the expedition of humphry clinker-第24部分

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retain　the　inclination　　Your　very　humble　servant；　good　Mr
Blackberry'　　So　saying；　he　shoved　to　another　corner　of　the　room。
'What　a　fine　old　gentleman！　（cried　Mr　Barton）　what　spirits！　what
a　memory！　He　never　forgets　an　old　friend。'　'He　does　me　too　much
honour　（observed　our　squire）　to　rank　me　among　the　number　　Whilst
I　sat　in　parliament；　I　never　voted　with　the　ministry　but　three
times；　when　my　conscience　told　me　they　were　in　the　right：
however；　if　he　still　keeps　levee；　I　will　carry　my　nephew　thither；
that　he　may　see；　and　learn　to　avoid　the　scene；　for；　I　think；　an
English　gentleman　never　appears　to　such　disadvantage；　as　at　the
levee　of　a　minister　　Of　his　grace　I　shall　say　nothing　at　present；
but　that　for　thirty　years　he　was　the　constant　and　common　butt　of
ridicule　and　execration。　He　was　generally　laughed　at　as　an　ape　in
politics；　whose　office　and　influence　served　only　to　render　his
folly　the　more　notorious；　and　the　opposition　cursed　him；　as　the
indefatigable　drudge　of　a　first…mover；　who　was　justly　stiled　and
stigmatized　as　the　father　of　corruption：　but　this　ridiculous　ape；
this　venal　drudge；　no　sooner　lost　the　places　he　was　so　ill
qualified　to　fill；　and　unfurled　the　banners　of　faction；　than　he
was　metamorphosed　into　a　pattern　of　public　virtue；　the　very
people　who　reviled　him　before；　now　extolled　him　to　the　skies；　as
a　wise；　experienced　statesman；　chief　pillar　of　the　Protestant
succession；　and　corner　stone　of　English　liberty。　I　should　be　glad
to　know　how　Mr　Barton　reconciles　these　contradictions；　without
obliging　us　to　resign　all　title　to　the　privilege　of　common
sense。'　'My　dear　sir　（answered　Barton）　I　don't　pretend　to　justify
the　extravagations　of　the　multitude；　who；　I　suppose；　were　as　wild
in　their　former　censure；　as　in　the　present　praise：　but　I　shall　be
very　glad　to　attend　you　on　Thursday　next　to　his　grace's　levee；
where；　I'm　afraid；　we　shall　not　be　crowded　with　company；　for；　you
know；　there's　a　wide　difference　between　his　present　office　of
president　of　the　council；　and　his　former　post　of　first　lord
commissioner　of　the　treasury。'

This　communicative　friend　having　announced　all　the　remarkable
characters　of　both　sexes；　that　appeared　at　court；　we　resolved　to
adjourn；　and　retired。　At　the　foot　of　the　stair…case；　there　was　a
crowd　of　lacqueys　and　chairmen；　and　in　the　midst　of　them　stood
Humphry　Clinker；　exalted　upon　a　stool；　with　his　hat　in　one　hand；
and　a　paper　in　the　other；　in　the　act　of　holding　forth　to　the
people　　Before　we　could　inquire　into　the　meaning　of　this
exhibition；　he　perceived　his　master；　thrust　the　paper　into　his
pocket；　descended　from　his　elevation；　bolted　through　the　crowd；
and　brought　up　the　carriage　to　the　gate。

My　uncle　said　nothing　till　we　were　seated；　when；　after　having
looked　at　me　earnestly　for　some　time；　he　burst　out　a…laughing；
and　asked　if　I　knew　upon　what　subject　Clinker　was　holding　forth
to　the　mob　　'If　（said　he）　the　fellow　is　turned　mountebank；　I　must
turn　him　out　of　my　service；　otherwise　he'll　make　Merry　Andrews　of
us　all'　　I　observed；　that；　in　all　probability；　he　had　studied
medicine　under　his　master；　who　was　a　farrier。

At　dinner；　the　squire　asked　him；　if　he　had　ever　practised　physic？
'Yes；　and　please　your　honour　（said　he）　among　brute　beasts；　but　I
never　meddle　with　rational　creatures。'　'I　know　not　whether　you
rank　in　that　class　the　audience　you　was　haranguing　in　the　court
at　St。　James's；　but　I　should　be　glad　to　know　what　kind　of　powders
you　was　distributing；　and　whether　you　had　a　good　sale'　　'Sale；
sir！　（cried　Clinker）　I　hope　I　shall　never　be　base　enough　to　sell
for　gold　and　silver；　what　freely　comes　of　God's　grace。　I
distributed　nothing；　an　like　your　honour；　but　a　word　of　advice　to
my　fellows　in　servitude　and　sin。'　'Advice！　concerning　what？'
'Concerning　profane　swearing；　an　please　your　honour；　so　horrid
and　shocking；　that　it　made　my　hair　stand　on　end。'　'Nay；　if　thou
can'st　cure　them　Of　that　disease；　I　shall　think　thee　a　wonderful
doctor　indeed'　'Why　not　cure　them；　my　good　master？　the　hearts　of
those　poor　people　are　not　so　stubborn　as　your　honour　seems　to
think　　Make　them　first　sensible　that　you　have　nothing　in　view　but
their　good；　then　they　will　listen　with　patience；　and　easily　be
convinced　of　the　sin　and　folly　of　a　practice　that　affords　neither
profit　nor　pleasure　　At　this　remark；　our　uncle　changed　colour；
and　looked　round　the　company；　conscious　that　his　own　withers　were
not　altogether　unwrung。　'But；　Clinker　（said　he）　if　you　should
have　eloquence　enough　to　persuade　the　vulgar　to　resign　those
tropes　and　figures　of　rhetoric；　there　will　be　little　or　nothing
left　to　distinguish　their　conversation　from　that　of　their
betters。'　'But　then　your　honour　knows；　their　conversation　will　be
void　of　offence；　and；　at　the　day　of　judgment；　there　will　be　no
distinction　of　persons。'

Humphry　going　down　stairs　to　fetch　up　a　bottle　of　wine；　my　uncle
congratulated　his　sister　upon　having　such　a　reformer　in　the
family；　when　Mrs　Tabitha　declared；　he　was　a　sober　civilized
fellow；　very　respectful；　and　very　industrious；　and；　she　believed；
a　good　Christian　into　the　bargain。　One　would　think；　Clinker　must
really　have　some　very　extraordinary　talent；　to　ingratiate　himself
in　this　manner　with　a　virago　of　her　character；　so　fortified
against　him　with　prejudice　and　resentment；　but　the　truth　is；
since　the　adventure　of　Salt…hill；　Mrs　Tabby　seems　to　be　entirely
changed。　She　has　left　off　scolding　the　servants；　an　exercise
which　was　grown　habitual；　and　even　seemed　necessary　to　her
constitution；　and　is　become　so　indifferent　to　Chowder；　as　to　part
with　him　in　a　present　to　lady　Griskin；　who　proposes　to　bring　the
breed　of　him　into　fashion。　Her　ladyship　is　the　widow　of　Sir
Timothy　Griskin；　a　distant　relation　of　our　family。　She　enjoys　a
jointure　of　five　hundred　pounds　a…year；　and　makes　shift　to　spend
three　times　that　sum。　Her　character　before　marriage　was　a　little
equivocal；　but　at　present　she　lives　in　the　bon　ton；　keeps　card…tables；
gives　private　suppers　to　select　friends；　and　is　visited
by　persons　of　the　first　fashion　　She　has　been　remarkably　civil　to
us　all；　and　cultivates　my　uncle　with　the　most　particular　regard；
but　the　more　she　strokes　him；　the　more　his　bristles　seem　to　rise　
To　her　compliments　he　makes　very　laconic　and　dry　returns　
T'other　day　she　sent　us　a　pottle　of　fine　strawberries；　which　he
did　not　receive　without　signs　of　disgust；　muttering　from　the
Aeneid；　timeo　Danaos　et　Dona　ferentes。　She　has　twice　called　for
Liddy；　of　a　forenoon；　to　take　an　airing　in　the　coach；　but　Mrs
Tabby　was　always　so　alert　（I　suppose　by　his　direction）　that　she
never　could　have　the　niece　without　her　aunt's　company。　I　have
endeavoured　to　sound　Square…toes　on　this　subject；　but　he
carefully　avoids　all　explanation。

I　have　now；　dear　Phillips；　filled　a　whole　sheet；　and　if　you　have
read　it　to　an　end；　I　dare　say；　you　are　as　tired　as

Your　humble　servant；
J。　MELFORD
LONDON；　June　2。




To　Dr　LEWIS。

Yes；　Doctor；　I　have　seen　the　British　Museum；　which　is　a　noble
collection；　and　even　stupendous；　if　we　consider　it　was　made　by　a
private　man；　a　physician；　who　was　obliged　to　make　his　own　for
tune　at　the　same　time：　but　great　as　the　collection　is；　it　would
appear　more　striking　if　it　was　arranged　in　one　spacious　saloon；
instead　of　being　divided　into　different　apartments；　which　it　does
not　entirely　fill　　I　could　wish　the　series　of　medals　was
connected；　and　the　whole　of　the　animal；　vegetable；　and　mineral
kingdoms　completed；　by　adding　to　each；　at　the　public　expence；
those　articles　that　are　wanting。　It　would　likewise　be　a　great
improvement；　with　respect　to　the　library；　if　the　deficiencies
were　made　up；　by　purchasing　all　the　books　of　character　that　are
not　to　be　found　already　in　the　collection　　They　might　be　classed
in　centuries；　according　to　the　dates　of　their　publication；　and
catalogues　printed　of　them　and　the　manuscripts；　for　the
information　of　those　that　want　to　consult；　or　compile　from　such
authorities。　I　could　also　wish；　for　the　honour　of　the　nation；
that　there　was　a　complete　apparatus　for　a　course　of　mathematics；
mechanics；　and　experimental　philosophy；　and　a　good　salary　settled
upon　an　able　professor；　who　should　give　regular　lectures　on　these
subjects。

But　this　is　all　idle　speculation；　which　will　never　be　reduced　to
practice　　Considering　the　temper　of　the　times；　it　is　a　wonder　to
see　any　institution　whatsoever　established　for　the　benefit　of　the
Public。　The　spirit　of　party　is　risen　to　a　kind　of　phrenzy；
unknown　to　former　ages；　or　rather　degenerated　to　a　total
extinction　of　honesty　and　candour　　You　know　I　have　observed；　for
some　time；　that　the　public　papers　are　become　the　infamous
vehicles　of　the　most　cruel　and　perfidious　defamation：　every
rancorous　knave　every　desperate　incendiary；　that　can　afford　to
spend　half　a　crown　or　three　shillings；　may　skulk　behind　the　press
of　a　newsmonger；　and　have　a　stab　at　the　first　character　in　the
kingdom；　without　running　the　least　hazard　of　detection　or
punishment。

I　have　made　acquaintance　with　a　Mr　Barton；　whom　Jery　knew　at
Oxford；　a　good　sort　of　a　man；　though　most　ridiculously　warped　in
his　political　principles；　but　his　partiality　is　the　less
offensive；　as　it　never　appears　in　the　stile　of　scurrility　and
abuse。　He　is　a　member　of　parliament；　and　a　retainer　to　the　court；
and　his　whole　conversation　turns　upon　the　virtues　and　perfections
of　the　ministers；　who　are　his　patrons。　T'other　day；　when　he　was
bedaubing　one　of　those　worthies；　with　the　most　fulsome　praise；　I
told　him　I　had　seen　the　same　nobleman　characterised　very
differently；　in　one　of　the　daily…papers；　indeed；　so　stigmatized；
that　if　one　half　of　what　was　said　of　him　was　true；　he　must　be　not
only　unfit　to　rule；　but　even　unfit　to　live：　that　those
impeachments　had　been　repeated　again　and　again；　with　the　addition
of　fresh　matter；　and　that　as　he　had　taken　no　steps　towards　his
own　vindication；　I　began　to　think　there　was　some　foundation　for
the　charge。　'And　pray；　Sir　（said　Mr　Barton）；　what　steps　would　you
have　him　take？　Suppose　he　should　prosecute　the　publisher；　who
screens　the　anonymous　accuser；　and　bring　him　to　the　pillory　for　a
libel；　this　is　so　far　from　being　counted　a　punishment；　in
terrorem；　that　it　will　probably　make　his　fortune