of all the Nations in Europe, where he had practised his Art, he found England the most disposed to favour and encourage Men of his Character. And though the Individuals of the several Species of Empericks, and ignorant Pretenders to the Cure of the Gout, Stone, and other great Distempers, whether Natives, or Foreigners, have only blaz’d a while like empty Meteors, and as soon disappeared, and sunk into their former Obscurity, which holds good even from the Quacks favoured by King Charles the second, down to the Syringer, and the late Coal-Heaver; notwithstanding, I say, the People soon found out the Delusion of these Impostors successively, yet this credulous and good natured Nation, are still ready to hearken to any bold Fellow, that shall confidently assert his never-failing Abilities, and roundly assure them, that his Powder is infallible.
I was not therefore surprised, that when the novel Practice of Inoculation of the Small-Pox was first introduced into this Kingdom, it should meet with many Friends and Patrons; though I acknowledge, that considering the Advantage it had of being so great a Novelty, and brought from such a Distance, as Constantinople, it is surprising, that it did not make a quicker Progress, and meet with a more ready Reception; for notwithstanding the People catch at any Thing entirely new with such greediness, yet to the Generality, it at first appeared so bold an Undertaking, and so shock-
