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conduct you to this place； where； I am sure； you will find
yourself perfectly at your case in the midst of an agreeable
society。 Dear Letty； I will take no refusal if you have any
friendship any humanity you will come。 I desire that immediate
application may be made to your mamma； and that the moment her
permission is obtained； you will apprise
Your ever faithful；
LYDIA MELFORD
Oct。 14。
To Mrs JERMYN； at her house in Gloucester。
DEAR MADAM；
Though I was not so fortunate as to be favoured with an answer to
the letter with which I troubled you in the spring； I still
flatter myself that you retain some regard for me and my
concerns。 I am sure the care and tenderness with which I was
treated； under your roof and tuition； demand the warmest returns
of gratitude and affection on my part； and these sentiments； I
hope； I shall cherish to my dying day At present； I think it my
duty to make you acquainted with the happy issue of that
indiscretion by which I incurred your displeasure。 … Ah！ madam； the
slighted Wilson is metamorphosed into George Dennison； only son
and heir of a gentleman； whose character is second to none in
England； as you may understand upon inquiry。 My guardian； my
brother and I； are now in his house； and an immediate union of
the two families is to take place in the persons of the young
gentleman and your poor Lydia Melford。 You will easily conceive
how embarrassing this situation must be to a young inexperienced
creature like me； of weak nerves and strong apprehensions； and
how much the presence of a friend and confidant would encourage
and support me on this occasion。 You know； that of all the young
ladies； Miss Willis was she that possessed the greatest share of
my confidence and affection； and； therefore； I fervently wish to
have the happiness of her company at this interesting crisis。
Mrs Dennison； who is the object of universal love and esteem；
has； at my request； written to you on this subject； and I now beg
leave to reinforce her sollicitations。 My dear Mrs Jermyn！ my
ever honoured governess！ let me conjure you by that fondness
which once distinguished your favourite Lydia！ by that
benevolence of heart； which disposes you to promote the happiness
of your fellow…creatures in general！ lend a favourable ear to my
petition； and use your influence with Letty's mamma； that my most
earnest desire may be gratified。 Should I be indulged in this
particular； I will engage to return her safe； and even to
accompany her to Gloucester； where； if you will give me leave； I
will present to you； under another name；
Dear Madam；
Your most affectionate
Humble servant；
And penitent；
LYDIA MELFORD
Oct。 14。
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
O MARY JONES！ MARY JONES！
I have met with so many axidents； suprisals； and terrifications；
that I am in a pafeck fantigo； and I believe I shall never be my
own self again。 Last week I was dragged out of a river like a
drowned rat； and lost a bran…new night…cap； with a sulfer
stayhook； that cost me a good half…a…crown； and an odd shoe of
green gallow monkey； besides wetting my cloaths and taring my
smuck； and an ugly gash made in the back part of my thy； by the
stump of a tree To be sure Mr Clinker tuck me out of the cox；
but he left me on my back in the water； to go to the 'squire； and
I mought have had a watry grave； if a millar had not brought me
to the dry land But； O！ what choppings and changes girl The
player man that came after Miss Liddy； and frightened me with a
beard at Bristol Well； is now matthew…murphy'd into a fine young
gentleman； son and hare of 'squire Dollison We are all together
in the same house； and all parties have agreed to the match； and
in a fortnite the surrymony will be performed。
But this is not the only wedding we are to have Mistriss is
resolved to have the same frolick； in the naam of God！ Last
Sunday in the parish crutch； if my own ars may be trusted； the
clerk called the banes of marridge betwixt Opaniah Lashmeheygo；
and Tapitha Brample； spinster； he mought as well have called her
inkle…weaver； for she never spun and hank of yarn in her life
Young 'squire Dollison and Miss Liddy make the second kipple； and
there might have been a turd； but times are changed with Mr
Clinker O Molly！ what do'st think？ Mr Clinker is found to be a
pye…blow of our own 'squire； and his rite naam is Mr Matthew Loyd
（thof God he nose how that can be）； and he is now out of livery；
and wares ruffles but I new him when he was out at elbows； and
had not a rag to kiver his pistereroes； so he need not hold his
head so high He is for sartin very umble and compleasant； and
purtests as how he has the same regard as before； but that he is
no longer his own master； and cannot portend to marry without the
'squire's consent He says he must wait with patience； and trust
to Providence； and such nonsense But if so be as how his regard
be the same； why stand shilly shally？ Why not strike while the
iron is hot； and speak to the 'squire without loss of time？ What
subjection can the 'squire make to our coming together Thof my
father wan't a gentleman； my mother was an honest woman I didn't
come on the wrong side of the blanket； girl My parents were
marred according to the right of holy mother crutch； in the face
of men and angles Mark that； Mary Jones。
Mr Clinker （Loyd I would say） had best look to his tackle。 There
be other chaps in the market； as the saying is What would he say
if I should except the soot and sarvice of the young squire's
valley？ Mr Machappy is a gentleman born； and has been abroad in
the wars He has a world of buck larning； and speaks French； and
Ditch； and Scotch； and all manner of outlandish lingos； to be
sure he's a little the worse for the ware； and is much given to
drink； but then he's good…tempered in his liquor； and a prudent
woman mought wind him about her finger But I have no thoughts of
him； I'll assure you I scorn for to do； or to say； or to think
any thing that mought give unbreech to Mr Loyd； without furder
occasion But then I have such vapours； Molly I sit and cry by
myself； and take ass of etida； and smill to burnt fathers； and
kindal…snuffs； and I pray constantly for grease； that I may have
a glimpse of the new…light； to shew me the way through this
wretched veil of tares。 And yet； I want for nothing in this family
of love； where every sole is so kind and so courteous； that wan
would think they are so many saints in haven。 Dear Molly； I
recommend myself to your prayers； being； with my sarvice to Saul；
your ever loving；
and discounselled friend；
WIN。 JENKINS
Oct。 14。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DICK；
You cannot imagine what pleasure I have in seeing your hand…writing；
after such a long cessation on your side of our
correspondence Yet； Heaven knows； I have often seen your
hand…writing with disgust I mean； when it appeared in abbreviations
of apothecary's Latin I like your hint of making interest for
the reversion of the collector's place； for Mr Lismahago； who is
much pleased with the scheme； and presents you with his
compliments and best thanks for thinking so kindly of his
concerns The