THE MEN OF PHYSIC.

255

Twelve months had now elapsed, when, on anumerical comparison of deaths with those of thepreceding year, they were found in a ratio greatlydiminished, calculating for the lessened number ofsouls occasioned by the absence of the leeches.The discontent of the people against their prince,and their alarm for themselves, changed into re-verence and composure. His pride and self-gra-tulation rose in proportion—perhaps somethingout of proportion, a mistake committed occasion-ally even by sovereigns—to flattery and applause :but this prince had never enjoyed the privilege ofreading the poetic works of Robert Burns, where,amidst numerous pithy hints for the correction ofself-misunderstanding, he might have droppedupon, and profited by, the following stanza:—

" Oh, would some power the gii'ty gee us,To see ourselves as others see us;It wad frae many a blunder free us,

And silly notion ;And airs in gait and dress would lea' us,

And, e'en, devotion."

But, so it was; time was moving on smoothly andkindly between prince and subject; each conci-