Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: INTRODUCTORY EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN AT THE LONG ISLAND WATER CURE, OYSTER BAY, DURING THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN OF 1848. July. When I proposed trying the city Cure awhile for my eyes, I little dreamed of finding myself ensconced in this breezy place, and for double the time, — thanks to a triple revenue from the Willowbank letter. The sail up the Sound in company with the Vice-Chancellor and Mrs. Dr. Nott, to whom the Chancellor introduced me soon after your father left, was all that the most solicitous could have desired. Indeed, the happy consciousness of once more drifting out into the world, added to the exhilaration of the briny breezes and the growing conversation of those two cultivated strangers, served to keep my thoughts quite aloof from the chilling experiences supposed to await one at a Water Cure. At the last moment, too, a lovely Miss Marsh came on board, who, like myself, was to be met by the Doctor at the landing. His cordial reception was of itself enough to banish any fears one might have entertained of his, to say the least, rather heroic treatment. At the establishment, too, exchanging greetings with one and another, I verily felt myself inan atmosphere many degrees warmer than Institution latitude. Nothing to suggest its being a Cure, either, — some playing ball, others returning from long walks, some singing, playing the piano, organ, or guitar. At table the Doctor seated me next himself, with Miss Marsh at my left, and opposite President and dear Mrs. Nott, who seem the guardian angels of the house. Indeed, the very presence of the venerable Reverend, with the sable Moses supporting his steps, suffices at once to give tone and character to the place. The company, however, is very select, and spiced with a few foreigners. An English...