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uncle。 Mrs。 Winifred Jenkins； extremely fluttered between her
surprize at this discovery； and the apprehension of losing her
sweet…heart； exclaimed in a giggling tone； 'I wish you joy Mr
Clinker Floyd I would say hi； hi； hi！ you'll be so proud you
won't look at your poor fellow servants； oh； oh； oh！' Honest
Clinker owned he was overjoyed at his good fortune； which was
greater than he deserved 'But wherefore should I be proud？ （said
he） a poor object conceived in sin； and brought forth in
iniquity； nursed in a parish workhouse； and bred in a smithy。
Whenever I seem proud； Mrs Jenkins； I beg of you to put me in
mind of the condition I was in； when I first saw you between
Chippenham and Marlborough。'
When this momentous affair was discussed to the satisfaction of
all parties concerned； the weather being dry； the ladies declined
the carriage； so that we walked all together to Mr Dennison's
house； where we found the tea ready prepared by his lady； an
amiable matron； who received us with all the benevolence of
hospitality。 The house is old fashioned and irregular； but
lodgeable and commodious。 To the south it has the river in front；
at the distance of a hundred paces； and on the north； there is a
rising ground covered with an agreeable plantation； the greens
and walks are kept in the nicest order； and all is rural and
romantic。 I have not yet seen the young gentleman； who is on a
visit to a friend in the neighbourhood； from whose house he is
not expected 'till to…morrow。
In the mean time； as there is a man going to the next market town
with letters for the post； I take this opportunity to send you
the history of this day； which has been remarkably full of
adventures； and you will own I give you them like a beef…steak at
Dolly's； hot and hot； without ceremony and parade； just as they
come from the recollection of
Yours；
J。 MELFORD
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DICK；
Since the last trouble I gave you； I have met with a variety of
incidents； some of them of a singular nature； which I reserve as
a fund for conversation； but there are others so interesting；
that they will not keep in petto till meeting。
Know then； it was a thousand pounds to a sixpence； that you
should now be executing my will； instead of perusing my letter！
Two days ago； our coach was overturned in the midst of a rapid
river； where my life was saved with the utmost difficulty； by the
courage； activity； and presence of mind of my servant Humphry
Clinker But this is not the most surprising circumstance of the
adventure The said Humphry Clinker proves to be Matthew Loyd；
natural son of one Matthew Loyd of Glamorgan； if you know any
such person You see； Doctor； that notwithstanding all your
philosophy； it is not without some reason that the Welchmen
ascribe such energy to the force of blood But we shall discuss
this point on some future occasion。
This is not the only discovery which I made in consequence of our
disaster We happened to be wrecked upon a friendly shore The
lord of the manor is no other than Charles Dennison； our fellow…rake
at Oxford We are now happily housed with that gentleman；
who has really attained to that pitch of rural felicity； at which
I have been aspiring these twenty years in vain。 He is blessed
with a consort； whose disposition is suited to his own in all
respects； tender； generous； and benevolent She； moreover；
possesses an uncommon share of understanding； fortitude； and
discretion； and is admirably qualified to be his companion；
confidant； counsellor； and coadjutrix。 These excellent persons
have an only son； about nineteen years of age； just such a youth
as they could have wished that Heaven would bestow to fill up the
measure of their enjoyment In a word； they know no other allay
to their happiness； but their apprehension and anxiety about the
life and concerns of this beloved object。
Our old friend； who had the misfortune to be a second brother；
was bred to the law； and even called to the bar； but he did not
find himself qualified to shine in that province； and had very
little inclination for his profession He disobliged his father；
by marrying for love； without any consideration of fortune； so
that he had little or nothing to depend upon for some years but
his practice； which afforded him a bare subsistence； and the
prospect of an increasing family； began to give him disturbance
and disquiet。 In the mean time； his father dying； was succeeded
by his elder brother； a fox…hunter and a sot； who neglected his
affairs； insulted and oppressed his servants； and in a few years
had well nigh ruined the estate； when he was happily carried off
by a fever； the immediate consequence of a debauch。 Charles； with
the approbation of his wife； immediately determined to quit
business； and retire into the country； although this resolution
was strenuously and zealously opposed by every individual； whom
he consulted on the subject。 Those who had tried the experiment；
assured him that he could not pretend to breathe in the country
for less than the double of what his estate produced； that； in
order to be upon the footing of a gentleman； he would be obliged
to keep horses； hounds； carriages； with a suitable number of
servants； and maintain an elegant table for the entertainment of
his neighbours； that farming was a mystery； known only to those
who had been bred up to it from the cradle； the success of it
depending not only upon skill and industry； but also upon such
attention and oeconomy as no gentleman could be supposed to give
or practise； accordingly； every attempt made by gentlemen
miscarried； and not a few had been ruined by their prosecution of
agriculture Nay； they affirmed that he would find it cheaper to
buy hay and oats for his cattle； and to go to market for poultry；
eggs； kitchen herbs； and roots； and every the most inconsiderable
article of house…keeping； than to have those articles produced on
his own ground。
These objections did not deter Mr Dennison； because they were
chiefly founded on the supposition； that he would be obliged to
lead a life of extravagance and dissipation； which he and his
consort equally detested； despised； and determined to avoid The
objects he had in view； were health of body； peace of mind； and
the private satisfaction of domestic quiet； unallayed by actual
want； and uninterrupted by the fears of indigence He was very
moderate in his estimate of the necessaries； and even of the
comforts of life He required nothing but wholesome air； pure
water； agreeable exercise； plain diet； convenient lodging； and
decent apparel。 He reflected； that if a peasant without
education； or any great share of natural sagacity； could maintain
a large family； and even become opulent upon a farm； for which he
payed an annual rent of two or three hundred pounds to the
landlord； surely he himself might hope for some success from his
industry； having no rent to pay； but； on the contrary； three or
four hundred pounds a year to receive。 He considered； that the
earth was an indulgent mother； that yielded her fruits to all her
children without distinction。 He had studied the theory of
agriculture with a degree of eagerness and delight； and he could
not conceive there was any mystery in the practice； but what he
should be able to disclose by dint of care and application。 With
respect to houshold expence； he entered into a minute detail and
investigation； by which he perceived the assertions of his
friends were altogether erroneous He found he should save sixty
pounds a year in the single article of house…rent； and as much
more in pocket…money and contingencies； that even butcher's…meat
was twenty per cent cheaper in the country than in London； but
that poultry； and almost every other circumstance of house…keeping；
might be had for less than one…half of
what they cost in town； besides； a considerable saving on the
side of dress； in being delivered from the oppressive imposition
of ridiculous modes； invented by ignorance； and adopted by folly。
As to the danger of vying with the rich in pomp and equipage； it
never gave him the least disturbance。 He was now turned of forty；
and； having lived half that time in the busy scenes of life； was
well skilled in the science of mankind。 There cannot be in nature
a more contemptible figure than that of a man； who； with five
hundred a year； presumes to rival in expence a neighbour who
possesses five times that income His ostentation； far from
concealing； serves only to discover his indigence； and render his
vanity the more shocking； for it attracts the eyes of censure；
and excites the spirit of inquiry。 There is not a family in the
county nor a servant in his own house； nor a farmer in the
parish； but what knows the utmost farthing that his lands
produce； and all these behold him with scorn or compassion。 I am
surprised that these reflections do not occur to persons in this
unhappy dilemma； and produce a salutary effect； but the truth is；
of all the passions incident to human nature； vanity is that
which most effectually perverts the faculties of the
understanding； nay； it sometimes becomes so incredibly depraved；
as to aspire at infamy； and find pleas