“‘Doctor, I’ve a violent pain in my Head.’
“Reply: ‘Take some Mixture.’
“‘Doctor, I’ve a sour Stomach.’
“Reply: ‘Take some Mixture.’
“Doctor, ‘I’ve a violent Fever on me every Night.’
“Reply: ‘Take some Mixture.’
“In short let the disease be what it will, you must take his Mixture, or Electuary. N. B.,—This Medicine is Salts and Jalap; his Electuary, Conserve of Roses and Balsam. However, we have styled it Doctor Ball’s Infallable Cure for all Manner of Diseases.
“6th. This morning the Doctor came and bled one of our men, and went out without doing up his arm, or even saying what quantity of blood should come from him. This is the second man he has stuck his lance in, and left bleeding. I remain very ill, and the whole Prison is put on Hospital diet, which is: 1 lb. of white bread, ½ pint of milk, ½ lb. of mutton, ½ lb. of cabbage, and 1 quart of beer. By not hearing anything of the Transports and with the violent pain in my head, I am almost beside myself.”
Under date of Dec. 22, 1781, William Russell had set down in his journal: “Mr. Burke in the House of Commons, speaking of Hon. Mr. Lauren’s ill treatment in the Tower, was told by Lord Newhaven, that if he (Newhaven) had said as much, he should have expected to be put in Mr. Lauren’s place. To whom Mr. Burke replied that he did not aspire to such places, being a poor man he could not afford it; as for his Lordship, he being a man of Fortune, such places would suit him best, but a meaner prison would do for him, and he should think himself very happy in any place, if he had such agreeable Companions with him as Mr. Laurens and Doctor Franklin.
“General Burgoyne being asked in the House of Commons concerning his not being Exchanged for Mr. Laurens said he would sooner return to America, and spend his days in a Dungeon there than ask a favor of the Ministry.”