the expedition of humphry clinker-第66部分

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stands　seven　miles　above　the　place　where　the　river　falls　into　the
sea；　and　is；　after　Glasgow；　the　handsomest　town　I　have　seen　in
Scotland。　The　inhabitants；　indeed；　seem　to　have　proposed　that　city
as　their　model；　not　only　in　beautifying　their　town　and　regulating
its　police；　but；　also　in　prosecuting　their　schemes　of　commerce
and　manufacture；　by　which　they　are　grown　rich　and　opulent。

We　re…entered　England；　by　the　way　of　Carlisle；　where　we
accidentally　met　with　our　friend　Lismahago；　whom　we　had　in　vain
inquired　after　at　Dumfries　and　other　places　　It　would　seem　that
the　captain；　like　the　prophets　of　old；　is　but　little　honoured　in
his　own　country；　which　he　has　now　renounced　for　ever　　He　gave　me
the　following　particulars　of　his　visit　to　his　native　soil　　In　his
way　to　the　place　of　his　nativity；　he　learned　that　his　nephew　had
married　the　daughter　of　a　burgeois；　who　directed　a　weaving
manufacture；　and　had　gone　into　partnership　with　his　father…in…law：
chagrined　with　this　information；　he　had　arrived　at　the　gate
in　the　twilight；　where　he　heard　the　sound　of　treddles　in　the
great　hall；　which　had　exasperated　him　to　such　a　degree；　that　he
had　like　to　have　lost　his　senses：　while　he　was　thus　transported
with　indignation；　his　nephew　chanced　to　come　forth；　when；　being
no　longer　master　of　his　passion；　he　cried；　'Degenerate　rascal！
you　have　made　my　father's　house　a　den　of　thieves；'　and　at　the
same　time　chastised　him　with　his　horse…whip；　then；　riding　round
the　adjoining　village；　he　had　visited　the　burying…ground　of　his
ancestors　by　moon…light；　and；　having　paid　his　respects　to　their
manes；　travelled　all　night　to　another　part　of　the　country　
Finding　the　head　of　the　family　in　such　a　disgraceful　situation；
all　his　own　friends　dead　or　removed　from　the　places　of　their
former　residence；　and　the　expence　of　living　increased　to　double
of　what　it　had　been；　when　he　first　left　his　native　country；　he
had　bid　it　an　eternal　adieu；　and　was　determined　to　seek　for
repose　among　the　forests　of　America。

I　was　no　longer　at　a　loss　to　account　for　the　apparition；　which
had　been　described　at　Drumlanrig；　and　when　I　repeated　the　story
to　the　lieutenant；　he　was　much　pleased　to　think　his　resentment
had　been　so　much　more　effectual　than　he　intended；　and　he　owned；
he　might　at　such　an　hour；　and　in　such　an　equipage；　very　well　pass
for　the　ghost　of　his　father；　whom　he　was　said　greatly　to
resemble　　Between　friends；　I　fancy　Lismahago　will　find　a　retreat
without　going　so　far　as　the　wigwams　of　the　Miamis。　My　sister
Tabby　is　making　continual　advances　to　him；　in　the　way　of
affection；　and；　if　I　may　trust　to　appearances；　the　captain　is
disposed　to　take　opportunity　by　the　forelock。　For　my　part；　I
intend　to　encourage　this　correspondence；　and　shall　be　glad　to　see
them　united　　In　that　case；　we　shall　find　a　way　to　settle　them
comfortably　in　our　own　neighbourhood。　I；　and　my　servants；　will
get　rid　of　a　very　troublesome　and　tyrannic　gouvernante；　and　I
shall　have　the　benefit　of　Lismahago's　conversation；　without　being
obliged　to　take　more　of　his　company　than　I　desire；　for　though　an
olla　is　a　high…flavoured　dish；　I　could　not　bear　to　dine　upon　it
every　day　of　my　life。

I　am　much　pleased　with　Manchester；　which　is　one　of　the　most
agreeable　and　flourishing　towns　in　Great…Britain；　and　I　perceive
that　this　is　the　place　which　hath　animated　the　spirit；　and
suggested　the　chief　manufactures　of　Glasgow。　We　propose　to　visit
Chatsworth；　the　Peak；　and　Buxton；　from　which　last　place　we　shall
proceed　directly　homewards；　though　by　easy　journies。　If　the
season　has　been　as　favourable　in　Wales　as　in　the　North；　your
harvest　is　happily　finished；　and　we　have　nothing　left　to　think　of
but　our　October；　of　which　let　Barns　be　properly　reminded。　You
will　find　me　much　better　in　flesh　than　I　was　at　our　parting；　and
this　short　separation　has　given　a　new　edge　to　those　sentiments　of
friendship　with　which　I　always　have　been；　and　ever　shall　be；

Yours；
MATT。　BRAMBLE
MANCHESTER；　Sept。　15。



To　Mrs　GWILLIM；　house…keeper　at　Brambleton…hall。

MRS　GWYLLIM；

It　has　pleased　Providence　to　bring　us　safe　back　to　England；　and
partake　us　in　many　pearls　by　land　and　water；　in　particular　the
Devil's　Harse　a　pike；　and　Hoyden's　Hole；　which　hath　got　no
bottom；　and；　as　we　are　drawing　huomwards；　it　may　be　proper　to
uprise　you；　that　Brambleton…hall　may　be　in　condition　to　receive
us；　after　this　long　gurney　to　the　islands　of　Scotland。　By　the
first　of　next　month　you　may　begin　to　make　constant　fires　in　my
brother's　chamber　and　mine；　and　burn　a　fagget　every　day　in　the
yellow　damask　room：　have　the　tester　and　curtains　dusted；　and　the
featherbed　and　matrosses　well　haired；　because；　perhaps；　with　the
blissing　of　haven；　they　may　be　yoosed　on　some　occasion。　Let　the
ould　hogsheads　be　well　skewred　and　seasoned　for　bear；　as　Mat　is
resolved　to　have　his　seller　choak　fool。

If　the　house　was　mine；　I　would　turn　over　a　new　leaf　　I　don't　see
why　the　sarvants　of　Wales　shouldn't　drink　fair　water；　and　eat　hot
cakes　and　barley　cale；　as　they　do　in　Scotland；　without　troubling
the　botcher　above　once　a　quarter　　I　hope　you　keep　accunt　of
Roger's　purseeding　in　reverence　to　the　buttermilk。　I　expect　my
dew　when　I　come　huom；　without　baiting　an　ass；　I'll　assure　you。　
As　you　must　have　layed　a　great　many　more　eggs　than　would　be
eaten；　I　do　suppose　there　is　a　power　of　turks；　chickings；　and
guzzling　about　the　house；　and　a　brave　kergo　of　cheese　ready　for
market；　and　that　the　owl　has　been　sent　to　Crickhowel；　saving　what
the　maids　spun　in　the　family。

Pray　let　the　whole　house　and　furniture　have　a　thorough　cleaning
from　top　to　bottom；　for　the　honour　of　Wales；　and　let　Roger　search
into；　and　make　a　general　clearance　of　the　slit　holes；　which　the
maids　have　in　secret；　for　I　know　they　are　much　given　to　sloth　and
uncleanness。　I　hope　you　have　worked　a　reformation　among　them；　as
I　exhorted　you　in　my　last；　and　set　their　hearts　upon　better
things　than　they　can　find　in　junkitting　and　caterwauling　with　the
fellows　of　the　country。

As　for　Win　Jenkins；　she　has　undergone　a　perfect　metamurphysis；
and　is　become　a　new　creeter　from　the　ammunition　of　Humphry
Clinker；　our　new　footman；　a　pious　young　man；　who　has　laboured
exceedingly；　that　she　may　bring　forth　fruits　of　repentance。　I
make　no　doubt　but　he　will　take　the　same　pains　with　that　pert
hussey　Mary　Jones；　and　all　of　you；　and　that　he　may　have　power
given　to　penetrate　and　instill　his　goodness；　even　into　your　most
inward　parts；　is　the　fervent　prayer　of

Your　friend　in　the　spirit；
TAB。　BRAMBLE
Septr。　18。



To　Dr　LEWIS。

DEAR　LEWIS；

Lismahago　is　more　paradoxical　than　ever。　　The　late　gulp　he　had　of
his　native　air；　seems　to　have　blown　fresh　spirit　into　all　his
polemical　faculties。　I　congratulated　him　the　other　day　on　the
present　flourishing　state　of　his　country；　observing　that　the
Scots　were　now　in　a　fair　way　to　wipe　off　the　national　reproach　of
poverty；　and　expressing　my　satisfaction　at　the　happy　effects　of
the　union；　so　conspicuous　in　the　improvement　of　their
agriculture；　commerce；　manufactures；　and　manners　　The　lieutenant；
screwing　up　his　features　into　a　look　of　dissent　and　disgust；
commented　on　my　remarks　to　this　effect　　'Those　who　reproach　a
nation　for　its　poverty；　when　it　is　not　owing　to　the　profligacy　or
vice　of　the　people；　deserve　no　answer。　The　Lacedaemonians　were
poorer　than　the　Scots；　when　they　took　the　lead　among　all　the　free
states　of　Greece；　and　were　esteemed　above　them　all　for　their
valour　and　their　virtue。　The　most　respectable　heroes　of　ancient
Rome；　such　as　Fabricius；　Cincinnatus；　and　Regulus；　were　poorer
than　the　poorest　freeholder　in　Scotland；　and　there　are　at　this
day　individuals　in　North…Britain；　one　of　whom　can　produce　more
gold　and　silver　than　the　whole　republic　of　Rome　could　raise　at
those　times　when　her　public　virtue　shone　with　unrivalled　lustre；
and　poverty　was　so　far　from　being　a　reproach；　that　it　added　fresh
laurels　to　her　fame；　because　it　indicated　a　noble　contempt　of
wealth；　which　was　proof　against　all　the　arts　of　corruption　　If
poverty　be　a　subject　for　reproach；　it　follows　that　wealth　is　the
object　of　esteem　and　veneration　　In　that　case；　there　are　Jews　and
others　in　Amsterdam　and　London；　enriched　by　usury；　peculation；
and　different　species　of　fraud　and　extortion；　who　are　more
estimable　than　the　most　virtuous　and　illustrious　members　of　the
community。　An　absurdity　which　no　man　in　his　senses　will　offer　to
maintain。　　Riches　are　certainly　no　proof　of　merit：　nay　they　are
often　（if　not　most　commonly）　acquired　by　persons　of　sordid　minds
and　mean　talents：　nor　do　they　give　any　intrinsic　worth　to　the
possessor；　but；　on　the　contrary；　tend　to　pervert　his
understanding；　and　render　his　morals　more　depraved。　But；　granting
that　poverty　were　really　matter　of　reproach；　it　cannot　be　justly
imputed　to　Scotland。　No　country　is　poor　that　can　supply　its
inhabitants　with　the　necessaries　of　life；　and　even　afford
articles　for　exportation。　Scotland　is　rich　in　natural　advantages：
it　produces　every　species　of　provision　in　abundance；　vast　herds
of　cattle　and　flocks　of　sheep；　with　a　great　number　of　horses；
prodigious　quantities　of　wool　and　flax；　with　plenty　of　copse
wood；　and　in　some　parts　large　forests　of　timber。　The　earth　is
still　more　rich　below　than　above　the　surface。　It　yields
inexhaustible　stores　of　coal；　free…stone；　marble；　lead；　iron；
copper；　and　silver；　with　some　gold。　The　sea　abounds　with
excellent　fish；　and　salt　to　cure　them　for　exportation；　and　there
are　creeks　and　harbours　round　the　whole　kingdom；　for　the
convenience　and　security　of　navigation。　The　face　of　the　country
displays　a　surprising　number　of　cities；　towns；　villas；　and
villages；　swarming　with　people；　and　there　seems　to　be　no　want　of
art；　industry；　government；　and　police：　such　a　kingdom　can　never
be　called　poor；　in　any　sense　of　the　word；　though　there　may　be
many　others　more　powerful　and　opulent。　But　the　proper　use　of
those　advantages；　and　the　present　prosperity　of　the　Scots；　you
seem　to　derive　from　the　union　of　the　two　kingdoms！'

I　said；　I　supposed　he　would　not　deny　that　the　appearance　of　the
country　was　much　mended；　that　the　people　lived　better；　had　more
trade；　and　a　greater　quantity　of　money　circulating　since　the
union；　than　before。