the expedition of humphry clinker-第78部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
for less than the double of what his estate produced； that； in
order to be upon the footing of a gentleman； he would be obliged
to keep horses； hounds； carriages； with a suitable number of
servants； and maintain an elegant table for the entertainment of
his neighbours； that farming was a mystery； known only to those
who had been bred up to it from the cradle； the success of it
depending not only upon skill and industry； but also upon such
attention and oeconomy as no gentleman could be supposed to give
or practise； accordingly； every attempt made by gentlemen
miscarried； and not a few had been ruined by their prosecution of
agriculture Nay； they affirmed that he would find it cheaper to
buy hay and oats for his cattle； and to go to market for poultry；
eggs； kitchen herbs； and roots； and every the most inconsiderable
article of house…keeping； than to have those articles produced on
his own ground。
These objections did not deter Mr Dennison； because they were
chiefly founded on the supposition； that he would be obliged to
lead a life of extravagance and dissipation； which he and his
consort equally detested； despised； and determined to avoid The
objects he had in view； were health of body； peace of mind； and
the private satisfaction of domestic quiet； unallayed by actual
want； and uninterrupted by the fears of indigence He was very
moderate in his estimate of the necessaries； and even of the
comforts of life He required nothing but wholesome air； pure
water； agreeable exercise； plain diet； convenient lodging； and
decent apparel。 He reflected； that if a peasant without
education； or any great share of natural sagacity； could maintain
a large family； and even become opulent upon a farm； for which he
payed an annual rent of two or three hundred pounds to the
landlord； surely he himself might hope for some success from his
industry； having no rent to pay； but； on the contrary； three or
four hundred pounds a year to receive。 He considered； that the
earth was an indulgent mother； that yielded her fruits to all her
children without distinction。 He had studied the theory of
agriculture with a degree of eagerness and delight； and he could
not conceive there was any mystery in the practice； but what he
should be able to disclose by dint of care and application。 With
respect to houshold expence； he entered into a minute detail and
investigation； by which he perceived the assertions of his
friends were altogether erroneous He found he should save sixty
pounds a year in the single article of house…rent； and as much
more in pocket…money and contingencies； that even butcher's…meat
was twenty per cent cheaper in the country than in London； but
that poultry； and almost every other circumstance of house…keeping；
might be had for less than one…half of
what they cost in town； besides； a considerable saving on the
side of dress； in being delivered from the oppressive imposition
of ridiculous modes； invented by ignorance； and adopted by folly。
As to the danger of vying with the rich in pomp and equipage； it
never gave him the least disturbance。 He was now turned of forty；
and； having lived half that time in the busy scenes of life； was
well skilled in the science of mankind。 There cannot be in nature
a more contemptible figure than that of a man； who； with five
hundred a year； presumes to rival in expence a neighbour who
possesses five times that income His ostentation； far from
concealing； serves only to discover his indigence； and render his
vanity the more shocking； for it attracts the eyes of censure；
and excites the spirit of inquiry。 There is not a family in the
county nor a servant in his own house； nor a farmer in the
parish； but what knows the utmost farthing that his lands
produce； and all these behold him with scorn or compassion。 I am
surprised that these reflections do not occur to persons in this
unhappy dilemma； and produce a salutary effect； but the truth is；
of all the passions incident to human nature； vanity is that
which most effectually perverts the faculties of the
understanding； nay； it sometimes becomes so incredibly depraved；
as to aspire at infamy； and find pleasure in bearing the stigmas
of reproach。
I have now given you a sketch of the character and situation of
Mr Dennison； when he came down to take possession of this estate；
but as the messenger； who carries the letters to the next town；
is just setting off； I shall reserve what further I have to say
on this subject； till the next post； when you shall certainly
hear from
Yours always；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
Oct。 8。
To Dr LEWIS。
Once more； dear doctor； I resume the pen for your amusement。 It
was on the morning after our arrival that； walking out with my
friend； Mr Dennison； I could not help breaking forth into the
warmest expressions of applause at the beauty of the scene； which
is really inchanting； and I signified； in particular； how much I
was pleased with the disposition of some detached groves； that
afforded at once shelter and ornament to his habitation。
'When I took possession of these lands； about two and twenty
years ago （said he）； there was not a tree standing within a mile
of the house； except those of an old neglected orchard； which
produced nothing but leaves and moss。 It was in the gloomy month
of November； when I arrived； and found the house in such a
condition； that it might have been justly stiled the tower of
desolation。 The court…yard was covered with nettles and docks ；
and the garden exhibited such a rank plantation of weeds as I had
never seen before； the window…shutters were falling in pieces；
the sashes broken； and owls and jack…daws had taken possession
of the chimnies。 The prospect within was still more dreary All
was dark； and damp； and dirty beyond description； the rain
penetrated in several parts of the roof； in some apartments the
very floors had given way； the hangings were parted from the
walls； and shaking in mouldy remnants； the glasses were dropping
out of their frames； the family…pictures were covered with dust。
and all the chairs and tables worm…eaten and crazy。 There was
not a bed in the house that could be used； except one old…fashioned
machine； with a high gilt tester and fringed curtains
of yellow mohair； which had been； for aught I know； two centuries
in the family。 In short； there was no furniture but the utensils
of the kitchen； and the cellar afforded nothing but a few empty
butts and barrels； that stunk so abominably； that I would not
suffer any body to enter it until I had flashed a considerable
quantity of gunpowder to qualify the foul air within。
'An old cottager and his wife； who were hired to lie in the
house； had left it with precipitation； alledging； among other
causes of retreat； that they could not sleep for frightful
noises； and that my poor brother certainly walked after his
death。 In a word； the house appeared uninhabitable； the barn；
stable； and outhouses were in ruins； all the fences broken down；
and the fields lying waste。
'The farmer who kept the key never dreamed I had any intention to
live upon the spot He rented a farm of sixty pounds； and his
lease was just expiring。 He had formed a scheme of being
appointed bailiff to the estate； and of converting the house and
the adjacent grounds to his own use。 A hint of his intention I
received from the curate at my first arrival； I therefore did not
pay much regard to what he said by way of discouraging me from
coming to settle in the country； but I was a little startled
when he gave me warning that he should quit the farm at the
expiration of his lease； unless I could abate considerably in the
rent。
'At this period I accidentally became acquainted with a person；
whose friendship laid the foundation of all my prosperity。 In the
next market…town I chanced to dine at an inn with a Mr Wilson；
who was lately come to settle in the neighbourhood。 He had been
lieutenant of a man of war； but quitted the sea in some disgust；
and married the only daughter of farmer Bland； who lives in this
parish； and has acquired a good fortune in the way of husbandry。
Wilson is one of the best natured men I ever knew； brave； frank；
obliging； and ingenuous He liked my conversation； I was charmed
with his liberal manner； and acquaintance immediately commenced；
and this was soon improved into a friendship without reserve。
There are characters which； like similar particles of matter；
strongly attract each other。 He forthwith introduced me to his
father…in…law； farmer Bland； who was well acquainted with every
acre of my estate； of consequence well qualified to advise me on
this occasion。 Finding I was inclined to embrace a country life；
and even to amuse myself with the occupation of farming； he
approved of my design He gave me to understand that all my farms
were underlett； that the estate was capable of great improvement；
that there was plenty of chalk in the neighbourhood； and that my
own ground produced excellent marle for manure。 With respect to
the farm； which was like to fall into my hands； he said he would
willingly take it at the present rent； but at the same time
owned； that if I would expend two hundred pounds in enclosure； it
would be worth more than double the sum。
'Thus encouraged； I began the execution of my scheme without
further delay； and plunged into a sea of expence； though I had no
fund in reserve； and the whole produce of the estate did not
exceed three hundred pounds a year In one week； my house was
made weather…tight； and thoroughly cleansed from top to bottom；
then it was well ventilated by throwing all the doors and windows
open； and making blazing fires of wood in every chimney from the
kitchen to the garrets。 The floors were repaired； the sashes new
glazed； and out of the old furniture of the whole house； I made
shift to fit up a parlour and three chambers in a plain yet
decent manner。 The court…yard was cleared of weeds and rubbish；
and my friend Wilson charged himself with the dressing of the
garden； bricklayers were set at work upon the barn and stable；
and labourers engaged to restore the fences； and begin the work
of hedging and ditching； under the direction of farme
