the expedition of humphry clinker-第65部分
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To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DOCTOR；
The peasantry of Scotland are certainly on a poor footing all
over the kingdom； and yet they look better； and are better
cloathed than those of the same rank in Burgundy； and many other
places of France and Italy； nay； I will venture to say they are
better fed； notwithstanding the boasted wine of these foreign
countries。 The country people of North…Britain live chiefly on
oat…meal； and milk； cheese； butter； and some garden…stuff； with
now and then a pickled…herring； by way of delicacy； but flesh…meat
they seldom or never taste； nor any kind of strong liquor；
except two…penny； at times of uncommon festivity Their breakfast
is a kind of hasty pudding； of oat…meal or pease…meal； eaten with
milk。 They have commonly pottage for dinner； composed of cale or
cole； leeks； barley or big； and butter； and this is reinforced
with bread and cheese； made of skimmed…milk At night they sup on
sowens or flummery of oat…meal In a scarcity of oats； they use
the meal of barley and pease； which is both nourishing and
palatable。 Some of them have potatoes； and you find parsnips in
every peasant's garden They are cloathed with a coarse kind of
russet of their own making； which is both decent and warm They
dwell in poor huts； built of loose stones and turf； without any
mortar； having a fireplace or hearth in the middle； generally
made of an old mill…stone； and a hole at top to let out the
smoke。
These people； however； are content； and wonderfully sagacious
All of them read the Bible； and are even qualified to dispute
upon the articles of their faith； which in those parts I have
seen； is entirely Presbyterian。 I am told； that the inhabitants
of Aberdeenshire are still more acute。 I once knew a Scotch
gentleman at London； who had declared war against this part of
his countrymen； and swore that the impudence and knavery of the
Scots； in that quarter； had brought a reproach upon the whole
nation。
The river Clyde； above Glasgow； is quite pastoral； and the banks
of it are every where adorned with fine villas。 From the sea to
its source； we may reckon the seats of many families of the first
rank； such as the duke of Argyle at Roseneath； the earl of Bute
in the isle of that name； the earl of Glencairn at Finlayston；
lord Blantyre at Areskine； the dutchess of Douglas at Bothwell；
duke Hamilton at Hamilton； the duke of Douglas at Douglas； and
the earl of Hyndford at Carmichael。 Hamilton is a noble palace；
magnificently furnished； and hard by is the village of that name；
one of the neatest little towns I have seen in any country。 The
old castle of Douglas being burned to the ground by accident； the
late duke resolved； as head of the first family of Scotland； to
have the largest house in the kingdom； and ordered a plan for
this purpose； but there was only one wing of it finished when he
died。 It is to be hoped that his nephew； who is now in possession
of his great fortune； will complete the design of his
predecessor Clydesdale is in general populous and rich；
containing a great number of gentlemen； who are independent in
their fortune； but it produces more cattle than corn This is
also the case with Tweedale； through part of which we passed； and
Nithsdale； which is generally rough； wild； and mountainous These
hills are covered with sheep； and this is the small delicious
mutton； so much preferable to that of the London…market。 As their
feeding costs so little； the sheep are not killed till five years
old； when their flesh； juices； and flavour are in perfection； but
their fleeces are much damaged by the tar； with which they are
smeared to preserve them from the rot in winter； during which
they run wild night and day； and thousands are lost under huge
wreaths of snow 'Tis pity the farmers cannot contrive some means
to shelter this useful animal from the inclemencies of a rigorous
climate； especially from the perpetual rains； which are more
prejudicial than the greatest extremity of cold weather。
On the little river Nid； is situated the castle of Drumlanrig；
one of the noblest seats in Great…Britain； belonging to the duke
of Queensberry； one of those few noblemen whose goodness of heart
does honour to human…nature I shall not pretend to enter into a
description of this palace； which is really an instance of the
sublime in magnificence； as well as in situation； and puts one in
mind of the beautiful city of Palmyra； rising like a vision in
the midst of the wilderness。 His grace keeps open house； and
lives with great splendour He did us the honour to receive us
with great courtesy； and detain'd us all night； together with
above twenty other guests； with all their servants and horses to
a very considerable number The dutchess was equally gracious；
and took our ladies under her immediate protection。 The longer I
live； I see more reason to believe that prejudices of education
are never wholly eradicated； even when they are discovered to be
erroneous and absurd。 Such habits of thinking as interest the
grand passions； cleave to the human heart in such a manner； that
though an effort of reason may force them from their hold for a
moment； this violence no sooner ceases； than they resume their
grasp with an increased elasticity and adhesion。
I am led into this reflection； by what passed at the duke's table
after supper。 The conversation turned upon the vulgar notions of
spirits and omens； that prevail among the commonalty of North…Britain；
and all the company agreed； that nothing could be more
ridiculous。 One gentleman； however； told a remarkable story of
himself； by way of speculation 'Being on a party of hunting in
the North （said he）； I resolved to visit an old friend； whom I
had not seen for twenty years So long he had been retired and
sequestered from all his acquaintance； and lived in a moping
melancholy way； much afflicted with lowness of spirits；
occasioned by the death of his wife； whom he had loved with
uncommon affection。 As he resided in a remote part of the
country； and we were five gentlemen with as many servants； we
carried some provision with us from the next market town； lest we
should find him unprepared for our reception。 The roads being
bad； we did not arrive at the house till two o'clock in the
afternoon； and were agreeably surprised to find a very good
dinner ready in the kitchen； and the cloth laid with six covers。
My friend himself appeared in his best apparel at the gate； and
received us with open arms； telling me he had been expecting us
these two hours。 Astonished at this declaration； I asked who had
given him intelligence of our coming？ and he smiled without
making any other reply。 However； presuming upon our former
intimacy； I afterwards insisted upon knowing； and he told me；
very gravely； he had seen me in a vision of the second sight
Nay； he called in the evidence of his steward； who solemnly
declared； that his master had the day before apprised him of my
coming； with four other strangers； and ordered him to provide
accordingly； in consequence of which intimation； he had prepared
the dinner which we were now eating； and laid the covers
according to the number foretold。' The incident we all owned to
be remarkable； and I endeavoured to account for it by natural
means。 I observed； that as the gentleman was of a visionary turn；
the casual idea； or remembrance of his old friend； might suggest
those circumstances； which accident had for once realized； but
that in all probability he had seen many visions of the same
kind； which were never verified。 None of the company directly
dissented from my opinion； but from the objections that were
hinted； I could plainly perceive that the majority were persuaded
there was something more extraordinary in the case。
Another gentleman of the company； addressing himself to me；
'Without all doubt （said he）； a diseased imagination is very apt
to produce visions； but we must find some other method to account
for something of this kind； that happened within these eight days
in my neighbourhood A gentleman of a good family； who cannot be
deemed a visionary in any sense of the word； was near his own
gate； in the twilight； visited by his grandfather； who has been
dead these fifteen years The spectre was mounted seemingly on
the very horse he used to ride； with an angry and terrible
countenance； and said something； which his grandson； in the
confusion of fear； could not understand。 But this was not all He
lifted up a huge horse whip； and applied it with great violence
to his back and shoulders； on which I saw the impression with my
own eyes。 The apparition was afterwards seen by the sexton of the
parish； hovering about the tomb where his body lies interred； as
the man declared to several persons in the village； before he
knew what had happened to the gentleman Nay； he actually came to
me as a justice of the peace； in order to make oath of these
particulars； which； however； I declined administering。 As for the
grandson of the defunct； he is a sober； sensible； worldly minded
fellow； too intent upon schemes of interest to give in to
reveries。 He would have willingly concealed the affair； but he
bawled out in the first transport of his fear； and； running into
the house； exposed his back and his sconce to the whole family；
so that there was no denying it in the sequel。 It is now the
common discourse of the country； that this appearance and
behaviour of the old man's spirit； portends some great calamity
to the family； and the good…woman has actually taken to her bed
in this apprehension。'
Though I did not pretend to explain this mystery； I said； I did
not at all doubt； but it would one day appear to be a deception；
and； in all probability； a scheme executed by some enemy of the
person who had sustained the assault； but still the gentleman
insisted upon the clearness of the evidence； and the concurrence
of testimony； by which two creditable witnesses； without any
communication one with another； affirmed the appearance of the
same man； with whose person they were both well acquainted From
Drumlanrig we pursued the course of the Nid to Dumfries； which
stands seven miles above the place where the river falls into the
sea； an
