Letter 4012

Gentlemen I presume you are not unsensible of this generall ~ ~ Affliction the Country now labours under And as ~ I think it the indispensible Duty of every well ~ wishers to his Country (as much as lyes in his power) to Endeavor to remove however to abate so [some?] a Visitation. Now whereas by the generall Opinion of the Phisisians in the Country the Bank is thought to be the most proper Expedient But this I am Sorry to find hitherto knowing not, produced the desired Stocks by Reason as I fear for much of it is decay’d by too long ~ keeping [&?] that wch is good too often render’d useless by unwarrantable Adulteration I Humbly conceive if (as it is in London) proper Inspectors were Sent to each great Towne in the Country to View their Druggs it would not faile of a glorious Effort The charge of wch I cou’d wish [now?] be Defray’d (if a better Method cann’t be thought on) by the Treasurer of each County wch Charge I [cann?] that any thing of a Gentleman wou’d think much of ^ However that be I beg you’le Excuse the trouble of this from him that hath no other View but the [good?] [&?] wellfare of his Country in this Calamytous time. I am Gentlemen Yr very Humble Servt Ralph Welles Thurmaston near Leicester 24 Octob 1727