the expedition of humphry clinker-第22部分

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obliged　to　turn　him　off　abruptly；　betwixt　Chippenham　and
Marlborough；　where　our　coach　was　overturned。　The　fellow　was
always　sullen　and　selfish；　but；　if　he　should　return　to　the
country；　you　may　give　him　a　character　for　honesty　and　sobriety；
and；　provided　he　behaves　with　proper　respect　to　the　family；　let
him　have　a　couple　of
guineas　in　the　name　of

Yours　always；
MATT。　BRAMBLE
LONDON；　May　20。



To　Miss　LAETITIA　WILLIS；　at　Gloucester。

MY　DEAR　LETTY；

Inexpressible　was　the　pleasure　I　received　from　yours　of　the　25th；
which　was　last　night　put　into　my　hands　by　Mrs　Brentford；　the
milliner；　from　Gloucester　　I　rejoice　to　hear　that　my　worthy
governess　is　in　good　health；　and；　still　more；　that　she　no　longer
retains　any　displeasure　towards　her　poor　Liddy。　I　am　sorry　you
have　lost　the　society　of　the　agreeable　Miss　Vaughn；　but；　I　hope
you　won't　have　cause　much　longer　to　regret　the　departure　of　your
school　companions；　as　I　make　no　doubt　but　your　parents　will；　in　a
little　time；　bring　you　into　the　world；　where　you　are　so　well
qualified　to　make　a　distinguished　figure。　When　that　is　the　case；
I　flatter　myself　you　and　I　shall　meet　again；　and　be　happy
together；　and　even　improve　the　friendship　which　we　contracted　in
our　tender　years。　This　at　least　I　can　promise　　It　shall　not　be　for
the　want　of　my　utmost　endeavours；　if　our　intimacy　does　not
continue　for　life。

About　five　days　ago　we　arrived　in　London；　after　an　easy　journey
from　Bath；　during　which；　however；　we　were　overturned；　and　met
with　some　other　little　incidents；　which；　had　like　to　have
occasioned　a　misunderstanding　betwixt　my　uncle　and　aunt；　but　now；
thank　God；　they　are　happily　reconciled：　we　live　in　harmony
together；　and　every　day　make　parties　to　see　the　wonders　of　this
vast　metropolis；　which；　however；　I　cannot　pretend　to　describe；
for　I　have　not　as　yet　seen　one　hundredth　part　of　its　curiosities；
and　I　am　quite　in　a　maze　of　admiration。

The　cities　of　London　and　Westminster　are　spread　out　into　an
incredible　extent。　The　streets；　squares；　rows；　lanes；　and　alleys；
are　innumerable。　Palaces；　public　buildings；　and　churches　rise　in
every　quarter；　and；　among　these　last；　St　Paul's　appears　with　the
most　astonishing　pre…eminence。　They　say　it　is　not　so　large　as；　St
Peter's　at　Rome；　but；　for　my　own　part；　I　can　have　no　idea　of　any
earthly　temple　more　grand　and　magnificent。

But　even　these　superb　objects　are　not　so　striking　as　the　crowds
of　people　that　swarm　in　the　streets。　I　at　first　imagined　that
some　great　assembly　was　just　dismissed；　and　wanted　to　stand　aside
till　the　multitude　should　pass；　but　this　human　tide　continues　to
flow；　without　interruption　or　abatement；　from　morn　till　night。
Then　there　is　such　an　infinity　of　gay　equipages；　coaches；
chariots；　chaises；　and　other　carriages；　continually　rolling　and
shifting　before　your　eyes；　that　one's　head　grows　giddy　looking　at
them；　and　the　imagination　is　quite　confounded　with　splendour　and
variety。　Nor　is　the　prospect　by　water　less　grand　and　astonishing
than　that　by　land：　you　see　three　stupendous　bridges；　joining　the
opposite　banks　of　a　broad；　deep；　and　rapid　river；　so　vast；　so
stately；　so　elegant；　that　they　seem　to　be　the　work　of　the　giants；
betwixt　them；　the　whole　surface　of　the　Thames　is　covered　with
small　vessels；　barges；　boats；　and　wherries；　passing　to　and　fro；
and　below　the　three　bridges；　such　a　prodigious　forest　of　masts；
for　miles　together；　that　you　would　think　all　the　ships　in　the
universe　were　here　assembled。　All　that　you　read　of　wealth　and
grandeur　in　the　Arabian　Nights'　Entertainment；　and　the　Persian
Tales；　concerning　Bagdad；　Diarbekir；　Damascus；　Ispahan；　and
Samarkand；　is　here　realized。

Ranelagh　looks　like　the　inchanted　palace　of　a　genie；　adorned　with
the　most　exquisite　performances　of　painting；　carving；　and
gilding；　enlightened　with　a　thousand　golden　lamps；　that　emulate
the　noon…day　sun；　crowded　with　the　great；　the　rich；　the　gay；　the
happy；　and　the　fair；　glittering　with　cloth　of　gold　and　silver；
lace；　embroidery；　and　precious　stones。　While　these　exulting　sons
and　daughters　of　felicity　tread　this　round　of　pleasure；　or　regale
in　different　parties；　and　separate　lodges；　with　fine　imperial　tea
and　other　delicious　refreshments；　their　ears　are　entertained　with
the　most　ravishing　delights　of　music；　both　instrumental　and
vocal。　There　I　heard　the　famous　Tenducci；　a　thing　from　Italy　　It
looks　for　all　the　world　like　a　man；　though　they　say　it　is　not。
The　voice；　to　be　sure；　is　neither　man's　nor　woman's；　but　it　is
more　melodious　than　either；　and　it　warbled　so　divinely；　that；
while　I　listened；　I　really　thought　myself　in　paradise。

At　nine　o'clock；　in　a　charming　moonlight　evening；　we　embarked　at
Ranelagh　for　Vauxhall；　in　a　wherry　so　light　and　slender　that　we
looked　like　so　many　fairies　sailing　in　a　nutshell。　My　uncle；
being　apprehensive　of　catching　cold　upon　the　water；　went　round　in
the　coach；　and　my　aunt　would　have　accompanied　him；　but　he　would
not　suffer　me　to　go　by　water　if　she　went　by　land；　and　therefore
she　favoured　us　with　her　company；　as　she　perceived　I　had　a
curiosity　to　make　this　agreeable　voyage　　After　all；　the　vessel
was　sufficiently　loaded；　for；　besides　the　waterman；　there　was　my
brother　Jery；　and　a　friend　of　his；　one　Mr　Barton；　a　country
gentleman；　of　a　good　fortune；　who　had　dined　at　our　house　　The
pleasure　of　this　little　excursion　was；　however；　damped；　by　my
being　sadly　frighted　at　our　landing；　where　there　was　a　terrible
confusion　of　wherries　and　a　crowd　of　people　bawling；　and
swearing；　and　quarrelling；　nay；　a　parcel　of　ugly…looking　fellows
came　running　into　the　water；　and　laid　hold　of　our　boat　with　great
violence；　to　pull　it　a…shore；　nor　would　they　quit　their　hold　till
my　brother　struck　one　of　them　over　the　head　with　his　cane。　But
this　flutter　was　fully　recompensed　by　the　pleasures　of　Vauxhall；
which　I　no　sooner　entered；　than　I　was　dazzled　and　confounded　with
the　variety　of　beauties　that　rushed　all　at　once　upon　my　eye。
Image　to　yourself；　my　dear　Letty；　a　spacious　garden；　part　laid
out　in　delightful　walks；　bounded　with　high　hedges　and　trees；　and
paved　with　gravel；　part　exhibiting　a　wonderful　assemblage　of　the
most　picturesque　and　striking　objects'　pavilions；　lodges；　groves；
grottoes；　lawns；　temples　and　cascades；　porticoes；　colonades；　and
rotundos；　adorned　with　pillars；　statues；　and　painting：　the　whole
illuminated　with　an　infinite　number　of　lamps；　disposed　in
different　figures　of　suns；　stars；　and　constellations；　the　place
crowded　with　the　gayest　company；　ranging　through　those　blissful
shades；　or　supping　in　different　lodges　on　cold　collations；
enlivened　with　mirth；　freedom；　and　good　humour；　and　animated　by
an　excellent　band　of　music。　Among　the　vocal　performers　I　had　the
happiness　to　hear　the　celebrated　Mrs　；　whose　voice　was　loud　and
shrill；　that　it　made　my　head　ake　through　excess　of　pleasure。

In　about　half　an　hour　after　we　arrived　we　were　joined　by　my
uncle；　who　did　not　seem　to　relish　the　place。　People　of　experience
and　infirmity；　my　dear　Letty；　see　with　very　different　eyes　from
those　that　such　as　you　and　I　make　use　of　　Our　evening's
entertainment　was　interrupted　by　an　unlucky　accident。　In　one　of
the　remotest　walks　we　were　surprised　with　a　sudden　shower；　that
set　the　whole　company　a…running；　and　drove　us　in　heaps；　one　upon
another；　into　the　rotunda；　where　my　uncle；　finding　himself　wet；
began　to　be　very　peevish　and　urgent　to　be　gone。　My　brother　went
to　look　for　the　coach；　and　found　it　with　much　difficulty；　but　as
it　could　not　hold　us　all；　Mr　Barton　stayed　behind。　It　was　some
time　before　the　carriage　could　be　brought　up　to　the　gate；　in　the
confusion；　notwithstanding　the　utmost　endeavours　of　our　new
footman；　Humphry　Clinker；　who　lost　his　scratch　periwig；　and　got　a
broken　head　in　the　scuffle。　The　moment　we　were　seated；　my　aunt
pulled　off　my　uncle's　shoes；　and　carefully　wrapped　his　poor　feet
in　her　capuchin；　then　she　gave　him　a　mouth…ful　of　cordial；　which
she　always　keeps　in　her　pocket；　and　his　clothes　were　shifted　as
soon　as　we　arrived　at　lodgings；　so　that；　blessed　be　God；　he
escaped　a　severe　cold；　of　which　he　was　in　great　terror。

As　for　Mr　Barton；　I　must　tell　you　in　confidence；　he　was　a　little
particular；　but；　perhaps；　I　mistake　his　complaisance；　and　I　wish
I　may；　for　his　sake　　You　know　the　condition　of　my　poor　heart：
which；　in　spite　of　hard　usage　　And　yet　I　ought　not　to　complain：
nor　will　I；　till　farther　information。

Besides　Ranelagh　and　Vauxhall；　I　have　been　at　Mrs　Cornelys'
assembly；　which；　for　the　rooms；　the　company；　the　dresses；　and
decorations；　surpasses　all　description；　but　as　I　have　no　great
turn　for　card　playing；　I　have　not　yet　entered　thoroughly　into　the
spirit　of　the　place：　indeed　I　am　still　such　a　country　hoyden；
that　I　could　hardly　find　patience　to　be　put　in　a　condition　to
appear；　yet；　as　I　was　not　above　six　hours　under　the　hands　of　the
hair…dresser；　who　stuffed　my　head　with　as　much　black　wool　as
would　have　made　a　quilted　petticoat；　and；　after　all；　it　was　the
smallest　head　in　the　assembly；　except　my　aunt's　　She；　to　be　sure；
was　so　particular　with　her　rumpt　gown　and　petticoat；　her　scanty
curls；　her　lappethead；　deep　triple　ruffles；　and　high　stays；　that
every　body　looked　at　her　with　surprise：　some　whispered；　and　some
tittered；　and　lady　Griskin；　by　whom　we　were　introduced；　flatly
told　her；　she　was　twenty　good　years　behind　the　fashion。

Lady　Griskin　is　a　person　of　fashion；　to　whom　we　have　the　honour
to　be　related。　She　keeps　a　small　rout　at　her　own　house；　never
exceeding　ten　or　a　dozen　card…tables；　but　these　are　frequented　by
the　best　company　in　town　　She　has　been　so　obliging　as　to
introduce　my　aunt　and　me　to　some　of　her　particular　friends　of
quality；　who　treat　us　with　the　most　familiar　good…humour：　we　have
once　dined　with　her；　and　she　takes　the　trouble　to　direct　us　in
all　our　motions。　I　am　so　happy　as　to　have　gained　her　goodwill　to
such　a　degree；　that　she　sometimes　adjusts　my　cap　with　her　own
hands；　and　she　has　given　me　a　kind　invitation　to　stay　with　her
all　the　winter。　This；　however；　has　been　cruelly　declined　by　my
uncle　who　seems　to　be　（I　know　not　how）　prejudiced　against　the
good　lady；　for；　whenever　my　aunt　happens　to　speak　in　her
commendation；　I　observe　that　he　makes　wry　faces；　th