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he has not appeared； so that I suppose he has gone。 Dear Letty！
you see how Fortune takes pleasure in persecuting your poor
friend。 If you should see him at Gloucester or if you have
seen him； and know his real name and family； pray keep me no
longer in suspence And yet； if he is under no obligation to
keep himself longer concealed； and has a real affection for me； I
should hope he will； in a little time； declare himself to my
relations。 Sure； if there is nothing unsuitable in the match；
they won't be so cruel as to thwart my inclinations O what
happiness would then be my portion！ I can't help indulging the
thought； and pleasing my fancy with such agreeable ideas； which
after all； perhaps； will never be realized But； why should I
despair？ who knows what will happen？ We set out for Bath to…morrow；
and I am almost sorry for it； as I begin to be in love
with solitude； and this is a charming romantic place。 The air is
so pure； the Downs are so agreeable； the furz in full blossom；
the ground enamelled with daisies； and primroses； and cowslips；
all the trees bursting into leaves； and the hedges already
clothed with their vernal livery； the mountains covered with
flocks of sheep and tender bleating wanton lambkins playing；
frisking； and skipping from side to side； the groves resound with
the notes of blackbird； thrush； and linnet； and all night long
sweet Philomel pours forth her ravishingly delightful song。 Then；
for variety； we go down to the nymph of Bristol spring； where the
company is assembled before dinner； so good natured； so free； so
easy； and there we drink the water so clear； so pure； so mild； so
charmingly maukish。 There the fun is so chearful and reviving；
the weather so soft； the walk so agreeable； the prospect so
amusing； and the ships and boats going up and down the river；
close under the windows of the Pump…room； afford such an
enchanting variety of Moving Pictures； as require a much abler
pen than mine to describe。 To make this place a perfect paradise
to me； nothing is wanting but an agreeable companion and sincere
friend； such as my
dear miss Willis hath been； and I hope still will be； to her ever
faithful。
LYDIA MELFORD
Direct for me； still under cover； to Win； and Jarvis will take
care to convey it safe。 Adieu。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
BATH； April 24。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
You have； indeed； reason to be surprised； that I should have
concealed my correspondence with miss Blackerby from you； to whom
I disclosed all my other connexions of that nature； but the truth
is； I never dreamed of any such commerce； till your last informed
me； that it had produced something which could not be much longer
concealed。 It is a lucky circumstance； however； that her
reputation will not suffer any detriment； but rather derive
advantage from the discovery； which will prove； at least； that it
is not quite so rotten as most people imagined For my own
part； I declare to you； in all the sincerity of friendship； that；
far from having any amorous intercourse with the object in
question； I never had the least acquaintance with her person；
but； if she is really in the condition you describe； I suspect
Mansel to be at the bottom of the whole。 His visits to that
shrine were no secret； and this attachment； added to some good
offices； which you know he has done me； since I left Alma…mater；
give me a right to believe him capable of saddling me with this
scandal； when my back was turned Nevertheless； if my name can
be of any service to him； he is welcome to make use of it； and if
the woman should be abandoned enough to swear his banding to me；
I must beg the favour of you to compound with the parish： I shall
pay the penalty without repining； and you will be so good as to
draw upon me immediately for the sum required On this
occasion； I act by the advice of my uncle； who says I shall have
good…luck if I pass through life without being obliged to make
many more compositions of the same kind。 The old gentleman told
me last night； with great good…humour； that betwixt the age of
twenty and forty； he had been obliged to provide for nine
bastards； sworn to him by women whom he never saw Mr Bramble's
character； which seems to interest you greatly； opens and
improves upon me every day。 His singularities afford a rich mine
of entertainment； his understanding； so far as I can judge； is
well cultivated； his observations on life are equally just；
pertinent； and uncommon。 He affects misanthropy； in order to
conceal the sensibility of a heart； which is tender； even to a
degree of weakness。 This delicacy of feeling； or soreness of the
mind； makes him timorous and fearful； but then he is afraid of
nothing so much as of dishonour； and although he is exceedingly
cautious of giving offence； he will fire at the least hint of
insolence or ill…breeding。 Respectable as he is； upon the
whole； I can't help being sometimes diverted by his little
distresses； which provoke him to let fly the shafts of his
satire； keen and penetrating as the arrows of Teucer Our aunt；
Tabitha； acts upon him as a perpetual grind…stone She is； in
all respects； a striking contrast to her brother But I reserve
her portrait for another occasion。
Three days ago we came hither from the Hot Well； and took
possession of the first floor of a lodging…house； on the South
Parade； a situation which my uncle chose； for its being near the
Bath； and remote from the noise of carriages。 He was scarce warm
in the lodgings when he called for his night…cap； his wide shoes；
and flannel； and declared himself invested with the gout in his
right foot； though； I believe it had as yet reached no farther
than his imagination。 It was not long before he had reason to
repent his premature declaration； for our aunt Tabitha found
means to make such a clamour and confusion； before the flannels
could be produced from the trunk； that one would have imagined
the house was on fire。 All this time； uncle sat boiling with
impatience； biting his fingers； throwing up his eyes； and
muttering ejaculations； at length he burst into a kind of
convulsive laugh； after which he hummed a song； and when the
hurricane was over； exclaimed 'Blessed be God for all things！'
This； however； was but the beginning of his troubles。 Mrs
Tabitha's favourite dog Chowder； having paid his compliments to a
female turnspit of his own species； in the kitchen； involved
himself in a quarrel with no fewer than five rivals； who set upon
him at once； and drove him up stairs to the dining room door；
with hideous noise： there our aunt and her woman； taking arms in
his defence； joined the concert； which became truly diabolical。
This fray being with difficulty suppressed； by the intervention
of our own footman and the cook…maid of the house； the squire had
just opened his mouth； to expostulate with Tabby； when the town…waits；
in the passage below； struck up their music （if music it
may be called） with such a sudden burst of sound； as made him
start and stare； with marks of indignation and disquiet。 He had
recollection enough to send his servant with some money to
silence those noisy intruders； and they were immed