Taking the waters

The Kings bath is very large, as large as the rest put together, in it is the hot pumpe that persons are pumpt at for Lameness or on their heads for palsyes. I saw one pumpt, they put on a broad brim'd hatt wth the Crown Cut out so as ye brims Cast off ye water from ye face ; they are pumpt in ye bath, one of ye men Guides pumps — they have, two pence I thinke for 100 pumps. The water is scallding hot out of the pump, the armes or Legs are more easyly pumped.

The King's Bath is very large, as large as the rest put together. In it is the hot pump, where people are pumped for lameness, or on their heads for palsies. I saw one pumped. They put on a broad-brimmed hat with the crown cut out, so that the brim throws the water off the face. They are pumped in the bath; one of the men guides pumps. They get twopence, I think, for a hundred pumps. The water is scalding hot out of the pump. The arms or legs are more easily pumped.

All the baths have the same attendance, the queens bath is bigger then ye other three but not and neare so big as ye Kings, which do run into each other and is only parted by a wall and at one place, a great arch where they run into each other. Ye queens bath is a degree hotter than ye Cross bath and ye Kings bath much hotter, these have all gallery's round and the pump is in one of these galleryes at ye Kings bath which ye Company drinks of, its very hot and tastes like ye water yt boyles Eggs, has such a smell, but ye nearer ye pumpe you drinke it, ye hotter and less offencive and more spiriteous.

All the baths have the same attendance. The Queen's Bath is bigger than the other three, but not nearly so big as the King's. These two run into each other. They are parted only by a wall, and at one place there is a great arch where they run into each other. The Queen's Bath is a degree hotter than the Cross Bath, and the King's Bath much hotter. These all have galleries around them. The pump is in one of these galleries at the King's Bath, and the company drink from it. The water is very hot and tastes like the water that boils eggs; it has such a smell. But the nearer the pump you drink it, the hotter it is, and the less offensive and the more lively.

Every year thousands undergo this operation, and the French Ambassador says pleasantly, that they take the small-pox here by way of diversion, as they take the waters in others countries. There is no example of any one that has died in it, and you may believe I am well satisfied of the safety of this experiment, since I intend to try it on my dear little son. I am patriot enough to take pains to bring this useful invention into fashion in England, and I should not fail to write to some of our Doctors very particularly about it, if I knew any one of them that I thought had virtue enough to destroy such a considerable branch of their revenue, for the good of mankind. But that distemper is too beneficial to them, not to expose to all their resentment, the hardy wight that should undertake to put an end to it. Perhaps, if I live to return, I may, however, have courage to war with them. Upon this occasion, admire the heroism in the heart of, Your friend, &c. &c.

Every year thousands undergo this operation, and the French ambassador says pleasantly that they take the smallpox here by way of diversion, as they take the waters in other countries. There is no example of anyone that has died in it, and you may believe I am well satisfied of the safety of this experiment, since I intend to try it on my dear little son. I am patriot enough to take pains to bring this useful invention into fashion in England, and I should not fail to write to some of our doctors very particularly about it, if I knew any one of them that I thought had virtue enough to destroy such a considerable branch of their revenue for the good of mankind. But that distemper is too beneficial to them not to expose to all their resentment the hardy wight that should undertake to put an end to it. Perhaps, if I live to return, I may, however, have courage to war with them. Upon this occasion, admire the heroism in the heart of your friend, etc., etc.