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But； the truth is； she has found means to interest my affection；
or； rather； she is beholden to the force of prejudice； commonly
called the ties of blood。 Well； this amiable maiden has actually
commenced a flirting correspondence with an Irish baronet of
sixty…five。 His name is Sir Ulic Mackilligut。 He is said to be
much out at elbows； and； I believe； has received false
intelligence with respect to her fortune。 Be that as it may； the
connexion is exceedingly ridiculous； and begins already to excite
whispers。 For my part； I have no intention to dispute her free…agency；
though I shall fall upon some expedient to undeceive her
paramour； as to the point which he has principally in view。 But I
don't think her conduct is a proper example for Liddy； who has
also attracted the notice of some coxcombs in the Rooms； and Jery
tells me； he suspects a strapping fellow； the knight's nephew； of
some design upon the girl's heart。 I shall； therefore； keep a
strict eye over her aunt and her； and even shift the scene； if I
find the matter grow more serious You perceive what an agreeable
task it must be； to a man of my kidney； to have the cure of such
souls as these。 But； hold； You shall not have another peevish
word （till the next occasion） from
Yours；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
BATH； April 28。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR KNIGHT；
I think those people are unreasonable； who complain that Bath is
a contracted circle； in which the same dull scenes perpetually
revolve； without variation I am； on the contrary； amazed to find
so small a place so crowded with entertainment and variety。
London itself can hardly exhibit one species of diversion； to
which we have not something analogous at Bath； over and above
those singular advantages that are peculiar to the place。 Here；
for example； a man has daily opportunities of seeing the most
remarkable characters of the community。 He sees them in their
natural attitudes and true colours； descended from their
pedestals； and divested of their formal draperies； undisguised by
art and affectation Here we have ministers of state； judges；
generals； bishops； projectors； philosophers； wits； poets；
players； chemists； fiddlers； and buffoons。 If he makes any
considerable stay in the place； he is sure of meeting with some
particular friend； whom he did not expect to see； and to me there
is nothing more agreeable than such casual reencounters。 Another
entertainment； peculiar to Bath； arises from the general mixture
of all degrees assembled in our public rooms； without distinction
of rank or fortune。 This is what my uncle reprobates； as a
monstrous jumble of heterogeneous principles； a vile mob of noise
and impertinence； without decency or subordination。 But this
chaos is to me a source of infinite amusement。
I was extremely diverted last ball…night to see the Master of the
Ceremonies leading； with great solemnity； to the upper end of the
room； an antiquated Abigail； dressed in her lady's cast…clothes；
whom he （I suppose） mistook for some countess just arrived at the
Bath。 The ball was opened by a Scotch lord； with a mulatto
heiress from St Christopher's； and the gay colonel Tinsel danced
all the evening with the daughter of an eminent tinman from the
borough of Southwark。 Yesterday morning； at the Pump…room； I saw a
broken…winded Wapping landlady squeeze through a circle of peers；
to salute her brandy…merchant； who stood by the window； propped
upon crutches； and a paralytic attorney of Shoe…lane； in
shuffling up to the bar； kicked the shins of the chancellor of
England； while his lordship； in a cut bob； drank a glass of water
at the pump。 I cannot account for my being pleased with these
incidents； any other way； than by saying they are truly
ridiculous in their own nature； and serve to heighten the humour
in the farce of life； which I am determined to enjoy as long as I
can。
Those follies； that move my uncle's spleen； excite my laughter。
He is as tender as a man without a skin； who cannot bear the
slightest touch without flinching。 What tickles another would
give him torment； and yet he has what we may call lucid
intervals； when he is remarkably facetious Indeed； I never knew
a hypochondriac so apt to be infected with good…humour。 He is the
most risible misanthrope I ever met with。 A lucky joke； or any
ludicrous incident； will set him a…laughing immoderately； even in
one of his most gloomy paroxysms； and； when the laugh is over； he
will curse his own imbecility。 In conversing with strangers； he
betrays no marks of disquiet He is splenetic with his familiars
only； and not even with them； while they keep his attention
employed； but when his spirits are not exerted externally； they
seem to recoil and prey upon himself He has renounced the waters
with execration； but he begins to find a more efficacious； and；
certainly； a much more palatable remedy in the pleasures of
society。 He has discovered some old friends； among the invalids
of Bath； and； in particular； renewed his acquaintance with the
celebrated James Quin； who certainly did not come here to drink
water。 You cannot doubt； but that I had the strongest curiosity
to know this original； and it was gratified by Mr Bramble； who
has had him twice at our house to dinner。
So far as I am able to judge； Quin's character is rather more
respectable than it has been generally represented。 His bon mots
are in every witling's mouth； but many of them have a rank
flavour； which one would be apt to think was derived from a
natural grossness of idea。 I suspect； however； that justice has
not been done the author； by the collectors of those Quiniana；
who have let the best of them slip through their fingers； and
only retained such as were suited to the taste and organs of the
multitude。 How far he may relax in his hours of jollity； I cannot
pretend to say； but his general conversation is conducted by the
nicest rules of Propriety； and Mr James Quin is； certainly； one
of the best bred men in the kingdom。 He is not only a most
agreeable companion but （as I am credibly informed） a very honest
man； highly susceptible of friendship； warm； steady； and even
generous in his attachments； disdaining flattery； and incapable
of meanness and dissimulation。 Were I to judge； however； from
Quin's eye alone； I should take him to be proud； insolent； and
cruel。 There is something remarkably severe and forbidding in his
aspect； and； I have been told； he was ever disposed to insult his
inferiors and dependants。 Perhaps that report has influenced my
opinion of his looks You know we are the fools of prejudice。
Howsoever that may be； I have as yet seen nothing but his
favourable side； and my uncle； who frequently confers with him；
in a corner； declares he is one of the most sensible men he ever
knew He seems to have a reciprocal regard for old Squaretoes；
whom he calls by the familiar name of Matthew； and often reminds
of their old tavern…adventures： on the other hand； Matthew's eyes
sparkle whenever Quin makes his appearance Let him be never so
jarring and discordant； Quin puts him in tune； and； like treble
and bass in the same concert； they make excellent music together 。
T'other day； the conversation turning upon Shakespeare； I could
not help saying； with some emotion； that I would give an hundred
guineas to see Mr Quin act the part of Falstaff； upon which；
turning to me with a smile； 'And I would give a thousand； young
gentleman （said he） that I could gratify your longing。' My uncle
and he are perfectly agreed in their estimate of life； which Quin
says； would stink in his nostrils； if he did not steep it in
claret。
I want to see this phenomenon in his cups； and have almost
prevailed upon uncle to give him a small turtle at the Bear。 In
the mean time； I must entertain you with an incident； that seems
to confirm the judgment of those two cynic philosophers。 I took
the liberty to differ in opinion from Mr Bramble； when he
observed； that the mixture of people in the entertainments of
this place was destructive of all order and urbanity； that it
rendered the plebeians insufferably arrogant and troublesome； and
vulgarized the deportment and sentiments of those who moved in
the upper spheres of life。 He said such a preposterous coalition
would bring us into contempt with all our neighbours； and was
worse； in fact； than debasing the gold coin of the nation。 I
argued； on the contrary； that those plebeians who discovered such
eagerness to imitate the dress and equipage of their superiors；
would likewise； in time； adopt their maxims and their manners； be
polished by their conversation； and refined by their example； but
when I appealed to Mr Quin； and asked if he did not think that
such an unreserved mixture would improve the whole mass？ 'Yes
（said he） as a plate of marmalade would improve a pan of
sirreverence。'
I owned I was not much conversant in high…life； but I had seen
what were called polite assemblies in London and elsewhere； that
those of Bath seemed to be as decent as any； and that； upon the
whole； the individuals that composed it； would not be found
deficient in good manners and decorum。 'But let us have recourse
to experience （said I）