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in which his skill was somewhat deficient; at least that branch

of tapping for the dropsy; for he very ingenuously and modestly

confessed he had never seen the operation performed; nor was

possessed of that chirurgical instrument with which it is performed。



Friday; June 28。By way of prevention; therefore; I this day

sent for my friend; Mr。 Hunter; the great surgeon and anatomist

of Covent…garden; and; though my belly was not yet very full and

tight; let out ten quarts of water; the young sea…surgeon

attended the operation; not as a performer; but as a student。



I was now eased of the greatest apprehension which I had from the

length of the passage; and I told the captain I was become

indifferent as to the time of his sailing。  He expressed much

satisfaction in this declaration; and at hearing from me that I

found myself; since my tapping; much lighter and better。  In

this; I believe; he was sincere; for he was; as we shall have

occasion to observe more than once; a very good…natured man; and;

as he was a very brave one too; I found that the heroic constancy

with which I had borne an operation that is attended with scarce

any degree of pain had not a little raised me in his esteem。

That he might adhere; therefore; in the most religious and

rigorous manner to his word; when he had no longer any temptation

from interest to break it; as he had no longer any hopes of more

goods or passengers; he ordered his ship to fall down to

Gravesend on Sunday morning; and there to wait his arrival。



Sunday; June 30。Nothing worth notice passed till that morning;

when my poor wife; after passing a night in the utmost torments

of the toothache; resolved to have it drawn。  I despatched

therefore a servant into Wapping to bring in haste the best

tooth…drawer he could find。  He soon found out a female of great

eminence in the art; but when he brought her to the boat; at the

waterside; they were informed that the ship was gone; for indeed

she had set out a few minutes after his quitting her; nor did the

pilot; who well knew the errand on which I had sent my servant;

think fit to wait a moment for his return; or to give me any

notice of his setting out; though I had very patiently attended

the delays of the captain four days; after many solemn promises

of weighing anchor every one of the three last。

But of all the petty bashaws or turbulent tyrants I ever beheld;

this sour…faced pilot was the worst tempered; for; during the

time that he had the guidance of the ship; which was till we

arrived in the Downs; he complied with no one's desires; nor did

he give a civil word; or indeed a civil look; to any on board。



The tooth…drawer; who; as I said before; was one of great

eminence among her neighbors; refused to follow the ship; so that

my man made himself the best of his way; and with some difficulty

came up with us before we were got under full sail; for after

that; as we had both wind and tide with us; he would have found

it impossible to overtake the ship till she was come to an anchor

at Gravesend。



The morning was fair and bright; and we had a passage thither; I

think; as pleasant as can be conceived:   for; take it with all

its advantages; particularly the number of fine ships you are

always sure of seeing by the way; there is nothing to equal it in

all the rivers of the world。  The yards of Deptford and of

Woolwich are noble sights; and give us a just idea of the great

perfection to which we are arrived in building those floating

castles; and the figure which we may always make in Europe among

the other maritime powers。  That of Woolwich; at least; very

strongly imprinted this idea on my mind; for there was now on the

stocks there the Royal Anne; supposed to be the largest ship ever

built; and which contains ten carriage…guns more than had ever

yet equipped a first…rate。



It is true; perhaps; that there is more of ostentation than of

real utility in ships of this vast and unwieldy burden; which are

rarely capable of acting against an enemy; but if the building

such contributes to preserve; among other nations; the notion of

the British superiority in naval affairs; the expense; though

very great; is well incurred; and the ostentation is laudable and

truly political。  Indeed; I should be sorry to allow that

Holland; France; or Spain; possessed a vessel larger and more

beautiful than the largest and most beautiful of ours; for this

honor I would always administer to the pride of our sailors; who

should challenge it from all their neighbors with truth and

success。  And sure I am that not our honest tars alone; but every

inhabitant of this island; may exult in the comparison; when he

considers the king of Great Britain as a maritime prince; in

opposition to any other prince in Europe; but I am not so certain

that the same idea of superiority will result from comparing our

land forces with those of many other crowned heads。  In numbers

they all far exceed us; and in the goodness and splendor of their

troops many nations; particularly the Germans and French; and

perhaps the Dutch; cast us at a distance; for; however we may

flatter ourselves with the Edwards and Henrys of former ages; the

change of the whole art of war since those days; by which the

advantage of personal strength is in a manner entirely lost; hath

produced a change in military affairs to the advantage of our

enemies。  As for our successes in later days; if they were not

entirely owing to the superior genius of our general; they were

not a little due to the superior force of his money。  Indeed; if

we should arraign marshal Saxe of ostentation when he showed his

army; drawn up; to our captive general; the day after the battle

of La Val; we cannot say that the ostentation was entirely vain;

since he certainly showed him an army which had not been often

equaled; either in the number or goodness of the troops; and

which; in those respects; so far exceeded ours; that none can

ever cast any reflection on the brave young prince who could not

reap the laurels of conquest in that day; but his retreat will be

always mentioned as an addition to his glory。



In our marine the case is entirely the reverse; and it must be

our own fault if it doth not continue so; for continue so it will

as long as the flourishing state of our trade shall support it;

and this support it can never want till our legislature shall

cease to give sufficient attention to the protection of our

trade; and our magistrates want sufficient power; ability; and

honesty; to execute the laws; a circumstance not to be

apprehended; as it cannot happen till our senates and our benches

shall be filled with the blindest ignorance; or with the blackest

corruption。



Besides the ships in the docks; we saw many on the water:  the

yachts are sights of great parade; and the king's body yacht is;

I believe; unequaled in any country for convenience as well as

magnificence; both which are consulted in building and equipping

her with the most exquisite art and workmanship。



We saw likewise several Indiamen just returned from their voyage。



These are; I believe; the largest and finest vessels which are

anywhere employed in commercial affairs。  The colliers; likewise;

which are very numerous; and even assemble in fleets; are ships

of great bulk; and if we descend to those used in the American;

African; and European trades; and pass through those which visit

our own coasts; to the small craft that lie between Chatham and

the Tower; the whole forms a most pleasing object to the eye; as

well as highly warming to the heart of an Englishman who has any

degree of love for his country; or can recognize any effect of

the patriot in his constitution。  Lastly; the Royal Hospital at

Greenwich; which presents so delightful a front to the water; and

doth such honor at once to its builder and the nation; to the

great skill and ingenuity of the one; and to the no less sensible

gratitude of the other; very properly closes the account of this

scene; which may well appear romantic to those who have not

themselves seen that; in this one instance; truth and reality are

capable; perhaps; of exceeding the power of fiction。  When we had

passed by Greenwich we saw only two or three gentlemen's houses;

all of very moderate account; till we reached Gravesend:  these

are all on the Kentish shore; which affords a much dryer;

wholesomer; and pleasanter situation; than doth that of its

opposite; Essex。  This circumstance; I own; is somewhat

surprising to me; when I reflect on the numerous villas that

crowd the river from Chelsea upwards as far as Shepperton; where

the narrower channel affords not half so noble a prospect; and

where the continual succession of the small craft; like the

frequent repetition of all things; which have nothing in them

great; beautiful; or admirable; tire the eye; and give us

distaste and aversion; instead of pleasure

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