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should be necessary to communicate any thing to
Your assured friend;
MATT。 BRAMBLE
LONDON; June 14。
To Mrs MARY JONES; at Brambleton…hall; &c。
DEAR MARY;
Having the occasion of my cousin Jenkins of Aberga'ny; I send
you; as a token; a turkey…shell comb; a kiple of yards of green
ribbon; and a sarment upon the nothingness of good works; which
was preached in the Tabernacle; and you will also receive a horn…buck
for Saul; whereby she may learn her letters; for Fin much
consarned about the state of her poor sole and what are all the
pursuits of this life to the consarns of that immortal part?
What is life but a veil of affliction? O Mary! the whole family
have been in such a constipation! Mr Clinker has been in
trouble; but the gates of hell have not been able to prevail
again him。 His virtue is like poor gould; seven times tried in
the fire。 He was tuck up for a rubbery; and had before gustass
Busshard; who made his mittamouse; and the pore youth was sent to
prison upon the false oaf of a willian; that wanted to sware his
life away for the looker of cain。
The 'squire did all in his power; but could not prevent his being
put in chains; and confined among common manufactors; where he
stood like an innocent sheep in the midst of wolves and tygers。
Lord knows what mought have happened to this pyehouse young man;
if master had not applied to Apias Korkus; who lives with the
ould bailiff; and is; they say; five hundred years old (God bless
us!); and a congeror: but; if he be; sure I am he don't deal with
the devil; otherwise he couldn't have fought out Mr Clinker; as
he did; in spite of stone walls; iron bolts; and double locks;
that flew open at his command; for ould Scratch has not a greater
enemy upon hearth than Mr Clinker; who is; indeed; a very
powerful labourer in the Lord's vineyard。 I do no more than yuse
the words of my good lady; who has got the infectual calling;
and; I trust; that even myself; though unworthy; shall find
grease to be excepted。 Miss Liddy has been touch'd to the quick;
but is a little timorsome: howsomever; I make no doubt; but she;
and all of us; will be brought; by the endeavours of Mr Clinker;
to produce blessed fruit of generation and repentance。 As for
master and the young 'squire; they have as yet had narro glimpse
of the new light。 I doubt as how their harts are hardened by
worldly wisdom; which; as the pyebill saith; is foolishness in
the sight of God。
O Mary Jones; pray without seizing for grease to prepare you for
the operations of this wonderful instrument; which; I hope; will
be exorcised this winter upon you and others at Brambleton…hall。
Tomorrow; we are to set out in a cox and four for Yorkshire;
and; I believe; we shall travel that way far; and far; and
farther than I can tell; but I shan't go so far as to forget my
friends; and Mary Jones will always be remembered as one of them
by her
Humble sarvant;
WIN。 JENKINS
LONDON; June 14。
To Mrs GWYLLIM; house…keeper at Brambleton…hall。
MRS GWYLLIM;
I can't help thinking it very strange; that I never had an answer
to the letter I wrote you some weeks ago from Bath; concerning
the sour bear; the gander; and the maids eating butter; which I
won't allow to be wasted。 We are now going upon a long journey
to the north; whereby I desire you will redouble your care and
circumflexion; that the family may be well managed in our
absence; for; you know; you must render account; not only to your
earthly master; but also to him that is above; and if you are
found a good and faithful sarvant; great will be your reward in
haven。 I hope there will be twenty stun of cheese ready for
market by the time I get huom; and as much owl spun; as will
make half a dozen pair of blankets; and that the savings of the
butter…milk will fetch me a good penny before Martinmass; as the
two pigs are to be fed for baking with bitchmast and acrons。
I wrote to doctor Lews for the same porpuss; but he never had the
good manners to take the least notice of my letter; for which
reason; I shall never favour him with another; though he beshits
me on his bended knees。 You will do well to keep a watchful eye
over the hind Villiams; who is one of his amissories; and; I
believe; no better than he should be at bottom。 God forbid that I
should lack christian charity; but charity begins at huom; and
sure nothing can be a more charitable work than to rid the family
of such vermine。 I do suppose; that the bindled cow has been had
to the parson's bull; that old Moll has had another litter of
pigs; and that Dick is become a mighty mouser。 Pray order every
thing for the best; and be frugal; and keep the maids to their
labour If I had a private opportunity; I would send them some
hymns to sing instead of profane ballads; but; as I can't; they
and you must be contented with the prayers of
Your assured friend;
T。 BRAMBLE
LONDON; June 14。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS; Bart。 of Jesus college; Oxon。
DEAR PHILLIPS;
The very day after I wrote my last; Clinker was set at liberty。 As
Martin had foretold; the accuser was himself committed for a
robbery; upon unquestionable evidence。 He had been for some time
in the snares of the thief…taking society; who; resenting his
presumption in attempting to incroach upon their monopoly of
impeachment; had him taken up and committed to Newgate; on the
deposition of an accomplice; who has been admitted as evidence
for the king。 The postilion being upon record as an old offender;
the chief justice made no scruple of admitting Clinker to bail;
when he perused the affidavit of Mr Mead; importing that the said
Clinker was not the person that robbed him on Blackheath; and
honest Humphry was discharged。 When he came home; he expressed
great eagerness to pay his respects to his master; and here his
elocution failed him; but his silence was pathetic; he fell down
at his feet and embraced his knees; shedding a flood of tears;
which my uncle did not see without emotion。 He took snuff in some
confusion; and; putting his hand in his pocket; gave him his
blessing in something more substantial than words 'Clinker (said
he); I am so well convinced; both of your honesty and courage;
that I am resolved to make you my life…guardman on the highway。'
He was accordingly provided with a case of pistols; and a carbine
to be flung a…cross his shoulders; and every other preparation
being made; we set out last Thursday; at seven in the morning; my
uncle; with the three women in the coach; Humphry; well mounted
on a black gelding bought for his use; myself a…horseback;
attended by my new valet; Mr Dutton; an exceeding coxcomb; fresh
from his travels; whom I have taken upon trial The fellow wears
a solitaire; uses paint; and takes rappee with all the grimace of
a French marquis。 At present; however; he is in a ridingdress;
jack…boots; leather breeches; a scarlet waistcoat; with gold
binding; a laced hat; a hanger; a French posting…whip in his
hand; and his hair en queue。
Before we had gone nine miles; my horse lost one of his shoes; so
that I was obliged to stop at Barnet to have another; while the
coach proceeded at an easy pace