this pathetic recognition He sobbed； and wept； and clapped his
hands； and hollowed； and finally ran down into the street。 By
this time； the captain had retired with his parents； and all the
inhabitants of the place were assembled at the door。 Mr Bramble；
nevertheless； pressed thro' the crowd； and entering the house；
'Captain （said he）； I beg the favour of your acquaintance。 I would
have travelled a hundred miles to see this affecting scene； and I
shall think myself happy if you and your parents will dine with
me at the public house。' The captain thanked him for his kind
invitation； which； he said； he would accept with pleasure； but in
the mean time； he could not think of eating or drinking； while
his poor brother was in trouble。 He forthwith deposited a sum
equal to the debt in the hands of the magistrate； who ventured to
set his brother at liberty without farther process； and then the
whole family repaired to the inn with my uncle； attended by the
crowd； the individuals of which shook their townsman by the hand；
while he returned their caresses without the least sign of pride
or affectation。
This honest favourite of fortune； whose name was Brown； told my
uncle； that he had been bred a weaver； and； about eighteen years
ago； had； from a spirit of idleness and dissipation； enlisted as
a soldier in the service of the East…India company； that； in the
course of duty； he had the good fortune to attract the notice and
approbation of Lord Clive； who preferred him from one step to
another； till he attained the rank of captain and pay…master to
the regiment； in which capacities he had honestly amassed above
twelve thousand pounds； and； at the peace； resigned his
commission。 He had sent several remittances to his father； who
received the first only； consisting of one hundred pounds； the
second had fallen into the hands of a bankrupt； and the third had
been consigned to a gentleman of Scotland； who died before it
arrived； so that it still remained to be accounted for by his
executors。 He now presented the old man with fifty pounds for his
present occasions； over and above bank notes for one hundred；
which he had deposited for his brother's release。 He brought
along with him a deed ready executed； by which he settled a
perpetuity of four…score pounds upon his parents； to be inherited
by their other two sons after their decease。 He promised to
purchase a commission for his youngest brother； to take the other
as his own partner in a manufacture which he intended to set up；
to give employment and bread to the industrious； and to give five
hundred pounds； by way of dower； to his sister； who had married a
farmer in low circumstances。 Finally； he gave fifty pounds to the
poor of the town where he was born； and feasted all the
inhabitants without exception。
My uncle was so charmed with the character of captain Brown； that
he drank his health three times successively at dinner He said；
he was proud of his acquaintance； that he was an honour to his
country； and had in some measure redeemed human nature from the
reproach of pride； selfishness； and ingratitude。 For my part； I
was as much pleased with the modesty as with the filial virtue of
this honest soldier； who assumed no merit from his success； and
said very little of his own transactions； though the answers he
made to our inquiries were equally sensible and laconic； Mrs
Tabitha behaved very graciously to him until she understood that
he was going to make a tender of his hand to a person of low
estate； who had been his sweet…heart while he worked as a
journeyman weaver。 Our aunt was no sooner made acquainted with
this design； than she starched up her behaviour with a double
proportion of reserve； and when the company broke up； she
observed with a toss of her nose； that Brown was a civil fellow
enough； considering the lowness of his original； but that
Fortune； though she had mended his circumstances； was incapable
to raise his ideas； which were still humble and plebeian。
On the day that succeeded this adventure； we went some miles out
of our road to see Drumlanrig； a seat belonging to the duke of
Queensberry； which appears like a magnificent palace erected by
magic； in the midst of a wilderness。 It is indeed a princely
mansion； with suitable parks and plantations； rendered still more
striking by the nakedness of the surrounding country； which is
one of the wildest tracts in all Scotland。 This wildness；
however； is different from that of the Highlands； for here the
mountains； instead of heath； are covered with a fine green
swarth； affording pasture to innumerable flocks of sheep。 But the
fleeces of this country； called Nithsdale； are not comparable to
the wool of Galloway； which is said to equal that of Salisbury
plain。 Having passed the night at the castle of Drumlanrig； by
invitation from the duke himself； who is one of the best men that
ever breathed； we prosecuted our journey to Dumfries； a very
elegant trading town near the borders of England； where we found
plenty of good provision and excellent wine； at very reasonable
prices； and the accommodation as good in all respects as in any
part of South…Britain。 If I was confined to Scotland for life； I
would chuse Dumfries as the place of my residence。 Here we made
enquiries about captain Lismahago； of whom hearing no tidings； we
proceeded by the Solway Frith； to Carlisle。 You must know； that
the Solway sands； upon which travellers pass at low water； are
exceedingly dangerous； because； as the tide makes； they become
quick in different places； and the flood rushes in so
impetuously； that the passengers are often overtaken by the sea
and perish。
In crossing these treacherous Syrtes with a guide； we perceived a
drowned horse； which Humphry Clinker； after due inspection；
declared to be the very identical beast which Mr Lismahago rode
when he parted with us at Feltonbridge in Northumberland。 This
information； which seemed to intimate that our friend the
lieutenant had shared the fate of his horse； affected us all； and
above all our aunt Tabitha； who shed salt tears； and obliged
Clinker to pull a few hairs out of the dead horse's tail； to be
worn in a ring as a remembrance of his master： but her grief and
ours was not of long duration； for one of the first persons we
saw in Carlisle； was the lieutenant in propria persona；
bargaining with a horse…dealer for another steed； in the yard of
the inn where we alighted。 Mrs Bramble was the first that
perceived him； and screamed as if she had seen a ghost； and；
truly； at a proper time and place； he might very well have passed
for an inhabitant of another world； for he was more meagre and
grim than before。 We received him the more cordially for having
supposed he had been drowned； and he was not deficient in
expressions of satisfaction at this meeting。 He told us； he had
enquired for us at Dumfries； and been informed by a travelling
merchant from Glasgow； that we had resolved to return by the way
of Coldstream。 He said； that in passing the sands without a
guide； his horse had knocked up； and he himself must have
perished； if he had not been providentially relieved by a return
post…chaise。 He moreover gave us to understand； that his scheme
of settling in his own country having miscarried； he was so far
on his way to London； with a view to embark for North…America；
where he intended to pass the rest of his days among his old
friends the Miamis； and amuse himself in finishing the education
of the son he had by his beloved Squinkinacoosta。
This project was by no means agreeable to our good aunt； who
expatiated upon the fatigues and dangers that would attend such a
long voyage by sea； and afterwards such a tedious journey by
land She enlarged particularly on the risque he would run； with
respect to the concerns of his precious soul； among savages who
had not yet received the glad tidings of salvation； and she
hinted that his abandoning Great…Britain might； perhaps； prove
fatal to the inclinations of some deserving person； whom he was
qualified to make happy for life。 My uncle； who is really a Don
Quixote in generosity； understanding that Lismahago's real reason
for leaving Scotland was the impossibility of subsisting in it
with any decency upon the wretched provision of a subaltern's
half…pay； began to be warmly interested on the side of
compassion。 He thought it very hard； that a gentleman who had
served his country with honour； should be driven by necessity to
spend his old age； among the refuse of mankind； in such a remote
part of the world。 He discoursed with me upon the subject；
observing； that he would willingly offer the lieutenant an asylum
at Brambleton…hall； if he did not foresee that his singularities
and humour of contradiction would render him an intolerable
housemate； though his conversation at some times might be both
instructive and entertaining： but； as there seemed to be
something particular in his attention to Mrs Tabitha； he and I
agreed in opinion； that this intercourse should be encouraged and
improved； if possible； into a matrimonial union； in which case
there would be a comfortable provision for both； and they might
be settled in a house of their own； so that Mr Bramble should
have no more of their company than he desired。
In pursuance of this design； Lismahago has been invited to pass
the winter at Brambleton…hall； as it will be time enough to
execute his American project in the spring。 He has taken time to
consider of this proposal； mean while； he will keep us company as
far as we travel in the road to Bristol； where he has hopes of
getting a passage for America。 I make no doubt but that he will
postpone his voyage； and prosecute his addresses to a happy
consummation； and sure； if it produces any fruit； it must be of a
very peculiar flavour。 As the weather continues favourable； I
believe； we shall take the Peak of Derbyshire and Buxton Wells in
our way。 At any rate； from the first place where we make any
stay； you shall hear again from
Yours always；
J。 MELFORD
CARLISLE； Sep。 12。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DOCTOR；
The peasantry of Scotland are certainly on a poor footing all
over the kingdom； and yet they look be