Peregrine, instead of allaying, rather exasperated this contention,
by an artful distribution of his attention among the competitors;
well knowing, that, should his regard be converged into one point,
he would soon forfeit the pleasure he enjoyed in seeing them at
variance; for both parties would join against the common enemy,
and his favourite would be persecuted by the whole coalition. He
perceived, that, among the secret agents of scandal, none were so
busy as the physicians, a class of animals who live in this place,
like so many ravens hovering about a carcase, and even ply for
employment, like scullers at Hungerford-stairs. The greatest part
of them have correspondents in London, who make it their business
to inquire into the history, character, and distemper of every one
that repairs to Bath, for the benefit of the waters, and if they
cannot procure interest to recommend their medical friends to these
patients before they set out, they at least furnish them with a
previous account of what they could collect, that their correspondents
may use this intelligence for their own advantage.
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