“Mr. Bland, after slightly looking at it, said, ‘the leg must come off, the sooner the better.’ The man, perceiving that I pitied him, cast such a beseeching look at me, as made me interpose, impertinently perhaps, but I could not resist it. I forget what I said; but I know the sense of it was, that I thought the poor fellow’s leg could and ought to be saved.--I remember Dr. Frumpton glared upon me instantly with eyes of fury, and asked how I dared to interfere in a surgical case; and to contradict his friend, Mr. Bland, a surgeon! “They prepared for the operation--the surgeon whipped on his mittens--the poor man, who was almost fainting with loss of blood, cast another piteous look at me, and said, in an Irish accent, ‘Long life to you, dear!--and don’t let’m--for what will I be without a leg? And my wife and children!’ “He fell back in a swoon, and I sprung between the surgeon and him; insisting that, as he had appealed to me, he should be left to me; and declared that I would have him carried to St. George’s Hospital, where I knew he would be taken care of properly. “Frumpton stamped, and scarcely articulate with rage, bade me--‘stir the man at your peril!’ adding expressions injurious to the hospital, with the governors of which he had some quarrel. I made a sign to the workmen who had brought in the wounded man; they lifted him instantly, and carried him out before me; and one of them, being his countryman, followed, crying aloud, ‘_Success_ to your honour! and may you _never_ want a _friend_!’ “Frumpton seized him by both shoulders, and pushing him out of the house, exclaimed, ‘Success, by G----, he shall never have, if I can help it! He has lost a friend such as he can never get again--By G--, I’ll make him repent this!’ “Unmoved by these denunciations, I pursued my way to the hospital. You know in what an admirable manner the London hospitals are conducted.--At St. George’s this poor man was received, and attended with the greatest care and skill. The surgeon who has taken charge of him assures me that his leg will, a month hence, be as useful as any leg in London. “Dr. Frumpton and Mr. Bland have, I find, loudly complained of my interference, as contrary to all medical etiquette--_Etiquette!_--from Frumpton!--The story has been told with many exaggerations, and always to my disadvantage.--I cannot, however, repent.--Let me lose what I may, I am satisfied with the pleasure of seeing the poor man in a way to do well. Pray let me hear from you, my dear father, and say, if you can, that you think me right--Thank Caroline for her letter. “Your affectionate “ERASMUS PERCY.” LETTER FROM ALFRED.