they must needs have butter； let them make it of sheep's milk；
but then my wool will suffer for want of grace； so that I must be
a loser on all sides。 Well； patience is like a stout Welsh poney；
it bears a great deal； and trots a great way； but it will tire at
the long run。 Before its long； perhaps I may shew Matt； that I
was not born to be the household drudge to my dying day Gwyn
rites from Crickhowel； that the price of flannel is fallen three…
farthings an ell； and that's another good penny out of my pocket。
When I go to market to sell； my commodity stinks； but when I want
to buy the commonest thing； the owner pricks it up under my nose；
and it can't be had for love nor money I think everything runs
cross at Brambleton…hall You say the gander has broke the eggs；
which is a phinumenon I don't understand： for when the fox
carried off the old goose last year； he took her place； and
hatched the eggs； and partected the goslings like a tender
parent Then you tell me the thunder has soured two barrels of
beer in the seller。 But how the thunder should get there； when
the seller was double…locked； I can't comprehend。 Howsomever； I
won't have the beer thrown out； till I see it with my own eyes。
Perhaps； it will recover At least it will serve for vinegar to
the servants。 You may leave off the fires in my brother's
chamber and mine； as it is unsartain when we return。 I hope；
Gwyllim； you'll take care there is no waste； and have an eye to
the maids； and keep them to their spinning。 I think they may go
very well without beer in hot weather it serves only to inflame
the blood； and set them a…gog after the men。 Water will make them
fair and keep them cool and tamperit。 Don't forget to put up in
the portmantel； that cums with Williams； along with my riding…habit；
hat； and feather； the viol of purl water； and the tincktur
for my stomach； being as how I am much troubled with
flutterencies。 This is all at present； from
Yours；
TABITHA BRAMBLE
BATH； April 26。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DICK；
I have done with the waters； therefore your advice comes a day
too late I grant that physic is no mystery of your making。 I know
it is a mystery in its own nature； and； like other mysteries；
requires a strong gulp of faith to make it go down Two days ago；
I went into the King's Bath； by the advice of our friend
Ch； in order to clear the strainer of the skin； for the benefit
of a free perspiration； and the first object that saluted my eye；
was a child full of scrophulous ulcers； carried in the arms of
one of the guides； under the very noses of the bathers。 I was so
shocked at the sight； that I retired immediately with indignation
and disgust Suppose the matter of those ulcers； floating on the
water； comes in contact with my skin； when the pores are all
open； I would ask you what must be the consequence？ Good
Heaven； the very thought makes my blood run cold！ we know not
what sores may be running into the water while we are bathing；
and what sort of matter we may thus imbibe； the king's…evil； the
scurvy； the cancer； and the pox； and； no doubt； the heat will
render the virus the more volatile and penetrating。 To purify
myself from all such contamination； I went to the duke of
Kingston's private Bath； and there I was almost suffocated for
want of free air； the place was so small； and the steam so
stifling。
After all； if the intention is no more than to wash the skin； I
am convinced that simple element is more effectual than any water
impregnated with salt and iron； which； being astringent； will
certainly contract the pores； and leave a kind of crust upon the
surface of the body。 But I am now as much afraid of drinking； as
of bathing； for； after a long conversation with the Doctor； about
the construction of the pump and the cistern； it is very far from
being clear with me； that the patients in the Pump…room don't
swallow the scourings of the bathers。 I can't help suspecting；
that there is； or may be； some regurgitation from the bath into
the cistern of the pump。 In that case； what a delicate beveridge
is every day quaffed by the drinkers； medicated with the sweat
and dirt； and dandriff； and the abominable discharges of various
kinds； from twenty different diseased bodies； parboiling in the
kettle below。 In order to avoid this filthy composition； I had
recourse to the spring that supplies the private baths on the
Abbey…green； but I at once perceived something extraordinary in
the taste and smell； and； upon inquiry； I find that the Roman
baths in this quarter； were found covered by an old burying
ground； belonging to the Abbey； through which； in all
probability； the water drains in its passage； so that as we drink
the decoction of living bodies at the Pump…room； we swallow the
strainings of rotten bones and carcasses at the private bath。 I
vow to God； the very idea turns my stomach！ Determined； as I am；
against any farther use of the Bath waters； this consideration
would give me little disturbance； if I could find any thing more
pure； or less pernicious； to quench my thirst； but； although the
natural springs of excellent water are seen gushing spontaneous
on every side； from the hills that surround us； the inhabitants；
in general； make use of well…water； so impregnated with nitre； or
alum； or some other villainous mineral； that it is equally
ungrateful to the taste； and mischievous to the constitution。 It
must be owned； indeed； that here； in Milsham…street； we have a
precarious and scanty supply from the hill； which is collected in
an open bason in the Circus； liable to be defiled with dead dogs；
cats； rats； and every species of nastiness； which the rascally
populace may throw into it； from mere wantonness and brutality。
Well； there is no nation that drinks so hoggishly as the English。
What passes for wine among us； is not the juice of the grape。 It
is an adulterous mixture； brewed up of nauseous ingredients； by
dunces； who are bunglers in the art of poison…making； and yet we；
and our forefathers； are and have been poisoned by this cursed
drench； without taste or flavour The only genuine and wholesome
beveridge in England； is London porter； and Dorchester table…beer；
but as for your ale and your gin； your cyder and your
perry； and all the trashy family of made wines； I detest them as
infernal compositions； contrived for the destruction of the human
species But what have I to do with the human species？ except a
very few friends； I care not if the whole was 。
Heark ye； Lewis； my misanthropy increases every day The longer I
live； I find the folly and the fraud of mankind grow more and
more intolerable I wish I had not come from Brambletonhall；
after having lived in solitude so long； I cannot bear the hurry
and impertinence of the multitude； besides； every thing is
sophisticated in these crowded places。 Snares are laid for our
lives in every thing we cat or drink： the very air we breathe； is
loaded with contagion。 We cannot even sleep； without risque of
infection。 I say； infection This place is the rendezvous of the
diseased You won't deny； that many diseases are infectious； even
the consumption itself； is highly infectious。 When a person dies
of it in Italy； the bed and bedding are destroyed； the other
furniture is exposed to the weather and the apartment white…washed；
before it is occupied by any other living soul。 You'll
allow； that nothing receives infection sooner； or retains it
longer； than blankets； feather…beds； and matrasses 'Sdeath！ how
do I know what miserable objects have been stewing in the bed
where I now lie！ I wonder； Dick； you did not put me in mind of
sending for my own matrasses But； if I had not been an ass； I
should not have needed a remembrancer There is always some
plaguy reflection that rises up in judgment against me； and
ruffles my spirits Therefore； let us change the subject。
I have other reasons for abridging my stay at Bath You know
sister Tabby's complexion If Mrs Tabitha Bramble had been of any
other race； I should certainly have considered her as the most 。
But； the truth is； she has found means to interest my affection；
or； rather； she is beholden to the force of prejudice； commonly
called the ties of blood。 Well； this amiable maiden has actually
commenced a flirting correspondence with an Irish baronet of
sixty…five。 His name is Sir Ulic Mackilligut。 He is said to be
much out at elbows； and； I believe； has received false
intelligence with respect to her fortune。 Be that as it may； the
connexion is exceedingly ridiculous； and begins already to excite
whispers。 For my part； I have no intention to dispute her free…agency；
though I shall fall upon some expedient to undeceive her
paramour； as to the point which he has principally in view。 But I
don't think her conduct is a proper example for Liddy； who has
also attracted the notice of some coxcombs in the Rooms； and Jery
tells me； he suspects a strapping fellow； the knight's nephew； of
some design upon the girl's heart。 I shall； therefore； keep a
strict eye over her aunt and her； and even shift the scene； if I
find the matter grow more serious You perceive what an agreeable
task it must be； to a man of my kidney； to have the cure of such
souls as these。 But； hold； You shall not have another peevish
word （till the next occasion） from
Yours；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
BATH； April 28。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR KNIGHT；
I think those people are unreasonable； who complain that Bath is
a contracted circle； in which the same dull scenes perpetually
revolve； without variation I am； on the contrary； amazed to find
so small a place so crowded with entertainment and variety。
London itself can hardly exhibit one species of diversion； to
which we have not something analogous at Bath； over and above
those singular advantages that are peculiar to the place。 Here；
for example； a man has daily opportunities of seeing the most
remarkable characters of the community。 He sees them in their
natural attitudes and true colours； descended from their
pedestals； and divested of their formal draperies； undisguised by
art and affectation Here we have ministers of state； judges；
generals； bishops； projector