estate of ten thousand a year； he should have my consent to lay
it at her feet。 If Mr Grieve had been as solicitious about
getting money； as he has been in performing all the duties of a
primitive Christian； he would not have hung so long upon his
hands。' 'What is her name？' said I。 'Sixteen years ago （answered
the vicar） I christened her by the names of Seraphina Melvilia。'
'Ha！ what！ how！ （cried the count eagerly） sure； you said
Seraphina Melvilia。' 'I did （said he）； Mr Grieve told me those
were the names of two noble persons abroad； to whom he had been
obliged for more than life。'
The count； without speaking another syllable； rushed into the
parlour； crying； 'This is your god…daughter； my dear。' Mrs
Grieve； then seizing the countess by the hand； exclaimed with
great agitation； 'O madam！ O sir！ I am I am your poor Elinor。
This is my Seraphina Melvilia O child！ these are the count and
countess of Melville； the generous the glorious benefactors of
thy once unhappy parents。'
The countess rising from her scat threw her arms about the neck
of the amiable Seraphina； and clasped her to her breast with
great tenderness； while she herself was embraced by the weeping
mother。 This moving scene was completed by the entrance of Grieve
himself； who falling on his knees before the count； 'Behold （said
he） a penitent； who at length can look upon his patron without
shrinking。' 'Ah； Ferdinand！ （cried he； raising and folding him in
his arms） the playfellow of my infancy the companion of my
youth！ Is it to you then I am indebted for my life？' 'Heaven has
heard my prayer （said the other）； and given me an opportunity to
prove myself not altogether unworthy of your clemency and
protection。' He then kissed the hand of the countess； while
monsieur de Melville saluted his wife and lovely daughter； and
all of us were greatly affected by this pathetic recognition。
In a word； Grieve was no other than Ferdinand count Fathom； whose
adventures were printed many years ago。 Being a sincere convert
to virtue； he had changed his name； that he might elude the
enquiries of the count； whose generous allowance he determined to
forego； that he might have no dependence but upon his own
industry and moderation。 He had accordingly settled in this
village as a practitioner in surgery and physic； and for some
years wrestled with all the miseries of indigence； which；
however； he and his wife had borne with the most exemplary
resignation。 At length； by dint of unwearied attention to the
duties of his profession； which he exercised with equal humanity
and success； he had acquired tolerable share of business among
the farmers and common people； which enabled him to live in a
decent manner。 He had been scarce ever seen to smile； was
unaffectedly pious； and all the time he could spare from the
avocations of his employment； he spent in educating his daughter；
and in studying for his own improvement。 In short； the adventurer
Fathom was； under the name of Grieve； universally respected among
the commonalty of this district； as a prodigy of learning and
virtue。 These particulars I learned from the vicar； when we
quitted the room； that they might be under no restraint in their
mutual effusions。 I make no doubt that Grieve will be pressed to
leave off business； and re…unite himself to the count's family；
and as the countess seemed extremely fond of his daughter； she
will； in all probability； insist upon Seraphina's accompanying
her to Scotland。
Having paid our compliments to these noble persons； we returned
to the 'squire's； where we expected an invitation to pass the
night； which was wet and raw； but it seems； 'squire Burdock's
hospitality reached not so far for the honour of Yorkshire； we
therefore departed in the evening； and lay at an inn； where I
caught cold。
In hope of riding it down before it could take fast hold on my
constitution； I resolved to visit another relation； one Mr
Pimpernel； who lived about a dozen miles from the place where we
lodged。 Pimpernel being the youngest of four sons； was bred an
attorney at Furnival's inn； but all his elder brothers dying； he
got himself called to the bar for the honour of his family； and
soon after this preferment； succeeded to his father's estate
which was very considerable。 He carried home with him all the
knavish chicanery of the lowest pettifogger； together with a wife
whom he had purchased of a drayman for twenty pounds； and he soon
found means to obtain a dedimus as an acting justice of peace。 He
is not only a sordid miser in his disposition； but his avarice is
mingled with a spirit of despotism； which is truly diabolical。
He is a brutal husband； an unnatural parent； a harsh master； an
oppressive landlord； a litigious neighbour； and a partial
magistrate。 Friends he has none； and in point of hospitality and
good breeding； our cousin Burdock is a prince in comparison of
this ungracious miscreant； whose house is the lively
representation of a gaol。 Our
reception was suitable to the character I have sketched。 Had it
depended upon the wife； we should have been kindly treated。 She
is really a good sort of a woman； in spite of her low original；
and well respected in the country； but she has not interest
enough in her own house to command a draught of table beer； far
less to bestow any kind of education on her children； who run
about； like tagged colts； in a state of nature。 Pox on him！ he
is such a dirty fellow； that I have not patience to prosecute the
subject。
By that time we reached Harrigate； I began to be visited by
certain rheumatic symptoms。 The Scotch lawyer； Mr Micklewhimmen；
recommended a hot bath of these waters so earnestly； that I was
over…persuaded to try the experiment。 He had used it often with
success and always stayed an hour in the bath； which was a tub
filled with Harrigate water； heated for the purpose。 If I could
hardly bear the smell of a single tumbler when cold； you may
guess how my nose was regaled by the streams arising from a hot
bath of the same fluid。 At night； I was conducted into a dark
hole on the ground floor； where the tub smoaked and stunk like
the pot of Acheron； in one corner； and in another stood a dirty
bed provided with thick blankets； in which I was to sweat after
coming out of the bath。 My heart seemed to die within me when I
entered this dismal bagnio； and found my brain assaulted by such
insufferable effluvia。 I cursed Micklewhimmen for not considering
that my organs were formed on this side of the Tweed； but being
ashamed to recoil upon the threshold； I submitted to the process。
After having endured all but real suffocation for above a quarter
of an hour in the tub； I was moved to the bed and wrapped in
blankets。 There I lay a full hour panting with intolerable heat；
but not the least moisture appearing on my skin； I was carried to
my own chamber； and passed the night without closing an eye； in
such a flutter of spirits as rendered me the most miserable
wretch in being。 I should certainly have run distracted； if the
rarefaction of my blood； occasioned by that Stygian bath； had not
burst the vessels； and produced a violent haemorrhage； which；
though dreadful and alarming； removed the horrible disquiet I
lost two pounds of blood； and more； on this occasion； and find
myself still weak and languid； but； I believe； a little exercise
will forward my recovery； and therefore I am resolved to set out
to…morrow for York； in my way to Scarborough； where I propose to
brace up my fibres by sea…bathing； which； I know； is one of your
favourite specificks。 There is； however； one disease； for which
you have found as yet no specific； and that is old age； of which
this tedious unconnected epistle is an infallible symptom： what；
therefore； cannot be cured； must be endured； by you； as well as
by
Yours；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
HARRIGATE； June 26。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR KNIGHT；
The manner of living at Harrigate was so agreeable to my
disposition； that I left the place with some regret Our aunt
Tabby would have probably made some objection to our departing so
soon； had not an accident embroiled her with Mr Micklewhimmen；
the Scotch advocate； on whose heart she had been practising； from
the second day after our arrival That original； though seemingly
precluded from the use of his limbs； had turned his genius to
good account In short； by dint of groaning； and whining； he had
excited the compassion of the company so effectually； that an old
lady； who occupied the very best apartment in the house； gave it
up for his case and convenience。 When his man led him into the
Long Room； all the females were immediately in commotion One set
an elbow…chair； another shook up the cushion； a third brought a
stool； and a fourth a pillow； for the accommodation of his feet
Two ladies （of whom Tabby was always one） supported him into the
dining…room； and placed him properly at the table； and his taste
was indulged with a succession of delicacies； culled by their
fair hands。 All this attention he repaid with a profusion of
compliments and benedictions； which were not the less agreeable
for being delivered in the Scottish dialect。 As for Mrs Tabitha；
his respects were particularly addressed to her； and he did not
fail to mingle them with religious reflections； touching free
grace； knowing her bias to methodism； which he also professed
upon a calvinistical model。
For my part； I could not help thinking this lawyer was not such
an invalid as he pretended to be。 I observed he ate very heartily
three times a day； and though his bottle was marked stomachic
tincture； he had recourse to it so often； and seemed to swallow
it with such peculiar relish； that I suspected it was not
compounded in the apothecary's shop； or the chemist's laboratory。
One day； while he was earnest in discourse with Mrs Tabitha； and
his servant had gone out on some occasion or other； I dexterously
exchanged the labels； and situation of his bottle and mine； and
having tasted his tincture； found it was excellent claret。 I
forthwith handed it about me to some of my neighbours； and it was
quite emptied before Mr Micklewhimmen had occasion to repeat his
dr