The Memoirs of Charles Westcote; In Which Is Introduced the History of the Monk Francisco (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1807. Excerpt: ... attention was now directed to a sound which seemed to be the breathing of some one asleep. In this supposition I was confirmed, for on putting the curtain to one side, I beheld Peggy seated in an arm chair, with a book in one hand, and an expiring lamp in the other, and a pair of antique spectacles astride upon the nasal bridge; a picture so worthy of the pencil of Hogarth was enough to excite risibility, and bursting into a fit of immoderate laughter, her repose was inadvertently disturbed. Guess my astonishment, when starting from her seat, and throwing herself upon her knees, she piously repeated the following prayer: --'O Father of mercies, who knowest the inmost secrets of our hearts, to whose power nothing is incapable, extend thy pity to an object worthy of thy saving care. O hasten to arrest the progress of his disease, that through the influence of thy Divine goodness he may once more inherit the faculties of rational man, and through thy benign gracsuadtw enabled to testify a sense of becoming gratitude' for the interposition of thy almighty power. Vouchsafe O God to listen to this my humble prayer, that through the mediation of the Redeemer, the poor Comte de Montmorin, who lies in that bed, may be restored to the proper use of his senses ' 'Restored to the proper use of my senses ' what, in the name of God, thought I, could the woman mean?' Peggy, what is the matter Peggy?' 'O Lord ' she exclaimed, ' the poor Comte is ire another fit ' 'Another fiddlestick, ' cried I, out of patience with such seeming nonsense. 'O dear O dear ' continued she, 'Have you any thing to eat, Peggy, I am famishing oi'hunger?-' 'Alas 'tis now three days and three nights since he tasted food, --could he even eat, the doctor has forbid nourishment till he comes back?'...