BATH,December 31,1763
MY DEAR FRIEND:Gravenkop wrote me word,by the last post,that you were laid up with the gout:but I much question it,that is,whether it is the gout or not.Your last illness,before you went abroad,was pronounced the gout,by the skillful,and proved at last a mere rheumatism.Take care that the same mistake is not made this year;and that by giving you strong and hot medicines to throw out the gout,they do not inflame the rheumatism,if it be one.
Mr.Wilkes has imitated some of the great men of antiquity,by going into voluntary exile:it was his only way of defeating both his creditors and his prosecutors.Whatever his friends,if he has any,give out of his returning soon,I will answer for it,that it will be a long time before that soon comes.
I have been much out of order these four days of a violent cold which Ido not know how I got,and which obliged me to suspend drinking the waters:but it is now so much better,that I propose resuming them for this week,and paying my court to you in town on Monday or Tuesday seven-night:but this is 'sub spe rati'only.God bless you!