with respect to the case of Clinker； in whose favour a lucky
incident has intervened。 The fellow who accused him； has had his
own battery turned upon himself。 Two days ago he was apprehended
for a robbery on the highway； and committed； on the evidence of
an accomplice。 Clinker； having moved for a writ of habeas corpus；
was brought before the lord chief justice； who； in consequence of
an affidavit of the gentleman who had been robbed； importing that
the said Clinker was not the person who stopped him on the
highway； as well as in consideration of the postilion's character
and present circumstances； was pleased to order； that my servant
should be admitted to bail； and he has been discharged
accordingly； to the unspeakable satisfaction of our whole family；
to which he has recommended himself in an extraordinary manner；
not only by his obliging deportment； but by his talents of
preaching； praying； and singing psalms； which he has exercised
with such effect； that even Tabby respects him as a chosen
vessel。 If there was any thing like affectation or hypocrisy in
this excess of religion； I would not keep him in my service； but；
so far as I can observe； the fellow's character is downright
simplicity； warmed with a kind of enthusiasm； which renders him
very susceptible of gratitude and attachment to his benefactors。
As he is an excellent horseman； and understands farriery； I have
bought a stout gelding for his use； that he may attend us on the
road； and have an eye to our cattle； in case the coachman should
not mind his business。 My nephew； who is to ride his own saddle…horse；
has taken； upon trial； a servant just come from abroad
with his former master； Sir William Strollop； who vouches for his
honesty。 The fellow； whose name is Dutton； seems to be a petit
maitre。 He has got a smattering of French； bows； and grins； and
shrugs； and takes snuff a la mode de France； but values himself
chiefly upon his skill and dexterity in hair…dressing。 If I am
not much deceived by appearance； he is； in all respects； the very
contrast of Humphry Clinker。
My sister has made up matters with lady Griskin； though； I must
own； I should not have been sorry to see that connexion entirely
destroyed： but Tabby is not of a disposition to forgive Barton；
who； I understand； is gone to his seat in Berkshire for the
summer season。 I cannot help suspecting； that in the treaty of
peace； which has been lately ratified betwixt those two females；
it is stipulated； that her ladyship shall use her best endeavours
to provide an agreeable help…mate for our sister Tabitha； who
seems to be quite desperate in her matrimonial designs。 Perhaps；
the match…maker is to have a valuable consideration in the way of
brokerage； which she will most certainly deserve； if she can find
any man in his senses； who will yoke with Mrs Bramble from
motives of affection or interest。
I find my spirits and my health affect each other reciprocally
that is to say； every thing that discomposes my mind； produces a
correspondent disorder in my body； and my bodily complaints are
remarkably mitigated by those considerations that dissipate the
clouds of mental chagrin。 The imprisonment of Clinker brought on
those symptoms which I mentioned in my last； and now they are
vanished at his discharge。 It must be owned； indeed； I took some
of the tincture of ginseng； prepared according to your
prescription； and found it exceedingly grateful to the stomach；
but the pain and sickness continued to return； after short
intervals； till the anxiety of my mind was entirely removed； and
then I found myself perfectly at case。 We have had fair weather
these ten days； to the astonishment of the Londoners； who think
it portentous。 If you enjoy the same indulgence in Wales； I hope
Barns has got my hay made； and safe cocked by this time。 As we
shall be in motion for some weeks； I cannot expect to hear from
you as usual； but I shall continue to write from every place at
which we make any halt； that you may know our track； in case it
should be necessary to communicate any thing to
Your assured friend；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
LONDON； June 14。
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall； &c。
DEAR MARY；
Having the occasion of my cousin Jenkins of Aberga'ny； I send
you； as a token； a turkey…shell comb； a kiple of yards of green
ribbon； and a sarment upon the nothingness of good works； which
was preached in the Tabernacle； and you will also receive a horn…buck
for Saul； whereby she may learn her letters； for Fin much
consarned about the state of her poor sole and what are all the
pursuits of this life to the consarns of that immortal part？
What is life but a veil of affliction？ O Mary！ the whole family
have been in such a constipation！ Mr Clinker has been in
trouble； but the gates of hell have not been able to prevail
again him。 His virtue is like poor gould； seven times tried in
the fire。 He was tuck up for a rubbery； and had before gustass
Busshard； who made his mittamouse； and the pore youth was sent to
prison upon the false oaf of a willian； that wanted to sware his
life away for the looker of cain。
The 'squire did all in his power； but could not prevent his being
put in chains； and confined among common manufactors； where he
stood like an innocent sheep in the midst of wolves and tygers。
Lord knows what mought have happened to this pyehouse young man；
if master had not applied to Apias Korkus； who lives with the
ould bailiff； and is； they say； five hundred years old （God bless
us！）； and a congeror： but； if he be； sure I am he don't deal with
the devil； otherwise he couldn't have fought out Mr Clinker； as
he did； in spite of stone walls； iron bolts； and double locks；
that flew open at his command； for ould Scratch has not a greater
enemy upon hearth than Mr Clinker； who is； indeed； a very
powerful labourer in the Lord's vineyard。 I do no more than yuse
the words of my good lady； who has got the infectual calling；
and； I trust； that even myself； though unworthy； shall find
grease to be excepted。 Miss Liddy has been touch'd to the quick；
but is a little timorsome： howsomever； I make no doubt； but she；
and all of us； will be brought； by the endeavours of Mr Clinker；
to produce blessed fruit of generation and repentance。 As for
master and the young 'squire； they have as yet had narro glimpse
of the new light。 I doubt as how their harts are hardened by
worldly wisdom； which； as the pyebill saith； is foolishness in
the sight of God。
O Mary Jones； pray without seizing for grease to prepare you for
the operations of this wonderful instrument； which； I hope； will
be exorcised this winter upon you and others at Brambleton…hall。
Tomorrow； we are to set out in a cox and four for Yorkshire；
and； I believe； we shall travel that way far； and far； and
farther than I can tell； but I shan't go so far as to forget my
friends； and Mary Jones will always be remembered as one of them
by her
Humble sarvant；
WIN。 JENKINS
LONDON； June 14。
To Mrs GWYLLIM； house…keeper at Brambleton…hall。
MRS GWYLLIM；
I can't help thinking it very strange； that I never had an answer
to the letter I wrote you some weeks ago from Bath； concerning
the sour bear； the gander； and the maids eating butter； which I
won't allow to be wasted。 We are now going upon a long journey
to the north； whereby I desire you will redouble your care and
circumflexion； that the family may be well managed in our
absence； for； you know； you must render account； not only to your
earthly master； but also to him that is above； and if you are
found a good and faithful sarvant； great will be your reward in
haven。 I hope there will be twenty stun of cheese ready for
market by the time I get huom； and as much owl spun； as will
make half a dozen pair of blankets； and that the savings of the
butter…milk will fetch me a good penny before Martinmass； as the
two pigs are to be fed for baking with bitchmast and acrons。
I wrote to doctor Lews for the same porpuss； but he never had the
good manners to take the least notice of my letter； for which
reason； I shall never favour him with another； though he beshits
me on his bended knees。 You will do well to keep a watchful eye
over the hind Villiams； who is one of his amissories； and； I
believe； no better than he should be at bottom。 God forbid that I
should lack christian charity； but charity begins at huom； and
sure nothing can be a more charitable work than to rid the family
of such vermine。 I do suppose； that the bindled cow has been had
to the parson's bull； that old Moll has had another litter of
pigs； and that Dick is become a mighty mouser。 Pray order every
thing for the best； and be frugal； and keep the maids to their
labour If I had a private opportunity； I would send them some
hymns to sing instead of profane ballads； but； as I can't； they
and you must be contented with the prayers of
Your assured friend；
T。 BRAMBLE
LONDON； June 14。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
The very day after I wrote my last； Clinker was set at liberty。 As
Martin had foretold； the accuser was himself committed for a
robbery； upon unquestionable evidence。 He had been for some time
in the snares of the thief…taking society； who； resenting his
presumption in attempting to incroach upon their monopoly of
impeachment； had him taken up and committed to Newgate； on the
deposition of an accomplice； who has been admitted as evidence
for the king。 The postilion being upon record as an old offender；
the chief justice made no scruple of admitting Clinker to bail；
when he perused the affidavit of Mr Mead； importing that the said
Clinker was not the person that robbed him on Blackheath； and
honest Humphry was discharged。 When he came home； he expressed
great eagerness to pay his respects to his master； and here his
elocution failed him； but his silence was pathetic； he fell down
at his feet and embraced his knees； shedding a flood of tears；
which my uncle did not see without emotion。 He took snuff in some
confusion； and； putting his hand in his pocket； gave him his
blessing in something more substantial than words 'Clinker （said
he）； I am so well convinced； bo