenues of this paradise would you
have me take that exercise? Shall I commit myself to the high-roads
of London or Bristol, to be stifled with dust, or pressed
to death in the midst of post-chaises, flying-machines, waggons,
and coal-horses; besides the troops of fine gentlemen that take
to the highway, to shew their horsemanship; and the coaches of
fine ladies, who go thither to shew their equipages? Shall I
attempt the Downs, and fatigue myself to death in climbing up an
eternal ascent, without any hopes of reaching the summit? Know
then, I have made divers desperate leaps at those upper regions;
but always fell backward into this vapour-pit, exhausted and
dispirited by those ineffectual efforts; and here we poor
valetudinarians pant and struggle, like so many Chinese gudgeons,
gasping in the bottom of a punch-bowl. By Heaven it is a kind of
enchantment! If I do not speedily break the spell, and escape, I
may chance to give up the ghost in this nauseous stew of
corruption -- It was but two nights ago, that I had like to have
made my public exit, at a minute's warning. One of my greatest
weaknesses is that of suffering myself to be over-ruled by the
opinion of people, whose judgment I despise -- I own, with shame
and confusion of face, that importunity of any kind I cannot