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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 peculiarly adapted to
his part。 He appeared with a ludicrous stare； from which he had
discharged all meaning： he adopted the impressions of fear and
amazement so naturally； that many of the audience were infected
by his looks； but when the skeleton held him in chace his horror
became most divertingly picturesque； and seemed to endow him with
such praeternatural agility as confounded all the spectators。 It
was a lively representation of Death in pursuit of Consumption；
and had such an effect upon the commonalty； that some of them
shrieked aloud； and others ran out of the hall in the utmost
consternation。
This is not the only instance in which the lieutenant has lately
excited our wonder。 His temper； which had been soured and
shrivelled by disappointment and chagrin； is now swelled out； and
smoothed like a raisin in plumb…porridge。 From being reserved and
punctilious； he is become easy and obliging。 He cracks jokes；
laughs and banters； with the most facetious familiarity； and； in
a word； enters into all our schemes of merriment and pastime The
other day his baggage arrived in the waggon from London；
contained in two large trunks and a long deal box not unlike a
coffin。 The trunks were filled with his wardrobe； which he
displayed for the entertainment of the company； and he freely
owned； that it consisted chiefly of the opima spolia taken in
battle。 What he selected for his wedding suit； was a tarnished
white cloth faced with blue velvet； embroidered with silver； but；
he valued himself most upon a tye…periwig； in which he had made
his first appearance as a lawyer above thirty years ago。 This
machine had been in buckle ever since； and now all the servants
in the family were employed to frizz it out for the occasion；
which was yesterday celebrated at the parish church。 George
Dennison and his bride were distinguished by nothing
extraordinary in their apparel。 His eyes lightened with eagerness
and joy； and she trembled with coyness and confusion。 My uncle
gave her away； and her friend Willis supported her during the
ceremony。
But my aunt and her paramour took the pas； and formed； indeed；
such a pair of originals； as； I believe all England could not
parallel。 She was dressed in the stile of 1739； and the day being
cold； put on a manteel of green velvet laced with gold： but this
was taken off by the bridegroom； who threw over her shoulders a
fur cloak of American sables； valued at fourscore guineas； a
present equally agreeable and unexpected。 Thus accoutred； she was
led up to the altar by Mr Dennison； who did the office of her
father： Lismahago advanced in the military step with his French
coat reaching no farther than the middle of his thigh； his
campaign wig that surpasses all description； and a languishing
leer upon his countenance； in which there seemed to be something
arch and ironical。 The ring； which he put upon her finger； he had
concealed till the moment it was used。 He now produced it with an
air of self…complacency。 It was a curious antique； set with rose
diamonds： he told us afterwards； it