Those of my physical friends on whose judgment I chiefly depended
seemed to think my only chance of life consisted in having the
whole summer before me; in which I might hope to gather
sufficient strength to encounter the inclemencies of the ensuing
winter. But this chance began daily to lessen. I saw the summer
mouldering away, or rather, indeed, the year passing away without
intending to bring on any summer at all. In the whole month of
May the sun scarce appeared three times. So that the early
fruits came to the fullness of their growth, and to some
appearance of ripeness, without acquiring any real maturity;
having wanted the heat of the sun to soften and meliorate their
juices. I saw the dropsy gaining rather than losing ground; the
distance growing still shorter between the tappings. I saw the
asthma likewise beginning again to become more troublesome. I
saw the midsummer quarter drawing towards a close. So that I
conceived, if the Michaelmas quarter should steal off in the same
manner, as it was, in my opinion, very much to be apprehended it
would, I should be delivered up to the attacks of winter before I
recruited my forces, so as to be anywise able to withstand them.

I now began to recall an intention, which from the first dawnings
of my recovery I had conceived, of removing to a warmer climate;
and, finding this to be approved of by a very eminent physician,
I resolved to put it into immediate execution. Aix in Provence
was the place first thought on; but the difficulties of getting
thither were insuperable. The Journey by land, beside the
expense of it, was infinitely too long and fatiguing; and I could
hear of no ship that was likely to set out from London, within
any reasonable time, for Marseilles, or any other port in that