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down eternal blessings。' Here she was interrupted by my uncle；
who muttered in a voice still more and more discordant； 'For
Heaven's sake be quiet； madam consider the people of the
house 'sdeath！ can't you。' All this time she was struggling
to throw herself on her knees； while he seizing her by the
wrists； endeavoured to seat her upon the settee； saying； 'Prithee
good now hold your tongue' At that instant； who should
burst into the room but our aunt Tabby！ of all antiquated
maidens the most diabolically capricious Ever prying into
other people's affairs； she had seen the woman enter； and
followed her to the door； where she stood listening； but probably
could hear nothing distinctly； except my uncle's； last
exclamation； at which she bounded into the parlour in a violent
rage； that dyed the tip of her nose of a purple hue； 'Fy upon
you； Matt！ （cried she） what doings are these； to disgrace your
own character； and disparage your family？' Then； snatching the
bank note out of the stranger's hand； she went on 'How now；
twenty pounds！ here is temptation with a witness！ Good…woman；
go about your business Brother； brother； I know not which most
to admire； your concupissins； or your extravagance！' 'Good God
（exclaimed the poor woman） shall a worthy gentleman's character
suffer for an action that does honour to humanity？' By this time；
uncle's indignation was effectually roused。 His face grew pale；
his teeth chattered； and his eyes flashed 'Sister （cried he； in
a voice like thunder） I vow to God； your impertinence is
exceedingly provoking。' With these words； he took her by the
hand； and； opening the door of communication； thrust her into the
chamber where I stood； so affected by the scene； that the tears
ran down my cheeks。 Observing these marks of emotion； 'I don't
wonder （said she） to see you concerned at the back…slidings of so
near a relation； a man of his years and infirmities： These are
fine doings； truly This is a rare example； set by a guardian；
for the benefit of his pupils Monstrous！ incongruous！
sophistical！' I thought it was but an act of justice to set her
to rights； and therefore explained the mystery。 But she would not
be undeceived； 'What （said she） would you go for to offer for to
arguefy me out of my senses？ Did'n't I hear him whispering to her
to hold her tongue？ Did'n't I see her in tears？ Did'n't I see him
struggling to throw her upon the couch？ 0 filthy！ hideous！
abominable！ Child； child； talk not to me of charity。 Who gives
twenty pounds in charity？ But you are a stripling You know
nothing of the world。 Besides； charity begins at home Twenty
pounds would buy me a complete suit of flowered silk； trimmings
and all ' In short； I quitted the room； my contempt for her； and
my respect for her brother； being increased in the same
proportion。 I have since been informed； that the person； whom my
uncle so generously relieved； is the widow of an ensign； who has
nothing to depend upon but the pension of fifteen pounds a year。
The people of the Well…house give her an excellent character。 She
lodges in a garret； and works very hard at plain work； to support
her daughter； who is dying of a consumption。 I must own； to my
shame； I feel a strong inclination to follow my uncle's example；
in relieving this poor widow； but； betwixt friends； I am afraid
of being detected in a weakness； that might entail the ridicule
of the company； upon；
Dear Phillips；
Yours always；
J。 MELFORD
Direct your next to me at Bath； and remember me to all our
fellow…jesuits。
To Dr LEWIS。
H0T WELL； April 20。
I understand your hint。 There are mysteries in physic； as well as
in religion； which we of the profane have no right to investigate
A man must not presume to use his reason； unless he has
studied the categories； and can chop logic by mode and figure
Between friends； I think every man of tolerable parts ought； at
my time of day； to be both physician and lawyer； as far as his
own constitution and property are concerned。 For my own part； I
have had an hospital these fourteen years within myself； and
studied my own case with the most painful attention； consequently
may be supposed to know something of the matter； although I have
not taken regular courses of physiology et cetera et cetera。
In short； I have for some time been of opinion （no offence； dear
Doctor） that the sum of all your medical discoveries amounts to
this； that the more you study the less you know。 I have read
all that has been written on the Hot Wells； and what I can
collect from the whole； is； that the water contains nothing but a
little salt； and calcarious earth； mixed in such inconsiderable
proportion； as can have very little； if any； effect on the animal
economy。 This being the case； I think the man deserves to be
fitted with a cap and bells； who for such a paultry advantage as
this spring affords； sacrifices his precious time； which might be
employed in taking more effectual remedies； and exposes himself
to the dirt； the stench； the chilling blasts； and perpetual
rains； that render this place to me intolerable。 If these waters；
from a small degree of astringency； are of some service in the
diabetes； diarrhoea； and night sweats； when the secretions are
too much increased； must not they do harm in the same proportion；
where the humours are obstructed； as in the asthma； scurvy； gout
and dropsy？ Now we talk of the dropsy； here is a strange
fantastical oddity； one of your brethren； who harangues every day
in the Pump…room； as if he was hired to give lectures on all
subjects whatsoever I know not what to make of him
Sometimes he makes shrewd remarks； at other times he talks like
the greatest simpleton in nature He has read a great deal； but
without method or judgment； and digested nothing。 He believes
every thing he has read； especially if it has any thing of the
marvellous in it and his conversation is a surprizing hotch…potch
of erudition and extravagance。 He told me t'other day； with great
confidence； that my case was dropsical； or； as he called it；
leucophlegmatic： A sure sign； that his want of experience is
equal to his presumption for； you know； there is nothing
analogous to the dropsy in my disorder I wish those
impertinent fellows； with their ricketty understandings； would
keep their advice for those that ask it。 Dropsy； indeed！ Sure I
have not lived to the age of fifty…five； and had such experience
of my own disorder； and consulted you and other eminent
physicians； so often； and so long； to be undeceived by such a
But； without all doubt； the man is mad； and； therefore； what he
says is of no consequence。 I had； yesterday； a visit from
Higgins； who came hither under the terror of your threats； and
brought me in a present a brace of hares； which he owned he took
in my ground； and I could not persuade the fellow that he did
wrong； or that I would ever prosecute him for poaching I must
desire you will wink hard at the practices of this rascallion；
otherwise I shall be plagued with his presents； which cost me
more than they are worth。 If I could wonder at any thing
Fitzowen does； I should be surprized at his assurance in desiring
you to solicit my vote for him at the next election for the
county： for him； who opposed me； on the like occasion； with the
most illiberal competition。 You may tell him civilly； that I beg
to be excused。 Direct your next for me at Bath； whither I propose
to remove to…morrow； not only on my own account； but for the sake
of my niece； Liddy； who is like to relapse。 The poor creature
fell into a fit yesterday； while I was cheapening a pair of
spectacles； with a Jew…pedlar。 I am afraid there is something
still lurking in that little heart of hers； which I hope a change
of objects will remove。 Let me know what you think of this half…witted
Doctor's impertinent； ridiculous； and absurd notion of my
disorder So far from being dropsical； I am as lank in the
belly as a grey…hound； and； by measuring my ancle with a pack…thread；
I find the swelling subsides every day。 From such doctors；
good Lord deliver us！ I have not yet taken any lodgings in
Bath； because there we can be accommodated at a minute's warning；
and I shall choose for myself I need not say your directions
for drinking and bathing will be agreeable to；
Dear Lewis；
Yours ever；
MAT。 BRAMBLE
P。S。 I forgot to tell you； that my right ancle pits； a symptom；
as I take it； of its being oedematous； not leucophlegmatic。
To Miss LETTY WILLIS； at Gloucester
HOT WELL； April 21。
MY DEAR LETTY；
I did not intend to trouble you again； till we should be settled
at Bath； but having the occasion of Jarvis； I could not let it
slip； especially as I have something extraordinary to communicate。
O； my dear companion！ What shall I tell you？ for several days
past there was a Jew…looking man； that plied at the Wells with a
box of spectacles； and he always eyed me so earnestly； that I
began to be very uneasy。 At last； he came to our lodgings at
Clifton； and lingered about the door； as if he wanted to speak to
somebody I was seized with an odd kind of fluttering； and
begged Win to throw herself in his way： but the poor girl has
weak nerve