accordingly； after having attempted to prevail upon my sister's
maid； to deliver a letter； which； however； she refused to
receive； though she had consented to carry a message； importing
that he was a gentleman of a good family； and that； in a very
little time； he would avow his passion in that character She
confessed； that although he had not kept his word in this
particular； he was not yet altogether indifferent to her
affection； but solemnly promised； she would never carry on any
correspondence with him； or any other admirer； for the future；
without the privity and approbation of her brother and me。
By this declaration； she made her own peace with Jery； but the
hot…headed boy is more than ever incensed against Wilson； whom he
now considers as an impostor； that harbours some infamous design
upon the honour of his family As for Barton he was not a little
mortified to find his present returned； and his addresses so
unfavourably received； but he is not a man to be deeply affected
by such disappointments； and I know not whether he is not as well
pleased with being discarded by Liddy； as he would have been with
a permission to prosecute his pretensions； at the risque of being
every day exposed to the revenge or machinations of Tabby； who is
not to be slighted with impunity。 I had not much time to
moralize on these occurrences； for the house was visited by a
constable and his gang； with a warrant from Justice Buzzard； to
search the box of Humphry Clinker； my footman； who was just
apprehended as a highwayman。 This incident threw the whole family
into confusion。 My sister scolded the constable for presuming to
enter the lodgings of a gentleman on such an errand； without
having first asked； and obtained permission； her maid was
frightened into fits； and Liddy shed tears of compassion for the
unfortunate Clinker； in whose box； however； nothing was found to
confirm the suspicion of robbery。
For my own part； I made no doubt of the fellow's being mistaken
for some other person； and I went directly to the justice； in
order to procure his discharge； but there I found the matter much
more serious than I expected Poor Clinker stood trembling at the
bar； surrounded by thief…takers； and at a little distance； a
thick； squat fellow； a postilion； his accuser； who had seized him
on the street； and swore positively to his person； that the said
Clinker had； on the 15th day of March last； on Blackheath； robbed
a gentleman in a post…chaise； which he （the postilion） drove
This deposition was sufficient to justify his commitment； and he
was sent accordingly to Clerkenwell prison； whither Jery
accompanied him in the coach； in order to recommend him properly
to the keeper； that he may want for no convenience which the
place affords。
The spectators； who assembled to see this highwayman； were
sagacious enough to discern something very villainous in his
aspect； which （begging their pardon） is the very picture of
simplicity； and the justice himself put a very unfavourable
construction upon some of his answers； which； he said； savoured
of the ambiguity and equivocation of an old offender； but； in my
opinion； it would have been more just and humane to impute them
to the confusion into which we may suppose a poor country lad to
be thrown on such an occasion。 I am still persuaded he is
innocent； and； in this persuasion； I can do no less than use my
utmost endeavours that he may not be oppressed I shall； to…morrow；
send my nephew to wait on the gentleman who was robbed；
and beg； he will have the humanity to go and see the prisoner；
that； in case he should find him quite different from the person
of the highwayman； he may bear testimony in his behalf Howsoever
it may fare with Clinker； this cursed affair will be to me
productive of intolerable chagrin I have already caught a
dreadful cold； by rushing into the open air from the justice's
parlour； where I had been stewing in the crowd； and though I
should not be laid up with the gout； as I believe I shall； I must
stay at London for some weeks； till this poor devil comes to his
trial at Rochester； so that； in all probability； my northern
expedition is blown up。
If you can find any thing in your philosophical budget； to
console me in the midst of these distresses and apprehensions；
pray let it be communicated to
Your unfortunate friend；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
LONDON； June 12。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR WAT；
The farce is finished； and another piece of a graver cast brought
upon the stage。 Our aunt made a desperate attack upon Barton；
who had no other way of saving himself； but by leaving her in
possession of the field； and avowing his pretensions to Liddy； by
whom he has been rejected in his turn。 Lady Griskin acted as his
advocate and agent on this occasion； with such zeal as embroiled
her with Mrs Tabitha； and a high scene of altercation passed
betwixt these two religionists； which might have come to action；
had not my uncle interposed。 They are however reconciled； in
consequence of an event which hath involved us all in trouble and
disquiet。 You must know； the poor preacher； Humphry Clinker； is
now exercising his ministry among the felons in Clerkenwell
prison A postilion having sworn a robbery against him； no bail
could be taken； and he was committed to jail； notwithstanding all
the remonstrances and interest my uncle could make in his behalf。
All things considered； the poor fellow cannot possibly be guilty；
and yet； I believe； he runs some risque of being hanged。 Upon his
examination； he answered with such hesitation and reserve as
persuaded most of the people； who crowded the place； that he was
really a knave； and the justice's remarks confirmed their
opinion。 Exclusive of my uncle and myself； there was only one
person who seemed inclined to favour the culprit。 He was a young
man； well dressed； and； from the manner in which he cross…examined
the evidence； we took it for granted； that he was a
student in one of the inns of court。 He freely checked the
justice for some uncharitable inferences he made to the prejudice
of the prisoner； and even ventured to dispute with his worship on
certain points of law。
My uncle； provoked at the unconnected and dubious answers of
Clinker； who seemed in danger of falling a sacrifice to his own
simplicity； exclaimed； 'In the name of God； if you are innocent；
say so。' 'No （cried he） God forbid that I should call myself
innocent； while my conscience is burthened with sin。' 'What then；
you did commit this robbery？' resumed his master。 'No； sure （said
he） blessed be the Lord； I'm free of that guilt。'
Here the justice interposed； observing； that the man seemed
inclined to make a discovery by turning king's evidence； and
desired the clerk to take his confession； upon which Humphry
declared； that he looked upon confession to be a popish fraud；
invented by the whore of Babylon。 The Templar affirmed； that the
poor fellow was non compos； and exhorted the justice to discharge
him as a lunatic。 'You know very well （added he） that the
robbery in question was not committed by the prisoner。'
The thief…takers grinned at one another； and Mr Justice Buzzard
replied with great emotion； 'Mr Martin； I desire you will mind
your own business； I shall convince you one of these days that I
understand mine。' In short； there was no remedy； the mittimus was
made out； and poor Clinker sent to prison in a hackney…coach；
guarded by the constable； and accompanied by your humble servant。
By the way； I was not a little surprised to hear this retainer to
justice bid the prisoner to keep up his spirits； for that he did
not at all doubt but that he would get off for a few weeks
confinement He said； his worship knew very well that Clinker was
innocent of the fact； and that the real highwayman who robbed the
chaise； was no other than that very individual Mr Martin； who had
pleaded so strenuously for honest Humphry。
Confounded at this information； I asked； 'Why then is he suffered
to go about at his liberty； and this poor innocent fellow treated
as a malefactor？' 'We have exact intelligence of all Mr Martin's
transactions （said he）； but as yet there is not evidence
sufficient for his conviction； and as for this young man； the
justice could do no less than commit him； as the postilion swore
point…blank to his identity。' 'So if this rascally postilion
should persist in the falsity to which he is sworn （said I）； this
innocent lad may be brought to the gallows。'
The constable observed； that he would have time enough to prepare
for his trial； and might prove an alibi； or； perhaps； Martin
might be apprehended and convicted for another fact； in which
case； he might be prevailed upon to take this affair upon
himself； or； finally； if these chances should fail； and the
evidence stand good against Clinker； the jury might recommend him
to mercy； in consideration of his youth； especially if this
should appear to be the first fact of which he had been guilty。
Humphry owned he could not pretend to recollect where he had been
on the day when the robbery was committed； much less prove a
circumstance of that kind so far back as six months； though he
knew he had been sick of the fever and ague； which； however； did
not prevent him from going about then； turning up his eyes； he
ejaculated； 'The Lord's will be done！ if it be my fate to suffer；
I hope I shall not disgrace the faith of which； though unworthy；
I make profession。'
When I expressed my surprize that the accuser should persist in
charging Clinker； without taking the least notice of the real
robber who stood before him； and to whom； indeed； Humphry bore
not the smallest resemblance； the constable （who was himself a
thief…taker） gave me to understand； that Mr Martin was the best
qualified for business of all the gentlemen on the road he had
ever known； that he had always acted on his own bottom； without
partner or correspondent； and never went to work but when he was
cool and sober； that his courage and presence of mind never
failed him； that his address was genteel； and his behaviour void
of all cruelty and insolence； that he never encumbered himself
with watches or tr