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those poor people are not so stubborn as your honour seems to
think Make them first sensible that you have nothing in view but
their good； then they will listen with patience； and easily be
convinced of the sin and folly of a practice that affords neither
profit nor pleasure At this remark； our uncle changed colour；
and looked round the company； conscious that his own withers were
not altogether unwrung。 'But； Clinker （said he） if you should
have eloquence enough to persuade the vulgar to resign those
tropes and figures of rhetoric； there will be little or nothing
left to distinguish their conversation from that of their
betters。' 'But then your honour knows； their conversation will be
void of offence； and； at the day of judgment； there will be no
distinction of persons。'
Humphry going down stairs to fetch up a bottle of wine； my uncle
congratulated his sister upon having such a reformer in the
family； when Mrs Tabitha declared； he was a sober civilized
fellow； very respectful； and very industrious； and； she believed；
a good Christian into the bargain。 One would think； Clinker must
really have some very extraordinary talent； to ingratiate himself
in this manner with a virago of her character； so fortified
against him with prejudice and resentment； but the truth is；
since the adventure of Salt…hill； Mrs Tabby seems to be entirely
changed。 She has left off scolding the servants； an exercise
which was grown habitual； and even seemed necessary to her
constitution； and is become so indifferent to Chowder； as to part
with him in a present to lady Griskin； who proposes to bring the
breed of him into fashion。 Her ladyship is the widow of Sir
Timothy Griskin； a distant relation of our family。 She enjoys a
jointure of five hundred pounds a…year； and makes shift to spend
three times that sum。 Her character before marriage was a little
equivocal； but at present she lives in the bon ton； keeps card…tables；
gives private suppers to select friends； and is visited
by persons of the first fashion She has been remarkably civil to
us all； and cultivates my uncle with the most particular regard；
but the more she strokes him； the more his bristles seem to rise
To her compliments he makes very laconic and dry returns
T'other day she sent us a pottle of fine strawberries； which he
did not receive without signs of disgust； muttering from the
Aeneid； timeo Danaos et Dona ferentes。 She has twice called for
Liddy； of a forenoon； to take an airing in the coach； but Mrs
Tabby was always so alert （I suppose by his direction） that she
never could have the niece without her aunt's company。 I have
endeavoured to sound Square…toes on this subject； but he
carefully avoids all explanation。
I have now； dear Phillips； filled a whole sheet； and if you have
read it to an end； I dare say； you are as tired as
Your humble servant；
J。 MELFORD
LONDON； June 2。
To Dr LEWIS。
Yes； Doctor； I have seen the British Museum； which is a noble
collection； and even stupendous； if we consider it was made by a
private man； a physician； who was obliged to make his own for
tune at the same time： but great as the collection is； it would
appear more striking if it was arranged in one spacious saloon；
instead of being divided into different apartments； which it does
not entirely fill I could wish the series of medals was
connected； and the whole of the animal； vegetable； and mineral
kingdoms completed； by adding to each； at the public expence；
those articles that are wanting。 It would likewise be a great
improvement； with respect to the library； if the deficiencies
were made up； by purchasing all the books of character that are
not to be found already in the collection They might be classed
in centuries； according to the dates of their publication； and
catalogues printed of them and the manuscripts； for the
information of those that want to consult； or compile from such
authorities。 I could also wish； for the honour of the nation；
that there was a complete apparatus for a course of mathematics；
mechanics； and experimental philosophy； and a good salary settled
upon an able professor； who should give regular lectures on these
subjects。
But this is all idle speculation； which will never be reduced to
practice Considering the temper of the times； it is a wonder to
see any institution whatsoever established for the benefit of the
Public。 The spirit of party is risen to a kind of phrenzy；
unknown to former ages； or rather degenerated to a total
extinction of honesty and candour You know I have observed； for
some time； that the public papers are become the infamous
vehicles of the most cruel and perfidious defamation： every
rancorous knave every desperate incendiary； that can afford to
spend half a crown or three shillings； may skulk behind the press
of a newsmonger； and have a stab at the first character in the
kingdom； without running the least hazard of detection or
punishment。
I have made acquaintance with a Mr Barton； whom Jery knew at
Oxford； a good sort of a man； though most ridiculously warped in
his political principles； but his partiality is the less
offensive； as it never appears in the stile of scurrility and
abuse。 He is a member of parliament； and a retainer to the court；
and his whole conversation turns upon the virtues and perfections
of the ministers； who are his patrons。 T'other day； when he was
bedaubing one of those worthies； with the most fulsome praise； I
told him I had seen the same nobleman characterised very
differently； in one of the daily…papers； indeed； so stigmatized；
that if one half of what was said of him was true； he must be not
only unfit to rule； but even unfit to live： that those
impeachments had been repeated again and again； with the addition
of fresh matter； and that as he had taken no steps towards his
own vindication； I began to think there was some foundation for
the charge。 'And pray； Sir （said Mr Barton）； what steps would you
have him take？ Suppose he should prosecute the publisher； who
screens the anonymous accuser； and bring him to the pillory for a
libel； this is so far from being counted a punishment； in
terrorem； that it will probably make his fortune。 The multitude
immediately take him into their protection； as a martyr to the
cause of defamation； which they have always espoused。 They pay his
fine； they contribute to the increase of his stock； his shop is
crowded with customers； and the sale of his paper rises in
proportion to the scandal it contains。 All this time the
prosecutor is inveighed against as a tyrant and oppressor； for
having chosen to proceed by the way of information； which is
deemed a grievance； but if he lays an action for damages； he must
prove the damage； and I leave you to judge； whether a gentleman's
character may not be brought into contempt； and all his views in
life blasted by calumny； without his being able to specify the
particulars of the damage he has sustained。
'This spirit of defamation is a kind of heresy； that thrives
under persecution。 The liberty of the press is a term of great
efficacy； and like that of the Protestant religion； has often
served the purposes of sedition A minister； therefore； must arm
himself with patience； and bear those attacks without repining
Whatever mischief they may do in other respects； they certainly
contribute； in one particular； to the advantages of government；
for those defamatory articles have multiplied papers in such a
manner； and augmented their sale to such a degree； that the duty
upon stamps and advertisements has made a very considerable
addition to the revenue。' Certain it is； a gentleman's honour is
a very delicate subject to be handled by a jury； composed of men；
who cannot be supposed remarkable either for sentiment or
impartiality In such a case； indeed； the defendant is tried； not
only by his peers； but also by his party； and I really think；
that of all patriots； he is the most resolute who exposes himself
to such detraction； for the sake of his country If； from the
ignorance or partiality of juries； a gentleman can have no
redress from law； for being defamed in a pamphlet or newspaper； I
know but one other method of proceeding against the publisher；
which is attended with some risque； but has been practised
successfully； more than once； in my remembrance A regiment of
horse was represented； in one of the newspapers； as having
misbehaved at Dettingen； a captain of that regiment broke the
publisher's bones； telling him； at the same time； if he went to
law； he should certainly have the like salutation from every
officer of the corps。 Governor took the same satisfaction on the
ribs of an author； who traduced him by name in a periodical
paper I know a low fellow of the same class； who； being turned
out of Venice for his impudence and scurrility； retired to
Lugano； a town of the Grisons （a free people； God wot） where he
found a printing press； from whence he squirted his filth at some
respectable characters in the republic； which he had been obliged
to abandon。 Some of these； finding him out of the reach of legal
chastisement； employed certain useful instruments； such as may be
found in all countries； to g