victory over the infirmities of his nature。
Upon an accurate enquiry into the state of his affairs； I find
his debts amount to twenty thousand pounds； for eighteen thousand
pounds of which sum his estate is mortgaged； and as he pays five
per cent。 interest； and some of his farms are unoccupied； he does
not receive above two hundred pounds a year clear from his lands；
over and above the interest of his wife's fortune； which produced
eight hundred pounds annually。 For lightening this heavy burthen；
I devised the following expedient。 His wife's jewels； together
with his superfluous plate and furniture in both houses； his
horses and carriages； which are already advertised to be sold by
auction； will； according to the estimate； produce two thousand
five hundred pounds in ready money； with which the debt will be
immediately reduced to eighteen thousand pounds I have
undertaken to find him ten thousand pounds at four per cent。 by
which means he will save one hundred a…year in the article of
interest； and perhaps we shall be able to borrow the other eight
thousand on the same terms。 According to his own scheme of a
country life； he says he can live comfortably for three hundred
pounds a…year； but； as he has a son to educate； we will allow him
five hundred； then there will be an accumulating fund of seven
hundred a…year； principal and interest； to pay off the
incumbrance； and； I think； we may modestly add three hundred； on
the presumption of new…leasing and improving the vacant farms： so
that； in a couple of years； I suppose there will be above a
thousand a…year appropriated to liquidate a debt of sixteen
thousand。
We forthwith began to class and set apart the articles designed
for sale； under the direction of an upholder from London； and；
that nobody in the house might be idle； commenced our reformation
without doors； as well as within。 With Baynard's good leave； I
ordered the gardener to turn the rivulet into its old channel； to
refresh the fainting Naiads； who had so long languished among
mouldring roots； withered leaves； and dry pebbles The shrubbery
is condemned to extirpation； and the pleasure ground will be
restored to its original use of corn…field and pasture Orders
are given for rebuilding the walls of the garden at the back of
the house； and for planting clumps of firs； intermingled with
beech and chestnut； at the east end； which is now quite exposed
to the surly blasts that come from that quarter。 All these works
being actually begun； and the house and auction left to the care
and management of a reputable attorney； I brought Baynard along
with me in the chaise； and made him acquainted with Dennison；
whose goodness of heart would not fail to engage his esteem and
affection。 He is indeed charmed with our society in general； and
declares that he never saw the theory of true pleasure reduced to
practice before。 I really believe it would not be an easy task to
find such a number of individuals assembled under one roof； more
happy than we are at present。
I must tell you； however； in confidence； I suspect Tabby of
tergiversation。 I have been so long accustomed to that original；
that I know all the caprices of her heart； and can often perceive
her designs while they are yet in embrio She attached herself to
Lismahago for no other reason but that she despaired of making a
more agreeable conquest。 At present； if I am not much mistaken in
my observation； she would gladly convert the widowhood of Baynard
to her own advantage。 Since he arrived； she has behaved very
coldly to the captain； and strove to fasten on the other's heart；
with the hooks of overstrained civility。 These must be the
instinctive efforts of her constitution； rather than the effects
of any deliberate design； for matters are carried to such a
length with the lieutenant； that she could not retract with any
regard to conscience or reputation。 Besides； she will meet with
nothing but indifference or aversion on the side of Baynard； who
has too much sense to think of such a partner at any time； and
too much delicacy to admit a thought of any such connexion at the
present juncture Meanwhile； I have prevailed upon her to let him
have four thousand pounds at four per cent towards paying off his
mortage。 Young Dennison has agreed that Liddy's fortune shall be
appropriated to the same purpose； on the same terms。 His father
will sell out three thousand pounds stock for his accommodation。
Farmer Bland has； at the desire of Wilson； undertaken for two
thousand； and I must make an effort to advance what further will
be required to take my friend out of the hands of the
Philistines。 He is so pleased with the improvements made on his
estate； which is all cultivated like a garden； that he has
entered himself as a pupil in farming to Mr Dennison； and
resolved to attach himself wholly to the practice of husbandry。
Every thing is now prepared for our double wedding。 The
marriage…articles for both couples are drawn and executed； and the
ceremony only waits until the parties shall have been resident in
the parish the term prescribed by law。 Young Dennison betrays
some symptoms of impatience； but； Lismahago bears this necessary
delay with the temper of a philosopher。 You must know； the
captain does not stand altogether on the foundation of personal
merit。 Besides his half…pay； amounting to two and forty pounds a
year； this indefatigable oeconomist has amassed eight hundred
pounds； which he has secured in the funds。 This sum arises partly
from his pay's running up while he remained among the Indians；
partly from what he received as a consideration for the
difference between his full appointment and the half…pay； to
which he is now restricted； and partly from the profits of a
little traffick he drove in peltry； during his sachemship among
the Miamis。
Liddy's fears and perplexities have been much assuaged by the
company of one Miss Willis； who had been her intimate companion
at the boarding…school。 Her parents had been earnestly sollicited
to allow her making this friendly visit on such an extraordinary
occasion； and two days ago she arrived with her mother； who did
not chuse that she should come without a proper gouvernante。 The
young lady is very sprightly； handsome； and agreeable； and the
mother a mighty good sort of a woman； so that their coming adds
considerably to our enjoyment。 But we shall have a third couple
yoked in the matrimonial chain。 Mr Clinker Loyd has made humble
remonstrance through the canal of my nephew； setting forth the
sincere love and affection mutually subsisting between him and
Mrs Winifred Jenkins； and praying my consent to their coming
together for life。 I would have wished that Mr Clinker had kept
out of this scrape； but as the nymph's happiness is at stake； and
she has already some fits in the way of despondence； I； in order
to prevent any tragical catastrophe； have given him leave to play
the fool； in imitation of his betters； and I suppose we shall in
time have a whole litter of his progeny at Brambleton…hall。 The
fellow is stout and lusty； very sober and conscientious； and the
wench seems to be as great an enthusiast in love as in religion。
I wish you would think of employing him some other way； that the
parish may not be overstocked you know he has been bred a
farrier； consequently belongs to the faculty； and as he is very
docile； I make no doubt but； with your good instruction； he may
be； in a little time； qualified to act as a Welch apothecary。
Tabby； who never did a favour with a good grace； has consented；
with great reluctance； to this match。 Perhaps it hurts her pride；
as she now considers Clinker in the light of a relation； but； I
believe； her objections are of a more selfish nature。 She
declares she cannot think of retaining the wife of Matthew Loyd
in the character of a servant； and she foresees； that on such an
occasion the woman will expect some gratification for her past
services。 As for Clinker； exclusive of other considerations； he
is so trusty； brave； affectionate； and alert； and I owe him such
personal obligations； that he merits more than all the indulgence
that can possibly be shewn him； by
Yours；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
Oct。 26。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 at Oxon。
DEAR KNIGHT；
The fatal knots are now tied。 The comedy is near a close； and the
curtain is ready to drop： but； the latter scenes of this act I
shall recapitulate in order About a fortnight ago； my uncle made
an excursion across the country； and brought hither a particular
friend； one Mr Baynard； who has just lost his wife； and was for
some time disconsolate； though by all accounts he had much more
cause for joy than for sorrow at this event。 His countenance；
however； clears up apace； and he appears to be a person of rare
accomplishments。 But； we have received another still more
agreeable reinforcement to our company； by the arrival of Miss
Willis from Gloucester。 She was Liddy's bosom friend at the
boarding…school； and being earnestly sollicited to assist at the
nuptials； her mother was so obliging as to grant my sister's
request； and even to come with her in person。 Liddy； accompanied
by George Dennison and me； gave them the meeting halfway； and
next day conducted them hither in safety。 Miss Willis is a
charming girl； and； in point of disposition； an agreeable
contrast to my sister； who is rather too grave and sentimental
for my turn of mind。 The other is gay； frank； a little giddy； and
always good…humoured。 She has； moreover； a genteel fortune； is
well born； and remarkably handsome。 Ah Phillips！ if these
qualities were permanent if her humour would never change； nor
her beauties decay； what efforts would I not make But these are
idle reflections my destiny must one day be fulfilled。
At present we pass the time as agreeably as we can。 We have got
up several farces； which afforded unspeakable entertainment by
the effects they produced among the country people； who are
admitted to all our exhibitions。 Two nights ago； Jack Wilson
acquired great applause in Harlequin Skeleton； and Lismahago
surprised us all in the character of Pierot。 His long lank
sides； and strong marked features； were all peculia