When any begins to sicken, a Physician is sent for, who, after having examin’d the Patient, sends for a Venenugallpotior, something like our Apothecary, and gives him his Direction, takes his Fee, which is extravagant enough, and goes into his Palanquin; for a Physician, let him be a Second Hermes, or Galen, will never get Bread, if he does not make a Figure.  He’s sure to repeat his Visits, Morning and Even, if the Patient as often repeats his Fees; but whenever he finds any Symptoms of a weak Purse, he sets a Mark on that House, and no Intreaties will prevail with him to go under that Roof.

When the Relations of the Sick perceive him past Hopes of Recovery, they fall to plundering his House, neglect him entirely, and very often fall together by the Ears, begin with Blows, and end with a Law-suit, which seldom fails ruining both Plaintiff and Defendant; for their Lawyers rarely bring a Suit to Issue, till their Clients are brought to Beggary; and tho’ they all know this to be the Consequence of their Litigation, yet is there no Nation so fond of going to Law.

When any one falls into Poverty, he’s look’d upon as infected; for all his Acquaintance shun him; nay, very often his own Children will not own him, if in happier Circumstances:  And what will seem wonderful to a Briton, who esteems Merit in Rags, and contemns the Vicious, tho’ encompass’d with a Crowd of Servants, and distinguish’d by the glaring Titles of his Family; no sooner does a Cacklogollinian grow rich, but all the World courts him, tho’ sprung from a Dunghill:  And even those who can never hope any thing from him, shew him a profound Respect.  Ask who such a one is, and they never tell you, that he is such a Fowl of Honour, or of such good Qualities, but answer, he is worth so much:  Nay, Riches give a Man such Superiority, that a Merchant, the Son of a Butcher, presum’d so much upon the immense Sums he possess’d, that he had the Boldness to tell the Emperor to his Face, if he did not prohibit the Importation of Corn (which was then very much wanted) he having a great Quantity by him, would draw his Money out of the publick Treasury, and then his Majesty might see who was able to supply him.  The Emperor was advised to lay him by the Heels for his Sawciness, but the good Prince forgave him.

Their Dress is a close Doublet, and a a loose Mantle, which is either rich or plain, fine or coarse, not according to the Quality, but according to the Ability of the Wearer; for very often you can’t distinguish, in respect of Dress, the Grandee from the Merchant, or the Squabbaw from her Attendant; for the meaner Sort lay all on their Backs.  Their Necks are adorned with Ribbons, Bells, Medals, _&c._ and their Tail-feathers are beautify’d with additional ones from the Peacock, or Figures painted with various Colours, which must be by the Emperor’s Permission, as has been before observ’d.