60 Anecdotes from Pennington's Memoirs.
Now and then perhaps Mrs. Vesey might call the attention of the company in general to some circumstance of news, politics, or literature, of peculiar importance ; or perhaps to an anecdote, or interesting account of some person known to the company in general. Of this last kind a laughable circumstance occurred about the year 1778, when Mrs. Carter was confined to her bed with a fever, which was thought to be dangerous. She was attended by her brother-in-law, Dr. Douglas, then a physician in Town, and he was in the habit of sending bulletins of the state of her health to her most intimate friends, with many of whom he was well acquainted himself. At one of Mrs. Vesey 's parties a note was brought to her, which she immediately saw was from Dr. Douglas. 'Oh!' said she, before she opened it, 'this contains an account of our dear Mrs. Carter. We are all interested in her health : Dr. Johnson, pray read it out for the information of the company.' There was a profound silence ; and the Doctor, with the utmost gravity, read aloud the physician's report of the happy effect which Mrs. Carter's medicines had produced, with a full and complete account of the circumstances attending them. Vol. i. p. 465.
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