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family of originals； whom I may one day attempt to describe for
your amusement。 My aunt； Mrs Tabitha Bramble； is a maiden of
forty…five； exceedingly starched； vain； and ridiculous。 My
uncle is an odd kind of humorist； always on the fret； and so
unpleasant in his manner； that rather than be obliged to keep him
company； I'd resign all claim to the inheritance of his estate。
Indeed his being tortured by the gout may have soured his temper；
and； perhaps； I may like him better on further acquaintance；
certain it is； all his servants and neighbours in the country are
fond of him； even to a degree of enthusiasm； the reason of which
I cannot as yet comprehend。 Remember me to Griffy Price； Gwyn；
Mansel； Basset； and all the rest of my old Cambrian companions。
Salute the bedmaker in my name give my service to the cook；
and pray take care of poor Ponto； for the sake of his old master；
who is； and ever will be；
Dear Phillips；
Your affectionate friend；
and humble servant；
JER。 MELFORD
GLOUCESTER； April 2。
To Mrs JERMYN at her house in Gloucester。
DEAR MADAM；
Having no mother of my own； I hope you will give me leave to
disburden my poor heart to you； who have always acted the part of
a kind parent to me； ever since I was put under your care。
Indeed； and indeed； my worthy governess may believe me； when I
assure her； that I never harboured a thought that was otherwise
than virtuous； and； if God will give me grace； I shall never
behave so as to cast a reflection on the care you have taken in
my education。 I confess I have given just cause of offence by my
want of prudence and experience。 I ought not to have listened to
what the young man said； and it was my duty to have told you all
that passed； but I was ashamed to mention it； and then he behaved
so modest and respectful； and seemed to be so melancholy and
timorous； that I could not find in my heart to do any thing that
should make him miserable and desperate。 As for familiarities； I
do declare； I never once allowed him the favour of a： salute； and
as to the few letters that passed between us； they are all in my
uncle's hands； and I hope they contain nothing contrary to
innocence and honour。 I am still persuaded that he is not what
he appears to be： but time will discover mean while I will
endeavour to forget a connexion； which is so displeasing to my
family。 I have cried without ceasing； and have not tasted any
thing but tea； since I was hurried away from you； nor did I once
close my eyes for three nights running。 My aunt continues to
chide me severely when we are by ourselves； but I hope to soften
her in time； by humility and submission。 My uncle； who was so
dreadfully passionate in the beginning； has been moved by my
tears and distress； and is now all tenderness and compassion； and
my brother is reconciled to me on my promise to break off all
correspondence with that unfortunate youth； but； notwithstanding
all their indulgence； I shall have no peace of mind till I know
my dear and ever honoured governess has forgiven her poor；
disconsolate； forlorn；
Affectionate humble servant；
till death；
LYDIA MELFORD
CLIFTON； April 6。
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS； at Gloucester。
MY DEAREST LETTY；
I am in such a fright； lest this should not come safe to hand by
the conveyance of Jarvis the carrier； that I beg you will write
me； on the receipt of it； directing to me； under cover； to Mrs
Winifred Jenkins； my aunt's maid； who is a good girl； and has
been so kind to me in my affliction； that I have made her my
confidant； as for Jarvis； he was very shy of taking charge of my
letter and the little parcel； because his sister Sally had like
to have lost her place on my account： indeed I cannot blame the
man for his caution； but I have made it worth his while。 My
dear companion and bed…fellow； it is a grievous addition to my
other misfortunes； that I am deprived of your agreeable company
and conversation； at a time when I need so much the comfort of
your good humour and good sense； but； I hope； the friendship we
contracted at boarding…school； will last for life I doubt not
but on my side it will daily increase and improve； as I gain
experience； and learn to know the value of a true friend。 O； my
dear Letty！ what shall I say about poor Mr Wilson？ I have
promised to break off all correspondence； and； if possible； to
forget him： but； alas！ I begin to perceive that will not be in my
power。 As it is by no means proper that the picture should remain
in my hands； lest it should be the occasion of more mischief； I
have sent it to you by this opportunity； begging you will either
keep it safe till better times； or return it to Mr Wilson
himself； who； I suppose； will make it his business to see you at
the usual place。 If he should be low…spirited at my sending back
his picture； you may tell him I have no occasion for a picture；
while the original continues engraved on my But no； I would not
have you tell him that neither； because there must be an end of
our correspondence I wish he may forget me； for the sake of
his own peace； and yet if he should； he must be a barbarous
But it is impossible poor Wilson cannot be false and
inconstant： I beseech him not to write to me； nor attempt to see
me for some time； for； considering the resentment and passionate
temper of my brother Jery； such an attempt might be attended with
consequences which would make us all miserable for life let us
trust to time and the chapter of accidents； or rather to that
Providence which will not fail； sooner or later； to reward those
that walk in the paths of honour and virtue。 I would offer my
love to the young ladies； but it is not fit that any of them
should know you have received this letter。 If we go to Bath； I
shall send you my simple remarks upon that famous center of
polite amusement； and every other place we may chance to visit；
and I flatter myself that my dear Miss Willis will be punctual in
answering the letters of her affectionate；
LYDIA MELFORD
CLIFTON； April 6。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR LEWIS；
I have followed your directions with some success； and might have
been upon my legs by this time； had the weather permitted me to
use my saddle…horse。 I rode out upon the Downs last Tuesday； in
the forenoon； when the sky； as far as the visible horizon； was
without a cloud； but before I had gone a full mile； I was
overtaken instantaneously by a storm of rain that wet me to the
skin in three minutes whence it came the devil knows； but it
has laid me up （I suppose） for one fortnight。 It makes me sick to
hear people talk of the fine air upon Clifton…downs： How can the
air be either agreeable or salutary； where the demon of vapours
descends in a perpetual drizzle？ My confinement is the more
intolerable； as I am surrounded with domestic vexations。 My niece
has had a dangerous fit of illness； occasioned by that cursed
incident at Gloucester； which I mentioned in my last。 She is a
poor good…natured simpleton； as soft as butter； and as easily
melted not that she's a
fool the girl's parts are not despicable； and her education
has not been neglected； that is to say； she can write and spell；
and speak Fr