[John Manby Gully, Malvern physician who pioneered 'water cure' treatment.] Two Autograph Letters Signed (both 'J M Gully') to the publisher John Churchill, one on patients including Lord Francis Egerton, the other on a vacant post.

Both items in good condition, lightly aged, and each with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse. ONE: Great Malvern; 19 December. 2pp, 12mo. Now that he has returned to Malvern, having been 'on a visit to Mr W. Whitman', he thanks Churchill for his 'kindness which I may say, I never found at fault'. He continues: 'Though away from Malvern I have not been idle: most of the neighbouring gentry came to Dudmaston to consult me'. Regarding the future Earl of Ellesmere (1800-1857) he continues: 'Lord Francis Egerton is in correspondence with me & tells me some queer tales about the manner in which doctors & laymen are hammering at him to fright him from the Water Curer. But he says he shall judge for himself, & doing so, he sees nothing to prevent his commencing it here in January, except the times: to [adapt?] which he thinks is difficult. He will come, however, I have no doubt. He brings all his family with him.' He is glad that Churchill has 'at length fixed on a suburban residence', which will be of benefit to him and his family regardless of the expence. He ends with a question regarding the identity of 'Mackensie'. TWO: Malvern; 6 August. 1p, 12mo. He is enclosing a 'statement touching a very desirable position for a surgeon of good abilities & good manners. The locality of the engagement is in the North Riding & the lady who has the appointment is a patient of mine.' He asks him to 'communicate this to any eligible man who should desire such a thing'. With a postscript concluding that the successful applicant 'will have chiefly to practise in the old way'. From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.