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dish； which broke into a thousand pieces； then； falling down upon
his knees； remained in that posture gaping； with a most ludicrous
aspect of distress。 Mrs Bramble flew to the dog； and； snatching
him in her arms； presented him to her brother saying； 'This is
all a concerted scheme against this unfortunate animal； whose
only crime is its regard for me Here it is； kill it at once； and
then you'll be satisfied。'
Clinker； hearing these words； and taking them in the literal
acceptation； got up in some hurry； and seizing a knife from the
side…board； cried； 'Not here； an please your ladyship It will
daub the room Give him to me； and I'll carry him to the ditch by
the roadside' To this proposal he received no other answer； than
a hearty box on the ear； that made him stagger to the other side
of the room。 'What！ （said she to her brother） am I to be
affronted by every mangy hound that you pick up on the highway？ I
insist upon your sending this rascallion about his business
immediately' 'For God's sake； sister； compose yourself （said my
uncle） and consider that the poor fellow is innocent of any
intention to give you offence' 'Innocent as the babe unborn'
（cried Humphry）。 'I see it plainly （exclaimed this implacable
maiden）； he acts by your direction； and you are resolved to
support him in his impudence This is a bad return for all the
services I have done you； for nursing you in your sickness；
managing your family； and keeping you from ruining yourself by
your own imprudence But now you shall part with that rascal or
me； upon the spot； without farther loss of time； and the world
shall see whether you have more regard for your own flesh and
blood； or for a beggarly foundling taken from the dunghill。'
Mr Bramble's eyes began to glisten； and his teeth to chatter。 'If
stated fairly （said he； raising his voice） the question is；
whether I have spirit to shake off an intolerable yoke； by one
effort of resolution； or meanness enough to do an act of cruelty
and injustice； to gratify the rancour of a capricious woman
Heark ye； Mrs Tabitha Bramble； I will now propose an alternative
in my turn。 Either discard your four…footed favourite； or give me
leave to bid you eternally adieu For I am determined that he and
I shall live no longer under the same roof； and to dinner with
what appetite you may' Thunderstruck at this declaration； she
sat down in a corner； and； after a pause of some minutes； 'Sure I
don't understand you； Matt！ （said she）' 'And yet I spoke in plain
English' answered the 'squire； with a peremptory look。 'Sir
（resumed this virago； effectually humbled）； it is your
prerogative to command； and my duty to obey。 I can't dispose of
the dog in this place； but if you'll allow him to go in the coach
to London； I give you my word； he shall never trouble you again。'
Her brother； entirely disarmed by this mild reply； declared； she
could ask him nothing in reason that he would refuse； adding； 'I
hope； sister； you have never found me deficient in natural
affection。'
Mrs Tabitha immediately rose； and； throwing her arms about his
neck； kissed him on the cheek： he returned her embrace with great
emotion。 Liddy sobbed； Win。 Jenkins cackled； Chowder capered； and
Clinker skipped about； rubbing his hands for joy of this
reconciliation。
Concord being thus restored； we finished our meal with comfort；
and in the evening arrived at London； without having met with any
other adventure。 My aunt seems to be much mended by the hint she
received from her brother。 She has been graciously pleased to
remove her displeasure from Clinker； who is now retained as a
footman； and in a day or two will make his appearance in a new
suit of livery； but as he is little acquainted with London； we
have taken an occasional valet； whom I intend hereafter to hire
as my own servant。 We lodge in Goldensquare； at the house of one
Mrs Notion； a decent sort of a woman； who takes great pains to
make us all easy。 My uncle proposes to make a circuit of all the
remarkable scenes of this metropolis； for the entertainment of
his pupils； but as both you and I are already acquainted with
most of those he will visit； and with some others he little
dreams of； I shall only communicate what will be in some measure
new to your observation。 Remember me to our Jesuitical friends；
and believe me ever；
Dear knight；
Yours affectionately；
J。 MELFORD
LONDON； May 24。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DOCTOR；
London is literally new to me； new in its streets； houses； and
even in its situation； as the Irishman said； 'London is now gone
out of town。' What I left open fields； producing hay and corn； I
now find covered with streets and squares； and palaces； and
churches。 I am credibly informed； that in the space of seven
years； eleven thousand new houses have been built in one quarter
of Westminster； exclusive of what is daily added to other parts
of this unwieldy metropolis。 Pimlico and Knightsbridge are now
almost joined to Chelsea and Kensington； and if this infatuation
continues for half a century； I suppose the whole county of
Middlesex will be covered with brick。
It must be allowed； indeed； for the credit of the present age；
that London and Westminster are much better paved and lighted
than they were formerly。 The new streets are spacious； regular；
and airy； and the houses generally convenient。 The bridge at
Blackfriars is a noble monument of taste and public…spirit。 I
wonder how they stumbled upon a work of such magnificence and
utility。 But； notwithstanding these improvements； the capital is
become an overgrown monster； which； like a dropsical head； will
in time leave the body and extremities without nourishment and
support。 The absurdity will appear in its full force； when we
consider that one sixth part of the natives of this whole
extensive kingdom is crowded within the bills of mortality。 What
wonder that our villages are depopulated； and our farms in want
of day…labourers？ The abolition of small farms is but one cause
of the decrease of population。 Indeed； the incredible increase of
horses and black cattle； to answer the purposes of luxury；
requires a prodigious quantity of hay and grass； which are raised
and managed without much labour； but a number of hands will
always be wanted for the different branches of agriculture；
whether the farms be large or small。 The tide of luxury has swept
all the inhabitants from the open country The poorest squire； as
well as the richest peer； must have his house in town； and make a
figure with an extraordinary number of domestics。 The plough…boys；
cow…herds； and lower hinds are debauched and seduced by the
appearance and discourse of those coxcombs in livery； when they
make their summer excursions。 They desert their dirt and
drudgery； and swarm up to London； in hopes of getting into
service； where they can live luxuriously and wear fine clothes；
without being obliged to work； for idleness is natural to man
Great numbers of these； being disappointed in their expectation；
become thieves and sharpers； and London being an immense
wilderness； in which there is neither watch nor ward of any
signification； nor any order or police； affords them