His own health at this period was very bad.

A physician whom he consulted pronounced that he was rapidly sinking under pulmonary disease, and he suffered frequent attacks of acute pain.

The consumptive symptoms seem to have been so marked that for the next three years he had no doubt that he was destined to an early death.

In 1818, however, all danger of phthisis passed away; and during the rest of his short life he only suffered from spasms and violent pains in the side, which baffled the physicians, but, though they caused him extreme anguish, did not menace any vital organ.

To the subject of his health it will be necessary to return at a later period of this biography.