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we shall find time to take his case into consideration You see
we are fixed for some weeks at least； and as you have had a long
respite； I hope you will begin immediately to discharge the
arrears due to
Your affectionate；
J。 MELFORD
Oct。 14。
To Miss LAETITIA WILLIS； at Gloucester。
MY DEAR； DEAR LETTY；
Never did I sit down to write in such agitation as I now feel In
the course of a few days； we have met with a number of incidents
so wonderful and interesting； that all my ideas are thrown into
confusion and perplexity You must not expect either method or
coherence in what I am going to relate my dearest Willis。 Since
my last； the aspect of affairs is totally changed！ and so
changed！ but I would fain give you a regular detail In passing a
river about eight days ago； our coach was overturned； and some of
us narrowly escaped with life My uncle had well nigh perished。 O
Heaven； I cannot reflect upon that circumstance without horror I
should have lost my best friend； my father and protector； but for
the resolution and activity of his servant Humphry Clinker； whom
Providence really seems to have placed near him for the necessity
of this occasion。 I would not be thought superstitious； but
surely he acted from a stronger impulse than common fidelity。 Was
it not the voice of nature that loudly called upon him to save
the life of his own father？ for； 0 Letty； it was discovered that
Humphry Clinker was my uncle's natural son。
Almost at the same instant； a gentleman； who came to offer us his
assistance； and invite us to his house； turned out to be a very
old friend of Mr Bramble。 His name is Mr Dennison； one of the
worthiest men living； and his lady is a perfect saint upon earth。
They have an only son who do you think is this only son？ O
Letty！ O gracious heaven！ how my heart palpitates； when I tell
you that this only son of Mr Dennison's； is that very identical
youth who； under the name of Wilson； has made such ravage in my
heart！ Yes； my dear friend！ Wilson and I are now lodged in the
same house； and converse together freely His father approves of
his sentiments in my favour； his mother loves me with all the
tenderness of a parent； my uncle； my aunt and my brother； no
longer oppose my inclinations On the contrary； they have agreed
to make us happy without delay； and in three weeks or a month； if
no unforeseen accident intervenes； your friend Lydia Melford；
will have changed her name and condition I say； if no accident
intervenes； because such a torrent of success makes me tremble！ I
wish there may not be something treacherous in this sudden
reconciliation of fortune I have no merit I have no title to
such felicity。 Far from enjoying the prospect that lies before
me； my mind is harrassed with a continued tumult； made up of
hopes and wishes； doubts and apprehensions I can neither eat nor
sleep； and my spirits are in perpetual flutter。 I more than ever
feel that vacancy in my heart； which your presence alone can
fill。 The mind； in every disquiet； seeks to repose itself on the
bosom of a friend； and this is such a trial as I really know not
how to support without your company and counsel I must；
therefore； dear Letty； put your friendship to the test I must
beg you will come and do the last offices of maidenhood to your
companion Lydia Melford。
This letter goes inclosed in one to our worthy governess； from
Mrs Dennison； entreating her to interpose with your mamma； that
you may be allowed to favour us with your company on this
occasion； and I flatter myself that no material objection can be
made to our request。 The distance from hence to Gloucester； does
not exceed one hundred miles； and the roads are good。 Mr
Clinker； alias Loyd； shall be sent over to attend your motions
If you step into the post…chaise； with your maid Betty Barker； at
seven in the morning； you will arrive by four in the afternoon at
the half…way house； where there is good accommodation。 There you
shall be met by my brother and myself； who will next day
conduct you to this place； where； I am sure； you will find
yourself perfectly at your case in the midst of an agreeable
society。 Dear Letty； I will take no refusal if you have any
friendship any humanity you will come。 I desire that immediate
application may be made to your mamma； and that the moment her
permission is obtained； you will apprise
Your ever faithful；
LYDIA MELFORD
Oct。 14。
To Mrs JERMYN； at her house in Gloucester。
DEAR MADAM；
Though I was not so fortunate as to be favoured with an answer to
the letter with which I troubled you in the spring； I still
flatter myself that you retain some regard for me and my
concerns。 I am sure the care and tenderness with which I was
treated； under your roof and tuition； demand the warmest returns
of gratitude and affection on my part； and these sentiments； I
hope； I shall cherish to my dying day At present； I think it my
duty to make you acquainted with the happy issue of that
indiscretion by which I incurred your displeasure。 … Ah！ madam； the
slighted Wilson is metamorphosed into George Dennison； only son
and heir of a gentleman； whose character is second to none in
England； as you may understand upon inquiry。 My guardian； my
brother and I； are now in his house； and an immediate union of
the two families is to take place in the persons of the young
gentleman and your poor Lydia Melford。 You will easily conceive
how embarrassing this situation must be to a young inexperienced
creature like me； of weak nerves and strong apprehensions； and
how much the presence of a friend and confidant would encourage
and support me on this occasion。 You know； that of all the young
ladies； Miss Willis was she that possessed the greatest share of
my confidence and affection； and； therefore； I fervently wish to
have the happiness of her company at this interesting crisis。
Mrs Dennison； who is the object of universal love and esteem；
has； at my request； written to you on this subject； and I now beg
leave to reinforce her sollicitations。 My dear Mrs Jermyn！ my
ever honoured governess！ let me conjure you by that fondness
which once distinguished your favourite Lydia！ by that
benevolence of heart； which disposes you to promote the happiness
of your fellow…creatures in general！ lend a favourable ear to my
petition； and use your influence with Letty's mamma； that my most
earnest desire may be gratified。 Should I be indulged in this
particular； I will engage to return her safe； and even to
accompany her to Gloucester； where； if you will give me leave； I
will present to you； under another name；
Dear Madam；
Your most affectionate
Humble servant；
And penitent；
LYDIA MELFORD
Oct。 14。
To Mrs MARY JONES； at Brambleton…hall。
O MARY JONES！ MARY JONES！
I have met with so many axidents； suprisals； and terrifications；
that I am in a pafeck fantigo； and I believe I shall never be my
own self again。 Last week I was dragged out of a river like a
drowned rat； and lost a bran…new night…cap； with a sulfer
stayhook； that cost me a good half…a…crown； and an odd shoe of
green gallow monkey； besides wetting my cloaths and taring my
smuck； and an ugly gash made in the back part of my thy； by the
stump of a tree To be sure Mr Clinker tuck me out of the cox；
but he left me on my back in the water； to go to the 'squire； and
I mought have had a watry grave； if a millar had not brought me
to the dry land But； O！ what choppings and changes girl The
player man that came after Miss Liddy； and frightened me with a
beard at Bristol Well； is now matthew…murphy'd into a fine young
gentleman； son and hare of 'squire Dollison We are all together
in the same house； and all parties have agreed to the match； and
in a fortnite the surrymony will be performed。
But this is not the only wedding we are to have Mistriss is
resolved to have the same frolick； in the naam of God！ Last
Sunday in the parish crutch； if my own ars may be trusted； the
clerk called the banes of marridge betwixt Opaniah Lashmeheygo；
and Tapitha Brample； spinster； he mought as well have called her
inkle…weaver； for she never spun and hank of yarn in her life
Young 'squire Dollison and Miss Liddy make the second kipple； and
there might have been a turd； but times are changed with Mr
Clinker O Molly！ what do'st think？ Mr Clinker is found to be a
pye…blow of our own 'squire； and his rite naam is Mr Matthew Loyd
（thof God he nose how that can be）； and he is now out of livery；
and wares ruffles but I new him when he was out at elbows； and
had not a rag to kiver his pistereroes； so he need not hold his
head so high He is for sartin very umble and compleasant； and
purtests as how he has the same regard as before； but that he is
no longer his own master； and cannot portend to marry without the
'squire's consent He says he must wait with patience； and trust
to Providence； and such nonsense But if so be as how his regard
be the same； why stand shilly shally？ Why not strike while the
iron is hot； and speak to the 'squire without loss of time？ What
subjection can the 'squire make to our coming together Thof my
father wan't a gentleman； my mother was an ho