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service to me； I will go thither so soon as my niece can bear the
motion of the coach。 Tell Barns I am obliged to him for his
advice； but don't choose to follow it。 If Davis voluntarily
offers to give up the farm； the other shall have it； but I will
not begin at this time of day to distress my tenants； because
they are unfortunate； and cannot make regular payments： I wonder
that Barns should think me capable of such oppression As for
Higgins； the fellow is a notorious poacher； to be sure； and an
impudent rascal to set his snares in my own paddock； but； I
suppose； he thought he had some right （especially in my absence）
to partake of what nature seems to have intended for common use
you may threaten him in my name； as much as you please； and if he
repeats the offence； let me know it before you have recourse to
justice。 I know you are a great sportsman； and oblige many of
your friends： I need not tell you to make use of my grounds； but
it may be necessary to hint； that I am more afraid of my fowling…piece
than of my game。 When you can spare two or three brace of
partridges； send them over by the stagecoach； and tell Gwyllim
that she forgot to pack up my flannel and wide shoes in the
trunk…mail I shall trouble you as usual； from time to time；
till at last I suppose you will be tired of corresponding with
Your assured friend；
M。 BRAMBLE
CLIFTON； April 17。
To Miss LYDIA MELFORD。
Miss Willis has pronounced my doom you are going away； dear
Miss Melford！ you are going to be removed； I know not whither！
what shall I do？ which way shall I turn for consolation？ I know
not what I say all night long have I been tossed in a sea of
doubts and fears； uncertainty and distraction； without being able
to connect my thoughts； much less to form any consistent plan of
conduct I was even tempted to wish that I had never seen you；
or that you had been less amiable； or less compassionate to your
poor Wilson； and yet it would be detestable ingratitude in me to
form such a wish； considering how much I am indebted to your
goodness； and the ineffable pleasure I have derived from your
indulgence and approbation Good God！ I never heard your name
mentioned without emotion！ the most distant prospect of being
admitted to your company； filled my whole soul with a kind of
pleasing alarm！ as the time approached； my heart beat with
redoubled force； and every nerve thrilled with a transport of
expectation； but； when I found myself actually in your presence；
when I heard you speak； when I saw you smile； when I beheld
your charming eyes turned favourably upon me； my breast was filled
with such tumults of delight； as wholly deprived me of the power
of utterance； and wrapt me in a delirium of joy！ encouraged by
your sweetness of temper and affability； I ventured to describe
the feelings of my heart even then you did not check my
presumption you pitied my sufferings and gave me leave to hope
you put a favourable perhaps too favourable a construction； on
my appearance certain it is； I am no player in love I speak
the language of my own heart； and have no prompter but nature。
Yet there is something in this heart； which I have not yet
disclosed。 I flattered myself But； I will not I must not
proceed。 Dear Miss Liddy！ for Heaven's sake； contrive； if
possible； some means of letting me speak to you before you leave
Gloucester； otherwise； I know not what will But I begin to
rave again。 I will endeavour to bear this trial with fortitude
while I am capable of reflecting upon your tenderness and
truth； I surely have no cause to despair a cloud hangs over
me； and there is a dreadful weight upon my spirits！ While you
stay in this place； I shall continually hover about your
lodgings； as the parted soul is said to linger about the grave
where its mortal comfort lies。 I know； if it is in your power；
you will task your humanity your compassion shall I add；
your affection？ in order to assuage the almost intolerable
disquiet that torments the heart of your afflicted；
WILSON
GLOUCESTER； March 31。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
HOT WELL； April 18。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
I give Mansel credit for his invention； in propagating the report
that I had a quarrel with a mountebank's merry Andrew at
Gloucester： but I have too much respect for every appendage of
wit； to quarrel even with the lowest buffoonery； and therefore I
hope Mansel and I shall always be good friends。 I cannot；
however； approve of his drowning my poor dog Ponto； on purpose to
convert Ovid's pleonasm into a punning epitaph； deerant quoque
Littora Ponto： for； that he threw him into the Isis； when it was
so high and impetuous； with no other view than to kill the fleas；
is an excuse that will not hold water But I leave poor Ponto
to his fate； and hope Providence will take care to accommodate
Mansel with a drier death。
As there is nothing that can be called company at the Well； I am
here in a state of absolute rustication： This； however； gives me
leisure to observe the singularities in my uncle's character；
which seems to have interested your curiosity。 The truth is； his
disposition and mine； which； like oil and vinegar； repelled one
another at first； have now begun to mix by dint of being beat up
together。 I was once apt to believe him a complete Cynic； and
that nothing but the necessity of his occasions could compel him
to get within the pale of society I am now of another opinion。
I think his peevishness arises partly from bodily pain； and
partly from a natural excess of mental sensibility； for； I
suppose； the mind as well as the body； is in some cases endued
with a morbid excess of sensation。
I was t'other day much diverted with a conversation that passed
in the Pump…room； betwixt him and the famous Dr Ln； who is come
to ply at the Well for patients。 My uncle was complaining of the
stink； occasioned by the vast quantity of mud and slime which the
river leaves at low ebb under the windows of the Pumproom。 He
observed； that the exhalations arising from such a nuisance；
could not but be prejudicial to the weak lungs of many
consumptive patients； who came to drink the water。 The Doctor
overhearing this remark； made up to him； and assured him he was
mistaken。 He said； people in general were so misled by vulgar
prejudices that philosophy was hardly sufficient to undeceive
them。 Then humming thrice； he assumed a most ridiculous solemnity
of aspect； and entered into a learned investigation of the nature
of stink。 He observed； that stink； or stench； meant no more than
a strong impression on the olfactory nerves； and might be applied
to substances of the most opposite qualities； that in the Dutch
language； stinken signifies the most agreeable perfume； as well
as the most fetid odour； as appears in Van Vloudel's translation
of Horace； in that beautiful ode； Quis multa gracilis； &c。 The
words fiquidis perfusus odoribus； he translates van civet &
moschata gestinken： that individuals differed toto coelo in their
opinion of smells； which； indeed； was altogether as arbitrary as
the opinion of beauty； that the French were pleased with the
putrid effluvia of animal fo