 hour
after he had received my billet. - Whereupon, I was vain enough to have the
whole story inserted in the news, although I was fain to sell a gold-laced hat
to my landlord, for less than half-price, to defray the expence, and contribute
to my subsistence.
 

                                  Chapter VII

I am entertained by Mr. Crab -- a description of him -- I acquire the art of
surgery -- consult Crab's disposition -- become necessary to him - an accident
happens - he advises me to launch out into the world -- assists me with money --
I set out for London
 
The fumes of my resentment being dissipated, as well as the vanity of my
success, I found myself deserted to all the horrors of extreme want, and avoided
by mankind as a creature of a different species, or rather as a solitary being,
no ways comprehended within the scheme or protection of providence. My despair
had rendered me almost quite stupified, when I was one day told, that a
gentleman desired to see me, at a certain publick house, whither immediately I
repaired; and was introduced to one Mr. Launcelot Crab a surgeon in town, who
was engaged with two more, in drinking a liquor called pop-in, composed by
tossing a quartern of brandy into a quart of small beer. - Before I relate the
occasion of this message, I believe it will not be disagreeable to the reader,
if I describe the gentleman who sent for me, and mention some circumstances of
his character and conduct, which may illustrate what follows, and account for
his behaviour to me.
    This member of the faculty was aged fifty, about five foot high, and ten
round the belly; his face was capacious as a full moon, and much of the
complexion of a mulberry: his nose resembling a powder-horn, was swelled to an
enormous size, and studded all over with carbuncles; and his little grey eyes
reflected the rays in such an oblique manner, that while he looked a person full
in the face, one would have imagined he was admiring the buckle of his shoe. -
He had long entertained an implacable resentment against Potion, who, tho' a
younger practitioner, had engrossed more business than he, and once had the
assurance to perform a cure, whereby he disappointed and disgraced the
prognostic of the said Crab. - This quarrel, which was at one time upon the
point of being made up, by the interposition and mediation of friends, had been
lately inflamed beyond a possibility of reconciliation by the respective wives
of the
