clothes； and go to the devil his own way； at his leisure； but if
he rejected this proposal； I would deliver him forthwith to the
constable； whom I had provided for that purpose； and he would
carry him before the justice without further delay。 After some
hesitation； he desired to speak with me in the next room； where
he produced the watch； with all its appendages； and I have
delivered it to our landlord； to be sent you by the first safe
conveyance。
So much for business。
I shall grow vain； upon your saying you find entertainment in my
letters； barren； as they certainly are； of incident and
importance； because your amusement must arise； not from the
matter； but from the manner； which you know is all my own
Animated； therefore； by the approbation of a person； whose nice
taste and consummate judgment I can no longer doubt； I will
chearfully proceed with our memoirs As it is determined we shall
set out next week for Yorkshire； I went to…day in the forenoon
with my uncle to see a carriage； belonging to a coachmaker in our
neighbourhood Turning down a narrow lane； behind Longacre； we
perceived a crowd of people standing at a door； which； it seems；
opened into a kind of a methodist meeting； and were informed；
that a footman was then holding forth to the congregation within。
Curious to see this phoenomenon； we squeezed into the place with
much difficulty； and who should this preacher be； but the
identical Humphry Clinker。 He had finished his sermon； and given
out a psalm； the first stave of which he sung with peculiar
graces But if we were astonished to see Clinker in the pulpit；
we were altogether confounded at finding all the females of our
family among the audience There was lady Griskin； Mrs Tabitha
Bramble； Mrs Winifred Jenkins； my sister Liddy； and Mr Barton；
and all of them joined in the psalmody； with strong marks of
devotion。
I could hardly keep my gravity on this ludicrous occasion； but
old Square…toes was differently affected The first thing that
struck him； was the presumption of his lacquey； whom he commanded
to come down； with such an air of authority as Humphry did not
think proper to disregard。 He descended immediately； and all the
people were in commotion。 Barton looked exceedingly sheepish；
lady Griskin flirted her fan； Mrs Tabby groaned in spirit； Liddy
changed countenance； and Mrs Jenkins sobbed as if her heart was
breaking My uncle； with a sneer； asked pardon of the ladies； for
having interrupted their devotion； saying； he had particular
business with the preacher； whom he ordered to call a hackney…coach。
This being immediately brought up to the end of the lane；
he handed Liddy into it； and my aunt and I following him； we
drove home； without taking any further notice of the rest of the
company； who still remained in silent astonishment。
Mr Bramble； perceiving Liddy in great trepidation； assumed a
milder aspect； bidding her be under no concern； for he was not at
all displeased at any thing she had done 'I have no objection
（said he） to your being religiously inclined； but I don't think
my servant is a proper ghostly director for a devotee of your sex
and character if； in fact （as I rather believe） your aunt is not
the sole conductress of； this machine' Mrs Tabitha made no
answer； but threw up the whites of her eyes； as if in the act of
ejaculation Poor Liddy； said； she had no right to the title of a
devotee； that she thought there was no harm in hearing a pious
discourse； even if it came from a footman； especially as her aunt
was present； but that if she had erred from ignorance； she hoped
he would excuse it； as she could not bear the thoughts of living
under his displeasure。 The old gentleman； pressing her hand with
a tender smile； said she was a good girl； and that he did not
believe her capable of doing any thing that could give him the
least umbrage or disgust。
When we arrived at our lodgings； he commanded Mr Clinker to
attend him up stairs； and spoke to him in these words 'Since you
are called upon by the spirit to preach and to teach； it is high
time to lay aside the livery of an earthly master； and for my
part； I am unworthy to have an apostle in my service' 'I hope
（said Humphry） I have not failed in my duty to your honour I
should be a vile wretch if I did； considering the misery from
which your charity and compassion relieved me but having an
inward admonition of the spirit ' 'An admonition of the devil
（cried the squire； in a passion） What admonition； you blockhead？
What right has such a fellow as you to set up for a reformer？'
'Begging your honour's pardon （replied Clinker） may not the new
light of God's grace shine upon the poor and the ignorant in
their humility； as well as upon the wealthy； and the philosopher
in all his pride of human learning？' 'What you imagine to be the
new light of grace （said his master） I take to be a deceitful
vapour； glimmering through a crack in your upper story In a
word； Mr Clinker； I will have no light in my family but what pays
the king's taxes； unless it be the light of reason； which you
don't pretend to follow。'
'Ah； sir！ （cried Humphry） the light of reason； is no more in
comparison to the light I mean； than a farthing candle to the sun
at noon' 'Very true （said uncle）； the one will serve to shew you
your way； and the other to dazzle and confound your weak brain。
Heark ye； Clinker； you are either an hypocritical knave； or a
wrong…headed enthusiast； and in either case； unfit for my service。
If you are a quack in sanctity and devotion； you will find it an
easy matter to impose upon silly women； and others of crazed
understanding； who will contribute lavishly for your support。 If
you are really seduced by the reveries of a disturbed
imagination； the sooner you lose your senses entirely； the better
for yourself and the community。 In that case； some charitable
person might provide you with a dark room and clean straw in
Bedlam； where it would not be in your power to infect others with
your fanaticism； whereas； if you have just reflection enough left
to maintain the character of a chosen vessel in the meetings of
the godly； you and your hearers will be misled by a Will…i'the…wisp；
from one error into another； till you are plunged into
religious frenzy； and then； perhaps； you will hang yourself in
despair' 'Which the Lord of his infinite mercy forbid！ （exclaimed
the affrighted Clinker） It is very possible I may be under the
temptation of the devil； who wants to wreck me on the rocks of
spiritual pride Your honour says； I am either a knave or a
madman； now； as I'll assure your honour； I am no knave； it
follows that I must be mad； therefore； I beseech your honour；
upon my knees； to take my case into consideration； that means may
be used for my recovery'
The 'squire could not help smiling at the poor fellow's
simplicity； and promised to take care of him； provided he would
mind the business of his place； without running after the new
light of methodism： but Mrs Tabitha took offence at his humility；
which she interpreted into poorness of spirit and worldly
mindedness。 She upbraided him with the want of courage to suffer
for conscience sake She observed； that if he should lose his
place for bearing testimony to the truth； Providence would not
fail to find him another； perhaps more advantageous； and；
declaring that it could not be very agreeable to live in a family
where an inquisition was established； retired to another room in
great agitation。
My uncle followed her with a significant look； then； turning to
the preacher； 'You hear what my sister says If you cannot live
with me upon such terms as I have prescribed； the vineyard of
methodism lies before you； and she seems very well disposed to
reward your labour' 'I would not willingly give offence to any
soul upon earth （answered Humphry）； her ladyship has been very
good to me； ever since we came to London； and surely she has a
heart turned for religious exercises； and both she and lady
Griskin sing psalms and hymns like two cherubims But； at the
same time； I'm bound to love and obey your honour It becometh
not such a poor ignorant fellow as me； to hold dispute with
gentlemen of rank and learning As for the matter of knowledge； I
am no more than a beast in comparison of your honour； therefore I
submit； and； with God's grace； I will follow you to the world's
end； if you don't think me too far gone to be out of confinement'。
His master promised to keep him for some time longer on trial；
then desired to know in what manner lady Griskin and Mr Barton
came to join their religious society； he told him； that her
ladyship was the person who first carried my aunt and sister to
the Tabernacle； whither he attended them； and had his devotion
kindled by Mr W's preaching： that he was confirmed in this
new way； by the preacher's sermons； which he had bought and
studied with great attention： that his discourse and prayers had
brought over Mrs Jenkins and the house…maid to the same way of
thinking； but as for Mr Barton； he had never seen him at service
before this day； when he came in company with lady Griskin。
Humphry； moreover； owned that he had been encouraged to mount the
rostrum； by the example and success of a weaver； who was much
followed as a powerful minister： that on his first trial he found
himself under such strong impulsions； as made him believe he was
certainly moved by the spirit； and that he had assisted in lady
Griskin's； and several private houses； at exercises of devotion。
Mr Bramble was no sooner informed； that her ladyship had acted as
the primum mobile of this confederacy； than he concluded she had
only made use of Clinker as a tool； subservient to the execution
of some design； to the true secret of which he was an utter
stranger He observed； that her ladyship's brain was a perfect
mill for projects； and that she and Tabby had certainly engaged
in some secret treaty； the nature of which he could not
comprehend。 I told him I thought it was no difficult matter to
perceive the drift of Mrs Tabitha； which was to ensnare the heart
of Barton； and that in all likelihood my lady Griskin acted as
her auxiliary： that this supposition would account