To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon.

DEAR PHILLIPS,

W

THEN I wrote you by laft poft, I did not imagine I should be tempted to trouble you again fo foon: But I now fit down with a heart fo full, that it cannot contain itself; though I am under fuch agitation of fpirits, that you are to expect neither method nor connection in this addrefs.We have been this day within a hair's breadth of lofing honeft Matthew Bramble, in confequence of a curfed accident, which I will endeavour to explain.-In croffing the country to get into the post-road, it was neceffary to ford a river, and we that were a-horseback paffed without any danger or difficulty; but a great quantity of rain having fallen last night and this morning, there was such an accumulation of water, that a mill-head gave way, just as the coach was paffing under it, and the flood rushed down with fuch impetuofity, as first floated, and then fairly overturned the carriage in the middle of the ftream.-Lifmahago and I, and the two fervants, alighting instantaneously, ran into the river to give all the af fiftance in our power. Our aunt, Mrs Tabitha, who had the good fortune to be uppermoft, was already half way out of the coach window, when her lover approaching, difengaged her entirely; but, whether his foot flipt, or the burden was too great, they fell over head and ears in each other's arms. He endeavoured more than once to get up, and even to disentangle himself from her embrace, but the hung about his neck like a millftone (no bad emblem of matrimony); and if my man had not proved a ftanch auxiliary, thofe two lovers would in all probability have gone hand in hand to the fhades below. For my part, I was too much engaged to take any cognizance of their distress-I fnatched out my fifter by the hair of the head, and, dragging her to the bank, recollected that my uncle had not yet appeared Rushing again into the ftream, I met Clinker haling

afhore Mrs Jenkins, who looked like a mermaid with her hair dishevelled about her ears; but, when I asked if his master was fafe, he forthwith fhook her from him, and she must have gone to pot, if a miller had not feafonably come to her relief. As for Humphry, he flew like lightning to the coach, that was by this time filled with water, and, diving into it, brought up the poor fquire, to all appearance deprived of life-It is not in my power to defcribe what I felt at this melancholy fpectacle. It was fuch an agony as baffles all defcription! The faithful Clinker, taking him up in his arms, as if he had been an infant of fix months, carried him afhore, howling moft piteously all the way, and I followed him, in a transport of grief and confternation. When he was laid upon the grafs, and turned from fide to fide, a great quantity of water ran out at his mouth, then he opened his eyes, and fetched a deep figh. Clinker, perceiving these signs of life, immediately tied up his arm with a garter, and, pulling out a horfe-fleam, let him blood in the farrier ftyle.-At first a few drops only iffued from the orifice; but the arm being chafed, in a little time the blood began to flow in a continued ftream; and he uttered fome incoherent words, which were the moft welcome founds that ever faluted my ear. There was a country inn hard by, the landlord of which had by this time come with his people to give their affiftance. Thither my uncle being carried, was undreffed and put to bed, wrapped in warm blankets; but having been moved too foon, he fainted away, and once more lay without fenfe or motion, notwithstanding all the efforts of Clinker and the landlord, who bathed his temples. with Hungary-water, and held a smelling-bottle to his nofe. As I had heard of the efficacy of falt in such cafes, I ordered all that was in the house to be laid under his head and body; and whether this application had the defired effect, or Nature of herself prevailed, he, in less than a quarter of an hour, began to breathe regularly, and foon retrieved his recollection, to the unfpeakable joy of all the by-standers. As for Clinker, his brain feemed to be affected-He laughed, and wept, and danced about in fuch a distracted manner, that the landlord very judiciously conveyed him out of

the room. My uncle, feeing me dropping wet, comprehended the whole of what had happened, and asked if all the company was fafe?-Being anfwered in the affirmative, he infifted upon my putting on dry cloaths; and, having fwallowed a little warm wine, defired he might be left to his repofe. Before I went to fhift myself, I enquired about the reft of the family-I found Mrs Tabitha ftill delirious from her fright, difcharging very copiously the water he had fwallowed. She was fupported by the captain, diftilling drops from his uncurled periwig, fo lank and fo dank, that he looked like father Thame without his fedges, embracing Ifis, while the cafcaded in his urn. Mrs Jenkins was prefent also, in a loofe bed-gown, without either cap or handkerchief; but she seemed to be as little compos mentis as her mistress, and acted fo many cross purposes in the course of her attendance, that, between the two, Lifmahago had occafion for all his philofophy. As for Liddy, I thought the poor girl would have actually lost her fenfes. The good woman of the house had shifted her linen, and put her into bed; but fhe was feized with the idea that her uncle had perished, and, in this perfuafion, made a difmal outcry; nor did fhe pay the leaft regard to what I faid, when I folemnly affured her he was fafe. Mr Bramble hearing the noife, and being informed of her apprehenfion, defired fhe might be brought into his chamber; and fhe no fooner received. this intimation, than fhe ran thither half naked, with the wildeft expreffion of eagerness in her countenance.— Seeing the fquire fitting up in the bed, fhe fprung forwards, and, throwing her arms about his neck, exclaimed in a moft pathetic tone," Are you-Are you indeed my uncle-My dear uncle!-My beft friend! My father! Are you really living? or is it an illufion of my poor brain?" Honeft Matthew was fo much affected, that he could not help fhedding tears, while he kiffed her forehead, faying, "My dear Liddy, I hope I shall live long enough to fhew how sensible I am of your affection-But your fpirits are fluttered, child-You want reft-Go to bed and compofe yourself-" "Well, I will (the replied)-but ftill methinks this cannot be real-The coach was full of water-My uncle was un

der us all-Gracious God!-You was under waterHow did you get out?-Tell me that; or I fhall think this is all a deception." "In what manner I was brought out, I know as little as you do, my dear (faid the fquire): And truly that is a circumftance of which I want to be informed." I would have given him a detail of the whole adventure, but he would not hear me until I should change my cloaths; fo that I had only time to tell him, that he owed his life to the courage and fidelity of Clinker; and having given him this hint, I conducted my fifter to her own chamber.

THIS accident happened about three o'clock in the afternoon, and in little more than half an hour the hurricane was all over; but as the carriage was found to be fo much damaged, that it could not proceed without confiderable repairs, a blacksmith and wheelwright were immediately sent for to the next market-town, and we congratulated ourselves upon being housed at an inn, which, though remote from the poft-road, afforded exceeding good lodging. The women being pretty well compofed, and the men all afoot, my uncle fent for his fervant, and, in the presence of Lifmahago and me, accofted him in these words-" So, Clinker, I find you are refolved I fhan't die by water-As you have fished me up from the bottom at your own risk, you are at leaft entitled to all the money that was in my pocket, and there it is." So faying, he prefented him with a purfe containing thirty guineas, and a ring nearly of the fame value." God forbid! (cried Clinker), your Honour fhall excufe me- -I am a poor fellow; but I have a heart-O! if your Honour did but know how I rejoiced to fee-Bleffed be his holy name, that made me the humble inftrument-But as for the lucre of gain, I renounce it-I have done no more than my duty-No more than I would have done for the most worthless of my fellow-creatures-No more than I would have done for Captain Lifmahago, or Archy Macalpine, or any finner upon earth-But for your Worfhip, I would go through fire as well as water." "I do believe it, Humphry (faid the fquire); but as you think it was your duty to fave my life at the hazard of your own, I think it is mine to express the sense I have of your extraordi

nary fidelity and attachment-I insist upon your recefving this small token of my gratitude; but don't imagine that I look upon this as an adequate recompence for the fervice you have done me-I have determined to fettle thirty pounds a year upon you for life; and I defire these gentlemen will bear witness to this my intention, of which I have a memorandum in my pocketbook." "Lord make me thankful for all these mercies! (cried Clinker, fobbing); I have been a poor bankrupt from the beginning-your Honour's goodness found me, when I was-naked-when I was-fick and forlornI understand your Honour's looks-I would not give offence-but my heart is very full-and if your Worship won't give me leave to fpeak-I muft vent it in prayers to Heaven for my benefactor." When he quitted the room, Lifmahago faid, he fhould have a much better opinion of his honesty, if he did not whine and cant so abominably; but that he had always obferved thofe weeping and praying fellows were hypocrites at bottom. Mr Bramble made no reply to this farcaftic remark, proceeding from the lieutenant's refentment of Clinker's having, in pure fimplicity of heart, ranked him with M'Alpine and the finners of the earth.-The landlord being called to receive fome orders about the beds, told the fquire, that his house was very much at his fervice, but he was fure he should not have the honour to lodge him and his company. He gave us to understand, that his mafter, who lived hard by, would not suffer us to be at a public houfe, when there was accommodation for us at his own; and that, if he had not dined abroad in the neighbourhood, he would have undoubtedly come to offer his fervices at our first arrival. He then launched out in praise of that gentleman, whom he had served as butler, reprefenting him as a perfect miracle of goodness and generofity. He said he was a person of great learning, and allowed to be the best farmer in the countrythat he had a lady who was as much beloved as himself, and an only fon, a very hopeful young gentleman, just recovered from a dangerous fever, which had like to have proved fatal to the whole family; for, if the fon had died, he was fure the parents would not have furvived their lofs. He had not yet finished the enco

1