BIB_ID
119898
Accession number
MA 35.65
Creator
Willis, Francis, 1718-1807.
Display Date
1791 November 4.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1905.
Description
1 item (2 pages, with address) ; 20.1 x 16.4 cm
Notes
With a note by FB: "A prescriptive Letter from that skilful, ingenious / and original Brain-Doctor, Dr. F. Willis -- who attended / & cured The King, George 3d. in 1789 -- when F.B. saw him, the good Doctor, Daily -- & always with admiration & regard." She has also added her private editorial symbol in the upper righthand corner, which she used to indicate that a letter should be saved.
Part of the third page has been cut away, though no text appears to be missing.
Address panel with postmarks: "Miss Burney / Chelsea College / London."
Part of the third page has been cut away, though no text appears to be missing.
Address panel with postmarks: "Miss Burney / Chelsea College / London."
Provenance
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan from the London dealer Quaritch in July 1905 as part of a collection of Burney's correspondence and fragments of manuscripts, bound in three volumes. Disbound in 1925.
Summary
Saying that he did not receive her letter until the day he set out for Houghton, where he is treating Lord Orford (Horace Walpole), "who was in a very deplorable state, & as he is a Nobleman as much belov'd & almost of as much consequence in the County of Norfolk as a certain Person was in the whole Kingdom, I know you will compassionate my feelings when I tell you that I was at a loss for many days together what answer to give to the multitude of enquiring Noblemen & Gentlemen concerning the life of his Lordship"; writing that Walpole is now recovering; discussing FB's state of health and his plan of treatment for her: "The Pills I had the honour to order you in July last I would have you take only to keep the body soluble, but the decoction I would have you proceed with as directed only adding to each dose three drops of the Tincture of Steel made with the Spirit of Salt"; adding that she should also take mephitic water by means of an instrument "which is to be had at Parker's Glass Shop in Fleet Street."
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