Page:Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia - George W Norris.djvu/108

 of the Society of Friends by a heavy shower of rain, and as he insisted on pursuing his way during its continuance, the friend kindly offered to loan him his overcoat, adding the condition that he was not to use hard words while it was upon his back, to which the latter assented. On returning the coat he was asked, "Well, doctor, didst thou swear whilst thou hadst on my coat?" "!No," replied he, "but there was a damnable disposition to lie." The doctor was a well-known Tory, and from his advanced years, and his being English born, no offence was taken at his expressing his political opinions freely, which he did on all occasions, and never lost an opportunity of joking and quizzing his friends, of whom he had numbers of the opposite party. On one occasion, being sent for to visit the Spanish Minister, M. Mirailles, the ambassador ordered his carriage to convey him home; the doctor full of fun, and delighted at the opportunity for a laugh which it afforded him, directed the coachman to drive slowly by the Coffee House, it being an hour when he knew the merchants would be all congregated there. The equipage of the Don, as Minister from a friendly power, was, at that time of high political excitement, well known, and when perceived to be advancing, the merchants drew up in order, hats