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Chowder seems to like them no better than the squire； and
mistress says； if his case don't take a favourable turn； she will
sartinly carry him to Aberga'ny； to drink goat's whey To be
sure； the poor dear honymil is lost for want of axercise； for
which reason； she intends to give him an airing once a…day upon
the Downs； in a post…chaise I have already made very creditable
connexions in this here place； where； to be sure； we have the
very squintasense of satiety Mrs Patcher； my lady Kilmacullock's
woman； and I are sworn sisters。 She has shewn me all her secrets；
and learned me to wash gaze； and refrash rusty silks and
bumbeseens； by boiling them with winegar； chamberlye； and stale
beer。 My short sack and apron luck as good as new from the shop；
and my pumpydoor as fresh as a rose； by the help of turtle…water
But this is all Greek and Latten to you； Molly If we should
come to Aberga'ny； you'll be within a day's ride of us； and then
we shall see wan another； please God If not； remember me in your
prayers； as I shall do by you in mine； and take care of my
kitten； and give my kind sarvice to Sall； and this is all at
present； from your beloved friend and sarvent；
W。 JENKINS
BATH； April 26。
To Mrs GWYLLIM； house…keeper at Brambleton…hall。
I am astonished that Dr Lewis should take upon him to give away
Alderney； without my privity and concurrants What signifies my
brother's order？ My brother is little better than Noncompush。 He
would give away the shirt off his back； and the teeth out of his
head； nay； as for that matter； he would have ruinated the family
with his ridiculous charities； if it had not been for my four
quarters What between his willfullness and his waste； his
trumps； and his frenzy； I lead the life of an indented slave。
Alderney gave four gallons a…day； ever since the calf was sent to
market。 There is so much milk out of my dairy； and the press must
stand still： but I won't loose a cheese pairing； and the milk
shall be made good； if the sarvents should go without butter。 If
they must needs have butter； let them make it of sheep's milk；
but then my wool will suffer for want of grace； so that I must be
a loser on all sides。 Well； patience is like a stout Welsh poney；
it bears a great deal； and trots a great way； but it will tire at
the long run。 Before its long； perhaps I may shew Matt； that I
was not born to be the household drudge to my dying day Gwyn
rites from Crickhowel； that the price of flannel is fallen three…
farthings an ell； and that's another good penny out of my pocket。
When I go to market to sell； my commodity stinks； but when I want
to buy the commonest thing； the owner pricks it up under my nose；
and it can't be had for love nor money I think everything runs
cross at Brambleton…hall You say the gander has broke the eggs；
which is a phinumenon I don't understand： for when the fox
carried off the old goose last year； he took her place； and
hatched the eggs； and partected the goslings like a tender
parent Then you tell me the thunder has soured two barrels of
beer in the seller。 But how the thunder should get there； when
the seller was double…locked； I can't comprehend。 Howsomever； I
won't have the beer thrown out； till I see it with my own eyes。
Perhaps； it will recover At least it will serve for vinegar to
the servants。 You may leave off the fires in my brother's
chamber and mine； as it is unsartain when we return。 I hope；
Gwyllim； you'll take care there is no waste； and have an eye to
the maids； and keep them to their spinning。 I think they may go
very well without beer in hot weather it serves only to inflame
the blood； and set them a…gog after the men。 Water will make them
fair and keep them cool and tamperit。 Don't forget to put up in
the portmantel； that cums with Williams； along with my riding…habit；
hat； and feather； the viol of purl water； and the tincktur
for my stomach； being as how I am much troubled with
flutterencies。 This is all at present； from
Yours；
TABITHA BRAMBLE
BATH； April 26。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DICK；
I have done with the waters； therefore your advice comes a day
too late I grant that physic is no mystery of your making。 I know
it is a mystery in its own nature； and； like other mysteries；
requires a strong gulp of faith to make it go down Two days ago；
I went into the King's Bath； by the advice of our friend
Ch； in order to clear the strainer of the skin； for the benefit
of a free perspiration； and the first object that saluted my eye；
was a child full of scrophulous ulcers； carried in the arms of
one of the guides； under the very noses of the bathers。 I was so
shocked at the sight； that I retired immediately with indignation
and disgust Suppose the matter of those ulcers； floating on the
water； comes in contact with my skin； when the pores are all
open； I would ask you what must be the consequence？ Good
Heaven； the very thought makes my blood run cold！ we know not
what sores may be running into the water while we are bathing；
and what sort of matter we may thus imbibe； the king's…evil； the
scurvy； the cancer； and the pox； and； no doubt； the heat will
render the virus the more volatile and penetrating。 To purify
myself from all such contamination； I went to the duke of
Kingston's private Bath； and there I was almost suffocated for
want of free air； the place was so small； and the steam so
stifling。
After all； if the intention is no more than to wash the skin； I
am convinced that simple element is more effectual than any water
impregnated with salt and iron； which； being astringent； will
certainly contract the pores； and leave a kind of crust upon the
surface of the body。 But I am now as much afraid of drinking； as
of bathing； for； after a long conversation with the Doctor； about
the construction of the pump and the cistern； it is very far from
being clear with me； that the patients in the Pump…room don't
swallow the scourings of the bathers。 I can't help suspecting；
that there is； or may be； some regurgitation from the bath into
the cistern of the pump。 In that case； what a delicate beveridge
is every day quaffed by the drinkers； medicated with the sweat
and dirt； and dandriff； and the abominable discharges of various
kinds； from twenty different diseased bodies； parboiling in the
kettle below。 In order to avoid this filthy composition； I had
recourse to the spring that supplies the private baths on the
Abbey…green； but I at once perceived something extraordinary in
the taste and smell； and； upon inquiry； I find that the Roman
baths in this quarter； were found covered by an old burying
ground； belonging to the Abbey； through which； in all
probability； the water drains in its passage； so that as we drink
the decoction of living bodies at the Pump…room； we swallow the
strainings of rotten bones and carcasses at the private bath。 I
vow to God； the very idea turns my stomach！ Determined； as I am；
against any farther use of the Bath waters； this consideration
would give me little disturbance； if I could find any thing more
pure； or less pernicious； to quench my thirst； but； although the
natural springs of excellent water are seen gushing spo