DOCTOR, T To Dr LEWIS. HE pills are good for nothing-I might as well fwallow fnow-balls to cool my reins-I have told you over and over, how hard I am to move; and, at this time of day, I ought to know something of my own conftitution. Why will you be fo pofitive? Prithee send me another prescription-I am as lame and as much tortured in all my limbs as if I was broke upon the wheel: Indeed, I am equally diftreffed in mind and body-As if I had not plagues enough of my own, thofe children of my fifter are left me for a perpetual fource of vexation-What business have people to get children to plague their neighbours? A ridiculous incident that happened yesterday to my niece Liddy, has difordered me in fuch a manner, that I expect to be laid up with another fit of the gout-Perhaps I may explain myself in my next. I fhall fet out to-morrow morning for the Hot Well at Briftol, where I am afraid I fhall stay longer than I could wish. On the receipt of this, fend Williams thither with my faddle-horse and VOL. V. A the demi-pique. Tell Barns to thresh out the two old ricks, and fend the corn to market, and fell it off to the poor at a fhilling a bufhel under market price.-I have received a fnivelling letter from Griffin, offering to make a public fubmiffion, and pay cofts. I want none of his fubmiffions; neither will I pocket any of his money-The fellow is a bad neighbour, and I defire to have nothing to do with him: But as he is purfeproud, he fhall pay for his infolence: Let him give five pounds to the poor of the parish, and I'll withdraw my action; and in the mean time you may tell Prig to stop proceedings.-Let Morgan's widow have the Alderney cow, and forty fhillings to clothe her children: But don't fay a fyllable of the matter to any living foulI'll make her pay when she is able. I defire you will lock up all my drawers, and keep the keys till meeting; and be fure you take the iron cheft with my papers into your own cuftody-Forgive all this trouble from, Dear Lewis, Your affectionate Gloucefter, April 2. M. BRAMBLE. To Mrs GWYLLIM, Housekeeper, at Brambletonhall. MRS GUYLLIM, WHEN HEN this cums to hand, be fure to pack up in the trunk male that stands in my closet, to be fent me in the Bristol waggon without lofs of time, the following articles, viz. my rofe-collard neglejay, with green robins, my yellow damafk, and my black velvet fuit, with the fhort hoop; my bloo quilted petticot, my green manteel, my laced apron, my French commode, Macklin head and lappets, and the litel box with my jowls. Williams may bring over my bum-daffee, and the viol with the eafings of Dr Hill's dock-water, and Chowder's lackfitiff. The poor creature has been terribly constuprated ever fince we left huom. Pray take particular care of the houfe while the family is abfent. Let there be a fire conftantly kept in my brother's chamber and mine. The maids, having nothing to do, may be fat a-fpinning. I defire you'll clap a pad-luck on the windfeller, and let none of the men have excess to the strong bear-don't forget to have the gate fhit every evening before dark.-The gardnir and the hind may lie below in the landry, to partake the house, with the blunderbufs and the great dog; and I hope you'll have a watchful eye over the maids. I know that huffy, Mary Jones, loves to be rumping with the men. Let me know if Alderney's calf be fould yet, and what he fought-if the ould goose be fitting; and if the cobler has cut Dicky, and how the pore anemil bore the operation.— No more at prefent, but rests, Yours, Gloftar, April 2. TABITHA BRAMBLE. To Mrs MARY JONES, at Brambletonhall. DEAR MOLLY, HE EAVING this importunity, I fend my love to you and Saul, being in good health, and hoping to heer the fame from you; and that you and Saul will take my poor kitten to bed with you this cold weather. We have been all in a fad taking here at Gloftar-Mifs Liddy had like to have run away with a player-man, and young mafter and he would adone themselves a mifchief; but the 'fquire applied to the mare, and they were bound over.-Mistress bid me not fpeak a word of the matter to any Christian foul-no more I shall ; for, we fervints fhould fee all, and fay nothing-But, what was worse than all this, Chowder has had the miffortune to be worried by a butcher's dog, and came home in a terrible pickle-Miftrifs was taken with the afterisks, but they foon went off. The docter was fent for to Chowder, and he fubfcribed a repofitory, which did him great fervice-thank God, he's now in a fair way to do well-pray take care of my box, and the pillyber, and put them under your own bed; for, I do fuppose, Madam Gwyllim will be a prying into my fecrets, --- now my back is turned. John Thomas is in good health, but fulky. The 'fquire gave away an ould coat to a poor man; and John fays as how 'tis robbing him of his parquifites. I told him, by his agreement, he was to receive no vails; but he fays as how there's a difference betwixt vails and parquifites; and fo there is for fartain. We are all going to the Hot Well, where I fhall drink your health in a glass of water, being, Dear Molly, To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. of Jefus College Oxon. DEAR PHILLIPS, SI have nothing more at heart than to convince you I am incapable of forgetting or neglecting the friendship I made at college, I now begin that corfpondence by letters, which you and I agreed, at parting, to cultivate. I begin it fooner than I intended, that you may have it in your power to refute any idle reports which may be circulated to my prejudice at Oxford, touching a foolifh quarrel, in which I have been involved on account of my fifter, who had been some time fettled here in a boarding-fchool.-When I came hither with my uncle and aunt (who are our guardians) to fetch her away, I found her a fine tall girl, of feventeen, with an agreeable perfon; but remarkably fimple, and quite ignorant of the world. This difpofition, and want of experience, had expofed her to the addresses of a perfon-I know not what to call him, who had feen her at a play; and, with a confidence and dexterity peculiar to himself, found means to be recommended to her acquaintance. It was by the greatest accident I intercepted one of his letters. As it was my duty to ftifle this correspondence in its birth, I made it my bufinefs to find him out, and tell him very freely my fentiments of the matter. The fpark did not like the ftile I used, and behaved with abundance of mettle. Though his rank in life (which, by the bye, I am afhamed to declare) did not entitle him to much deference; yet, as his behaviour was remarkably fpirited, I admitted him to the privilege of a gentleman, and fomething might have happened, had not we been prevented.-In fhort, the business took air, I know not how, and made abundance of noise-recourfe was had to juftice-I was obliged to give my word and honour, &c. and to-morrow morning we set out for Bristol Wells, where I expect to hear from you by the return of the post. I have got into a family of originals, whom I may one day attempt to defcribe for your amufement. My aunt, Mrs Tabitha Bramble, is a maiden of forty-five, exceedingly starched, vain, and ridiculous. My uncle is an odd kind of humourift, always on the fret, and fo unpleasant in his manner, that, rather than be obliged to keep him company, I'd refign all claim to the inheritance of his estate. Indeed, his being tortured by the gout may have foured his temper, and, perhaps, I may like him better on farther acquaintance: Certain it is, all his fervants and neighbours in the country are fond of him even to a degree of enthusiasm, the reason of which I cannot as yet comprehend. Remember me to Griffy Price, Gwyn, Manfel, Baffet, and all the rest of my old Cambrian companions. Salute the bed-maker in my name-give my fervice to the cook, and pray take care of poor Ponto, for the fake of his old master, who is, and ever will be, Dear Phillips, Your affectionate friend, Gloucester, April 2. JER. MELFORD. |