I think he had only taken to that day : he had now refused to take any more medicine or food. Mr. Cruikshanks came about eleven : he endeavoured to persuade him to take some nourishment, but in vain. Mr. Windham then went again to him, and, by the advice of Mr. Cruikshanks, put it upon this footing that by persisting to refuse all sustenance he might probably defeat his own purpose to preserve his mind clear, as his weakness might bring on paralytic complaints that might affect his mental powers 1 . The Doctor, Mr. Windham said, heard him patiently ; but when he had heard all, he desired to be troubled no more. He then took a most affectionate leave of Mr. Windham 2 , who reported to us the issue of the conversation, for only Mr. De Moulins was with them in the chamber. I did not see the Doctor that day, being fearful of disturbing him, and never conversed with him again. I came away about half- past eleven with Mr. Windham.
Monday, Dec. 13. Went to Bolt Court at eleven o'clock in the morning ; met a young lady coming down stairs from the Doctor, whom, upon inquiry, I found to be Miss Morris (a sister to Miss Morris, formerly on the stage 3 ). Mrs. De Moulins told me that she had seen the Doctor ; that by her desire he had been told she came to ask his blessing, and that he said, * God bless you ! ' I then went up into his chamber, and found him lying very composed in a kind of doze : he spoke to nobody. Sir John Hawkins, Mr. Langton, Mrs. Gardiner, Rev. Mr. Strahan and Mrs. Strahan, Doctors Brocklesby and Butter, Mr. Steevens, and Mr. Nichols the printer, came ; but no one chose to disturb him by speaking to him, and he seemed to take no notice of any person. While Mrs. Gardiner and I were there, before the rest came, he took a little warm milk in a cup, when he said some thing upon its not being properly given into his hand : he breathed very regular, though short, and appeared to be mostly in a calm sleep or dozing, I left him in this state, and never more saw him alive. In the evening I supped with Mrs. Hoole and my
1 Life, iv. 415 ; ante, ii. 128. May i, 1769.' HOOLE. Her likeness
z Life, iv. 415, n. i. as Hope nursing Love was painted
3 ' She appeared in Juliet at Covent by Reynolds. Northcote's Reynolds, Garden, Nov. 26, 1768, and died i. 185.
son
�� �
