| Description | Part of a letter from James Gregory to an unknown recipient regarding the illness of 'the good old King' (King George III); Windsor doctors have come to the same unfavourable prognosis as he had held for some time; Latin epigram, the gist of which appears to be 'he who hurries a thing stands out, the journey to good habits is never too late'; could not conceive on what the doctors had based their 'very obstinate' favourable prognosis; would not have subscribed to their bulletins had he been of their party and would have been 'whipped out of Windsor Castle as a surly cross-bred cur that would not pack with the rest of them'; would have, however, hesitated to 'engage in any mauling or worrying with them', has the highest esteem for Dr Baillie; had been afraid of negative consequences arising from the recipients having shown Gregory's long lecture to the Prince Regent, the recipient handled it well and he is grateful; the secret of all secrets has transpired at last; his nephew, George Gregory, had heard Gregory's opinion of the King's illness in almost the same words from some English medical students he met in the Highlands of Scotland; Windsor doctors will understand the wisdom in silence and he expects no trouble from them; questions whether 'Old George' will live long and whether his posture affects his illness; remarks 'the thing is marvellous' as well as interesting and possibly useful to others, 21 August 1811. |