In the second tract the word “Gentlemen” both at the beginning and end of the address to the Royal Society is in MS. The writing is undoubtedly that of a foreigner: Mr. Stephens thinks that in all probability it is in the handwriting of Marat himself,[7] and that this copy is the presentation one. There being no other known copy it is impossible to see if the words were added to the whole of the tracts issued for sale, or whether they exist only in this copy. “Gentlemen” is printed in the earlier tract, and it certainly looks as though it were an omission in this case, not noticed until too late to have the word inserted in print. If this were the “presentation copy,” its proper home would be at the Royal Society, but there is no mark of its ever having belonged to that Library. AN ESSAY ON GLEETS; WHEREIN The DEFECTS of the ACTUAL METHOD of treating those Complaints of the URETHRA are pointed out, AND An EFFECTUAL WAY of CURING them indicated. By J. P. MARAT, M.D. LONDON: Printed for W. NICOLL, in _St. Paul’s Church-Yard_, and J. WILLIAMS, in _Fleet-Street_. [Price ONE SHILLING Sewed.] TO THE READER. The candour of the public will need no solicitation, when acquainted of the following sheets being written by a foreigner, not sufficiently conversant in the language to avoid faults against it: which may likewise be the more easily forgiven, for the fashioning of the stile being less an object of attention, than the importance of matter to the human health. _To the Worshipful Company of SURGEONS in LONDON._ GENTLEMEN, Long since Surgeons both in _London_ and _Paris_ have assumed to themselves the treatment of Venereal Diseases, and Physicians generally decline it. I cannot conceive what makes it your exclusive province the treating of those diseases, since in most cases the whole frame of the body is affected, and in very few the hand of an operator is wanted. But as the custom prevails, I do not pretend to strive against the torrent, and content myself with offering to you the most effectual method of curing Gleets--- a method which I at first discovered, by reflecting on the deplorable situation of a bosom friend, and which I afterwards put in practice at the earnest request of several acquaintances, and have ever since followed with constant success. * * * * *