<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0082" id="link2H_4_0082"></SPAN></p>
<h2> To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. at Oxon. </h2>
<h3> DEAR KNIGHT, </h3>
<p>The fatal knots are now tied. The comedy is near a close; and the curtain
is ready to drop: but, the latter scenes of this act I shall recapitulate
in order—About a fortnight ago, my uncle made an excursion across
the country, and brought hither a particular friend, one Mr Baynard, who
has just lost his wife, and was for some time disconsolate, though by all
accounts he had much more cause for joy than for sorrow at this event.—His
countenance, however, clears up apace; and he appears to be a person of
rare accomplishments.—But, we have received another still more
agreeable reinforcement to our company, by the arrival of Miss Willis from
Gloucester. She was Liddy's bosom friend at the boarding-school, and being
earnestly sollicited to assist at the nuptials, her mother was so obliging
as to grant my sister's request, and even to come with her in person.
Liddy, accompanied by George Dennison and me, gave them the meeting
halfway, and next day conducted them hither in safety. Miss Willis is a
charming girl, and, in point of disposition, an agreeable contrast to my
sister, who is rather too grave and sentimental for my turn of mind. The
other is gay, frank, a little giddy, and always good-humoured. She has,
moreover, a genteel fortune, is well born, and remarkably handsome. Ah
Phillips! if these qualities were permanent—if her humour would
never change, nor her beauties decay, what efforts would I not make—But
these are idle reflections—my destiny must one day be fulfilled.</p>
<p>At present we pass the time as agreeably as we can.—We have got up
several farces, which afforded unspeakable entertainment by the effects
they produced among the country people, who are admitted to all our
exhibitions.—Two nights ago, Jack Wilson acquired great applause in
Harlequin Skeleton, and Lismahago surprised us all in the character of
Pierot.—His long lank sides, and strong marked features, were all
peculiarly adapted to his part.—He appeared with a ludicrous stare,
from which he had discharged all meaning: he adopted the impressions of
fear and amazement so naturally, that many of the audience were infected
by his looks; but when the skeleton held him in chace his horror became
most divertingly picturesque, and seemed to endow him with such
praeternatural agility as confounded all the spectators. It was a lively
representation of Death in pursuit of Consumption, and had such an effect
upon the commonalty, that some of them shrieked aloud, and others ran out
of the hall in the utmost consternation.</p>
<p>This is not the only instance in which the lieutenant has lately excited
our wonder. His temper, which had been soured and shrivelled by
disappointment and chagrin, is now swelled out, and smoothed like a raisin
in plumb-porridge. From being reserved and punctilious, he is become easy
and obliging. He cracks jokes, laughs and banters, with the most facetious
familiarity; and, in a word, enters into all our schemes of merriment and
pastime—The other day his baggage arrived in the waggon from London,
contained in two large trunks and a long deal box not unlike a coffin. The
trunks were filled with his wardrobe, which he displayed for the
entertainment of the company, and he freely owned, that it consisted
chiefly of the opima spolia taken in battle. What he selected for his
wedding suit, was a tarnished white cloth faced with blue velvet,
embroidered with silver; but, he valued himself most upon a tye-periwig,
in which he had made his first appearance as a lawyer above thirty years
ago. This machine had been in buckle ever since, and now all the servants
in the family were employed to frizz it out for the occasion, which was
yesterday celebrated at the parish church. George Dennison and his bride
were distinguished by nothing extraordinary in their apparel. His eyes
lightened with eagerness and joy, and she trembled with coyness and
confusion. My uncle gave her away, and her friend Willis supported her
during the ceremony.</p>
<p>But my aunt and her paramour took the pas, and formed, indeed, such a pair
of originals, as, I believe all England could not parallel. She was
dressed in the stile of 1739; and the day being cold, put on a manteel of
green velvet laced with gold: but this was taken off by the bridegroom,
who threw over her shoulders a fur cloak of American sables, valued at
fourscore guineas, a present equally agreeable and unexpected. Thus
accoutred, she was led up to the altar by Mr Dennison, who did the office
of her father: Lismahago advanced in the military step with his French
coat reaching no farther than the middle of his thigh, his campaign wig
that surpasses all description, and a languishing leer upon his
countenance, in which there seemed to be something arch and ironical. The
ring, which he put upon her finger, he had concealed till the moment it
was used. He now produced it with an air of self-complacency. It was a
curious antique, set with rose diamonds: he told us afterwards, it had
been in the family two hundred years and was a present from his
grand-mother. These circumstances agreeably flattered the pride of our
aunt Tabitha, which had already found uncommon gratification in the
captain's generosity; for he had, in the morning, presented my uncle with
a fine bear's skin, and a Spanish fowling-piece, and me with a case of
pistols curiously mounted with silver. At the same time he gave Mrs
Jenkins an Indian purse, made of silk grass, containing twenty crown
pieces. You must know, this young lady, with the assistance of Mr Loyd,
formed the third couple who yesterday sacrificed to Hymen. I wrote to you
in my last, that he had recourse to my mediation, which I employed
successfully with my uncle; but Mrs Tabitha held out 'till the love-sick
Jenkins had two fits of the mother; then she relented, and those two
cooing turtles were caged for life—Our aunt made an effort of
generosity in furnishing the bride with her superfluities of clothes and
linen, and her example was followed by my sister; nor did Mr Bramble and I
neglect her on this occasion. It was, indeed, a day of peace-offering.—Mr
Dennison insisted upon Liddy's accepting two bank notes of one hundred
pounds each, as pocket-money; and his lady gave her a diamond necklace of
double that value. There was, besides, a mutual exchange of tokens among
the individuals of the two families thus happily united.</p>
<p>As George Dennison and his partner were judged improper objects of mirth,
Jack Wilson had resolved to execute some jokes on Lismahago, and after
supper began to ply him with bumpers, when the ladies had retired; but the
captain perceiving his drift, begged for quarter, alledging that the
adventure, in which he had engaged, was a very serious matter; and that it
would be more the part of a good Christian to pray that he might be
strengthened, than to impede his endeavours to finish the adventure.—He
was spared accordingly, and permitted to ascend the nuptial couch with all
his senses about him.—There he and his consort sat in state, like
Saturn and Cybele, while the benediction posset was drank; and a cake
being broken over the head of Mrs Tabitha Lismahago, the fragments were
distributed among the bystanders, according to the custom of the antient
Britons, on the supposition that every person who eat of this hallowed
cake, should that night have a vision of the man or woman whom Heaven
designed should be his or her wedded mate.</p>
<p>The weight of Wilson's waggery fell upon honest Humphry and his spouse,
who were bedded in an upper room, with the usual ceremony of throwing the
stocking.—This being performed, and the company withdrawn, a sort of
catterwauling ensued, when Jack found means to introduce a real cat shod
with walnut-shells, which galloping along the boards, made such a dreadful
noise as effectually discomposed our lovers.—Winifred screamed
aloud, and shrunk under the bed-cloaths—Mr Loyd, believing that
Satan was come to buffet him in propria persona, laid aside all carnal
thoughts, and began to pray aloud with great fervency.—At length,
the poor animal, being more afraid than either, leaped into the bed, and
meauled with the most piteous exclamation.—Loyd, thus informed of
the nature of the annoyance, rose and set the door wide open, so that this
troublesome visitant retreated with great expedition; then securing
himself, by means of a double bolt, from a second intrusion, he was left
to enjoy his good fortune without further disturbance.</p>
<p>If one may judge from the looks of the parties, they are all very well
satisfied with what has passed—George Dennison and his wife are too
delicate to exhibit any strong marked signs of their mutual satisfaction,
but their eyes are sufficiently expressive—Mrs Tabitha Lismahago is
rather fulsome in signifying her approbation of the captain's love; while
his deportment is the very pink of gallantry.—He sighs, and ogles,
and languishes at this amiable object; he kisses her hand, mutters
ejaculations of rapture, and sings tender airs; and, no doubt, laughs
internally at her folly in believing him sincere.—In order to shew
how little his vigour was impaired by the fatigues of the preceding day,
he this morning danced a Highland sarabrand over a naked back-sword, and
leaped so high, that I believe he would make no contemptible figure as a
vaulter at Sadler's Wells.—Mr Matthew Loyd, when asked how he
relished his bargain, throws up his eyes, crying, 'For what we have
received, Lord make us thankful: amen.'—His helpmate giggles, and
holds her hand before her eyes, affecting to be ashamed of having been in
bed with a man.—Thus all these widgeons enjoy the novelty of their
situation; but, perhaps their notes will be changed, when they are better
acquainted with the nature of the decoy.</p>
<p>As Mrs Willis cannot be persuaded to stay, and Liddy is engaged by promise
to accompany her daughter back to Gloucester, I fancy there will be a
general migration from hence, and that most of us will spend the Christmas
holidays at Bath; in which case, I shall certainly find an opportunity to
beat up your quarters.—By this time, I suppose, you are sick of alma
mater, and even ready to execute that scheme of peregrination, which was
last year concerted between you and</p>
<p>Your affectionate J. MELFORD Nov. 8.</p>
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