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<h2> To Dr LEWIS. </h2>
<p>Thank Heaven! dear Lewis, the clouds are dispersed, and I have now the
clearest prospect of my summer campaign, which, I hope, I shall be able to
begin to-morrow. I took the advice of counsel with respect to the case of
Clinker, in whose favour a lucky incident has intervened. The fellow who
accused him, has had his own battery turned upon himself.—Two days
ago he was apprehended for a robbery on the highway, and committed, on the
evidence of an accomplice. Clinker, having moved for a writ of habeas
corpus, was brought before the lord chief justice, who, in consequence of
an affidavit of the gentleman who had been robbed, importing that the said
Clinker was not the person who stopped him on the highway, as well as in
consideration of the postilion's character and present circumstances, was
pleased to order, that my servant should be admitted to bail, and he has
been discharged accordingly, to the unspeakable satisfaction of our whole
family, to which he has recommended himself in an extraordinary manner,
not only by his obliging deportment, but by his talents of preaching,
praying, and singing psalms, which he has exercised with such effect, that
even Tabby respects him as a chosen vessel. If there was any thing like
affectation or hypocrisy in this excess of religion, I would not keep him
in my service, but, so far as I can observe, the fellow's character is
downright simplicity, warmed with a kind of enthusiasm, which renders him
very susceptible of gratitude and attachment to his benefactors.</p>
<p>As he is an excellent horseman, and understands farriery, I have bought a
stout gelding for his use, that he may attend us on the road, and have an
eye to our cattle, in case the coachman should not mind his business. My
nephew, who is to ride his own saddle-horse, has taken, upon trial, a
servant just come from abroad with his former master, Sir William
Strollop, who vouches for his honesty. The fellow, whose name is Dutton,
seems to be a petit maitre.—He has got a smattering of French, bows,
and grins, and shrugs, and takes snuff a la mode de France, but values
himself chiefly upon his skill and dexterity in hair-dressing.—If I
am not much deceived by appearance, he is, in all respects, the very
contrast of Humphry Clinker.</p>
<p>My sister has made up matters with lady Griskin; though, I must own, I
should not have been sorry to see that connexion entirely destroyed: but
Tabby is not of a disposition to forgive Barton, who, I understand, is
gone to his seat in Berkshire for the summer season. I cannot help
suspecting, that in the treaty of peace, which has been lately ratified
betwixt those two females, it is stipulated, that her ladyship shall use
her best endeavours to provide an agreeable help-mate for our sister
Tabitha, who seems to be quite desperate in her matrimonial designs.
Perhaps, the match-maker is to have a valuable consideration in the way of
brokerage, which she will most certainly deserve, if she can find any man
in his senses, who will yoke with Mrs Bramble from motives of affection or
interest.</p>
<p>I find my spirits and my health affect each other reciprocally that is to
say, every thing that discomposes my mind, produces a correspondent
disorder in my body; and my bodily complaints are remarkably mitigated by
those considerations that dissipate the clouds of mental chagrin.—The
imprisonment of Clinker brought on those symptoms which I mentioned in my
last, and now they are vanished at his discharge.—It must be owned,
indeed, I took some of the tincture of ginseng, prepared according to your
prescription, and found it exceedingly grateful to the stomach; but the
pain and sickness continued to return, after short intervals, till the
anxiety of my mind was entirely removed, and then I found myself perfectly
at case. We have had fair weather these ten days, to the astonishment of
the Londoners, who think it portentous. If you enjoy the same indulgence
in Wales, I hope Barns has got my hay made, and safe cocked by this time.
As we shall be in motion for some weeks, I cannot expect to hear from you
as usual; but I shall continue to write from every place at which we make
any halt, that you may know our track, in case it should be necessary to
communicate any thing to</p>
<p>Your assured friend, MATT. BRAMBLE LONDON, June 14.</p>
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