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ago for half a pound of Gengzeng； though I doubt much； whether
that which comes from America is equally efficacious with what is
brought from the East Indies。 Some years ago a friend of mine
paid sixteen guineas for two ounces of it； and； in six months
after； it was sold in the same shop for five shillings the pound。
In short； we live in a vile world of fraud and sophistication； so
that I know nothing of equal value with the genuine friendship of
a sensible man； a rare jewel！ which I cannot help thinking myself
in possession of； while I repeat the old declaration； that I am；
as usual；
Dear Lewis；
Your affectionate
M。 BRAMBLE；
After having been agitated in a short hurricane； on my first
arrival； I have taken a small house in Milsham…street； where I am
tolerably well lodged； for five guineas a week。 I was yesterday
at the Pump…room； and drank about a pint of water； which seems to
agree with my stomach； and to…morrow morning I shall bathe； for
the first time； so that in a few posts you may expect farther
trouble； mean while； I am glad to find that the inoculation
has succeeded so well with poor Joyce； and that her face will be
but little marked。 If my friend Sir Thomas was a single man； I
would not trust such a handsome wench in his family； but as I
have recommended her； in a particular manner； to the protection
of lady G； who is one of the best women in the world； she may
go thither without hesitation as soon as she is quite recovered
and fit for service Let her mother have money to provide her
with necessaries； and she may ride behind her brother on Bucks；
but you must lay strong injunctions on Jack； to take particular
care of the trusty old veteran； who has faithfully earned his
present ease by his past services。
To Miss WILLIS at Gloucester。
BATH； April 26。
MY DEAREST COMPANION；
The pleasure I received from yours； which came to hand yesterday；
is not to be expressed。 Love and friendship are； without doubt；
charming passions； which absence serves only to heighten and
improve。 Your kind present of the garnet bracelets； I shall keep
as carefully as I preserve my own life； and I beg you will accept；
in return； my heart…housewife； with the tortoise…shell
memorandum…book； as a trifling pledge of my unalterable
affection。
Bath is to me a new world All is gayety； good…humour； and
diversion。 The eye is continually entertained with the splendour
of dress and equipage； and the ear with the sound of coaches；
chairs； and other carriages。 The merry bells ring round； from
morn till night。 Then we are welcomed by the city…waits in our
own lodgings； we have music in the Pump…room every morning；
cotillons every forenoon in the rooms； balls twice a week； and
concerts every other night； besides private assemblies and
parties without number As soon as we were settled in lodgings；
we were visited by the Master of the Ceremonies； a pretty little
gentleman； so sweet； so fine； so civil； and polite； that in our
country he might pass for the prince of Wales； then he talks so
charmingly； both in verse and prose； that you would be delighted
to hear him discourse； for you must know he is a great writer；
and has got five tragedies ready for the stage。 He did us the
favour to dine with us； by my uncle's invitation； and next day
squired my aunt and me to every part of Bath； which； to be sure；
is an earthly paradise。 The Square； the Circus； and the Parades；
put you in mind of the sumptuous palaces represented in prints
and pictures； and the new buildings； such as Princes…row；
Harlequin's…row； Bladud's…row； and twenty other rows； look like
so many enchanted castles； raised on hanging terraces。
At eight in the morning； we go in dishabille to the Pump…room
which is crowded like a Welsh fair； and there you see the highest
quality； and the lowest trades folks； jostling each other；
without ceremony； hail…fellow well…met。 The noise of the music
playing in the gallery； the heat and flavour of such a crowd； and
the hum and buz of their conversation； gave me the head…ach and
vertigo the first day； but； afterwards； all these things became
familiar； and even agreeable。 Right under the Pump…room
windows is the King's Bath； a huge cistern； where you see the
patients up to their necks in hot water。 The ladies wear jackets
and petticoats of brown linen with chip hats； in which they fix
their handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat from their faces； but；
truly； whether it is owing to the steam that surrounds them； or
the heat of the water； or the nature of the dress； or to all
these causes together； they look so flushed； and so frightful；
that I always turn my eyes another way My aunt； who says every
person of fashion should make her appearance in the bath； as well
as in the abbey church； contrived a cap with cherry…coloured
ribbons to suit her complexion； and obliged Win to attend her
yesterday morning in the water。 But； really； her eyes were so
red； that they made mine water as I viewed her from the Pump…room；
and as for poor Win； who wore a hat trimmed with blue； what
betwixt her wan complexion and her fear； she looked like the
ghost of some pale maiden； who had drowned herself for love。 When
she came out of the bath； she took assafoetida drops； and was
fluttered all day； so that we could hardly keep her from going
into hysterics： but her mistress says it will do her good； and
poor Win curtsies； with the tears in her eyes。 For my part； I
content myself with drinking about half a pint of the water every
morning。
The pumper； with his wife and servant； attend within a bar； and
the glasses； of different sizes； stand ranged in order before
them； so you have nothing to do but to point at that which you
choose； and it is filled immediately； hot and sparkling from the
pump。 It is the only hot water I could ever drink； without being
sick Far from having that effect； it is rather agreeable to
the taste； grateful to the stomach； and reviving to the spirits。
You cannot imagine what wonderful cures it performs My uncle
began with it the other day； but he made wry faces in drinking；
and I'm afraid he will leave it off The first day we came to
Bath； he fell into a violent passion； beat two black…a…moors； and
I was afraid he would have fought with their master； but the
stranger proved a peaceable man。 To be sure； the gout had got
into his head； as my aunt observed； but； I believe； his passion
drove it away； for he has been remarkably well ever since。 It is
a thousand pities he should ever be troubled with that ugly
distemper； for； when he is free from pain； he is the best
tempered man upon earth； so gentle； so generous； so charitable；
that every body loves him； and so good to me； in particular； that
I shall never be able to shew the deep sense I have of his
tenderness and affection。
Hard by the Pump…room； is a coffee…house for the ladies； but my
aunt says； young girls are not admitted； insomuch as the
conversation turns upon politics； scandal； philosophy； and other
subjects above our capacity； but we are allowed to accompany them
to the booksellers' shops； which are charming places of resort；
where we read novels； plays； pamphlets； and newspapers； for so