Smollett, Tobias (1721-1777)

The Expedition of Humphry Clinker.

Dublin

Printed for A. Leathley, J. Exshaw, H. Saunders

1771

"My heart seemed to die within me when I entered this dismal bagnio, and sound my brain assaulted by such insufferable effluvia."

By the time we reached Harrigate, I began to be visited by certain rheumatic symptoms. The Scoth lawyer, Mr. Micklewhimmen, recommended a hot bath of these waters so earnestly that I was over-persuaded to try the experiment.--He had used it often with success, and always stayed an hour in the bath, which was a tub filled with Harrigate water, heated for the purpose. If I could hardly bear the smell of a single tumbler when cold, you may guess how my nose was regaled by the steams arising from a hot bath of the same fluid. At night, I was conducted into a dark hole on the ground floor, where the tub smoaked and stunk like the pot of Acheron, in one corner, and in another stood a dirty bed provided with thick blankets, in which I was to sweat after coming out of the bath. My heart seemed to die within me when I entered this dismal bagnio, and sound my brain assaulted by such insufferable effluvia.--I cursed Micklewhimmen for not considering that my organs were formed on this side of the Tweed; but being ashamed to recoil upon the treshold, I submitted to the process.
(pp. 244-5)

Uncategorized::Death::Death Within

Searching in HDIS (Prose)

At least 29 entries in the ESTC (1771, 1772, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1779, 1781, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1788, 1790, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1799, 1800).

See The Expedition of Humphry Clinker. By the Author of Roderick Random. In Two Volumes. (Dublin: Printed for A. Leathley, J. Exshaw, H. Saunders, 1771).

03/02/2005