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advantage of the necessities of our fellow creatures。 He
affirmed； the nature of commerce was such； that it could not be
fixed or perpetuated； but； having flowed to a certain height；
would immediately begin to ebb； and so continue till the
channels should be left almost dry； but there was no instance of
the tide's rising a second time to any considerable influx in the
same nation。 Mean while the sudden affluence occasioned by trade；
forced open all the sluices of luxury and overflowed the land
with every species of profligacy and corruption； a total pravity
of manners would ensue； and this must be attended with bankruptcy
and ruin。 He observed of the parliament； that the practice of
buying boroughs； and canvassing for votes； was an avowed system
of venality； already established on the ruins of principle；
integrity； faith； and good order； in consequence of which the
elected and the elector； and； in short； the whole body of the
people； were equally and universally contaminated and corrupted。
He affirmed； that of a parliament thus constituted； the crown
would always have influence enough to secure a great majority in
its dependence； from the great number of posts； places； and
pensions it had to bestow； that such a parliament would （as it
had already done） lengthen the term of its sitting and authority；
whenever the prince should think it for his interest to continue
the representatives； for； without doubt； they had the same right
to protect their authority ad infinitum； as they had to extend it
from three to seven years。 With a parliament； therefore；
dependent upon the crown； devoted to the prince； and supported by
a standing army； garbled and modelled for the purpose； any king
of England may； and probably some ambitious sovereign will；
totally overthrow all the bulwarks of the constitution； for it is
not to be supposed that a prince of high spirit will tamely
submit to be thwarted in all his measures； abused and insulted by
a populace of unbridled ferocity； when he has it in his power to
crush all opposition under his feet with the concurrence of the
legislature。 He said； he should always consider the liberty of
the press as a national evil； while it enabled the vilest reptile
to soil the lustre of the most shining merit； and furnished the
most infamous incendiary with the means of disturbing the peace
and destroying the good order of the community。 He owned；
however； that under due restrictions； it would be a valuable
privilege； but affirmed； that at present there was no law in
England sufficient to restrain it within proper bounds。
With respect to juries； he expressed himself to this effect：
juries are generally composed of illiterate plebeians； apt to be
mistaken； easily misled； and open to sinister influence； for if
either of the parties to be tried； can gain over one of the
twelve jurors； he has secured the verdict in his favour； the
juryman thus brought over will； in despight of all evidence and
conviction； generally hold out till his fellows are fatigued； and
harassed； and starved into concurrence； in which case the verdict
is unjust； and the jurors are all perjured： but cases will often
occur； when the jurors are really divided in opinion； and each
side is convinced in opposition to the other； but no verdict will
be received； unless they are unanimous； and they are all bound；
not only in conscience； but by oath； to judge and declare
according to their conviction。 What then will be the
consequence？ They must either starve in company； or one side
must sacrifice their conscience to their convenience； and join in
a verdict which they believe to be false。 This absurdity is
avoided in Sweden； where a bare majority is sufficient； and in
Scotland； where two thirds of the jury are required to concur in
the verdict。
You must not imagine that all these deductions were made on his
part； without contradictions on mine。 No the truth is； I found
myself piqued in point of honour； at his pretending to be so much
wiser than his neighbours。 I questioned all his assertions；
started innumerable objections； argued and wrangled with uncommon
perseverance； and grew very warm； and even violent； in the
debate。 Sometimes he was puzzled； and once or twice； I think；
fairly refuted； but from those falls he rose again； like Antaeus；
with redoubled vigour； till at length I was tired； exhausted； and
really did not know how to proceed； when luckily he dropped a
hint； by which he discovered he had been bred to the law； a
confession which enabled me to retire from the dispute with a
good grace； as it could not be supposed that a man like me； who
had been bred to nothing； should be able to cope with a veteran
in his own profession。 I believe； however； that I shall for some
time continue to chew the cud of reflection upon many
observations which this original discharged。
Whether our sister Tabby was really struck with his conversation；
or is resolved to throw at every thing she meets in the shape of
a man； till she can fasten the matrimonial noose； certain it is；
she has taken desperate strides towards the affection of
Lismahago； who cannot be said to have met her half way； though he
does not seem altogether insensible to her civilities。 She
insinuated more than once how happy we should be to have his
company through that part of Scotland which we proposed to visit；
till at length he plainly told us； that his road was totally
different from that which we intended to take； that； for his
part； his company would be of very little service to us in our
progress； as he was utterly unacquainted with the country； which
he had left in his early youth； consequently； he could neither
direct us in our enquiries； nor introduce us to any family of
distinction。 He said； he was stimulated by an irresistible
impulse to revisit the paternus lar； or patria domus； though he
expected little satisfaction； inasmuch as he understood that his
nephew； the present possessor； was but ill qualified to support
the honour of the family。 He assured us； however； as we design
to return by the west road； that he will watch our motions； and
endeavour to pay his respects to us at Dumfries。 Accordingly he
took his leave of us at a place half way betwixt Morpeth and
Alnwick； and pranced away in great state； mounted on a tall；
meagre； raw…boned； shambling grey gelding； without e'er a tooth
in his head； the very counter…part of the rider； and； indeed； the
appearance of the two was so picturesque； that I would give
twenty guineas to have them tolerably presented on canvas。
Northumberland is a fine county； extending to the Tweed； which is
a pleasant pastoral stream； but you will be surprised when I tell
you that the English side of that river is neither so well
cultivated nor so populous as the other。 The farms are thinly
scattered； the lands uninclosed； and scarce a gentleman's seat
is to be seen in some miles from the Tweed； whereas the Scots are
advanced in crowds to the very brink of the river； so that you
may reckon above thirty good houses； in the compass of a few
miles； belonging to proprietors whose ancestors had fortified
castles in the same situations； a circumstance that shews what
dangerous neighbours the Scots must have formerly been to the
northern counties of England。
Our domestic oeconomy continues on the old footing。 My sister
Tabby still adheres to methodism； and had the benefit of a sermon
at Wesley's meeting in Newcastle； but I believe the Passion of
love has in some measure abated the fervour of devotion both in
her and her woman； Mrs Jenkins； about whose good graces there has
been a violent contest betwixt my nephew's valet； Mr Dutton； and
my man； Humphry Clinker。 Jery has been obliged to interpose his
authority to keep the peace； and to him I have left the
discussion of that important affair； which had like to have
kindled the flames of discord in the family of
Yours always；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
TWEEDMOUTH； July 15。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 at Oxon。
DEAR WAT；
In my two last you had so much of Lismahago； that I suppose you
are glad he is gone off the stage for the present。 I must now
descend to domestic occurrences。 Love； it seems； is resolved to
assert his dominion over all the females of our family。 After
having practised upon poor Liddy's heart； and played strange
vagaries with our aunt Mrs Tabitha； he began to run riot in the
affections of her woman； Mrs Winifred Jenkins； whom I have had
occasion to mention more than once in the course of our memoirs。
Nature intended Jenkins for something very different from the
character of her mistress； yet custom and habit have effected a
wonderful resemblance betwixt them in many particulars。 Win； to
be sure； is much younger and more agreeable in her person； she is
likewise tender…hearted and benevolent； qualities for which her
mistress is by no means remarkable； no more than she is for being
of a timorous disposition； and much subject to fits of the
mother； which are the infirmities of Win's constitution： but then
she seems to have adopted Mrs Tabby's manner with her cast
cloaths。 She dresses and endeavours to look like her mistress；
although her own looks are mu