the expedition of humphry clinker-第75部分

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for　her　own　circulation。　　The　Scots；　not　content　with　their　own
manufactures　and　produce；　which　would　very　well　answer　all
necessary　occasions；　seem　to　vie　with　each　other　in　purchasing
superfluities　from　England；　such　as　broad…cloth；　velvets；　stuffs；
silks；　lace；　furs；　jewels；　furniture　of　all　sorts；　sugar；　rum；
tea；　chocolate　and　coffee；　in　a　word；　not　only　every　mode　of　the
most　extravagant　luxury；　but　even　many　articles　of　convenience；
which　they　might　find　as　good；　and　much　cheaper　in　their　own
country。　For　all　these　particulars；　I　conceive；　England　may　touch
about　one　million　sterling　a…year。　　I　don't　pretend　to　make　an
exact　calculation；　perhaps；　it　may　be　something　less；　and
perhaps；　a　great　deal　more。　The　annual　revenue　arising　from　all
the　private　estates　of　Scotland　cannot　fall　short　of　a　million
sterling；　and；　I　should　imagine；　their　trade　will　amount　to　as
much　more。　　I　know　the　linen　manufacture　alone　returns　near　half
a　million；　exclusive　of　the　home…consumption　of　that　article。　
If；　therefore；　North…Britain　pays　a　ballance　of　a　million
annually　to　England；　I　insist　upon　it；　that　country　is　more
valuable　to　her　in　the　way　of　commerce；　than　any　colony　in　her
possession；　over　and　above　the　other　advantages　which　I　have
specified：　therefore；　they　are　no　friends；　either　to　England　or
to　truth；　who　affect　to　depreciate　the　northern　part　of　the
united　kingdom。'

I　must　own；　I　was　at　first　a　little　nettled　to　find　myself
schooled　in　so　many　particulars。　　Though　I　did　not　receive　all
his　assertions　as　gospel；　I　was　not　prepared　to　refute　them；　and
I　cannot　help　now　acquiescing　in　his　remarks　so　far　as　to
think；　that　the　contempt　for　Scotland；　which　prevails　too　much　on
this　side　the　Tweed；　is　founded　on　prejudice　and　error。　　After
some　recollection；　'Well；　captain　（said　I）；　you　have　argued
stoutly　for　the　importance　of　your　own　country：　for　my　part；　I
have　such　a　regard　for　our　fellow…subjects　of　North…Britain；　that
I　shall　be　glad　to　see　the　day；　when　your　peasants　can　afford　to
give　all　their　oats　to　their　cattle；　hogs；　and　poultry；　and
indulge　themselves　with　good　wheaten　loaves；　instead　of　such
poor；　unpalatable；　and　inflammatory　diet。'　Here　again　I　brought
my　self　into　a　premunire　with　the　disputative　Caledonian。　He　said
he　hoped　he　should　never　see　the　common　people　lifted　out　of　that
sphere　for　which　they　were　intended　by　nature　and　the　course　of
things；　that　they　might　have　some　reason　to　complain　of　their
bread；　if　it　were　mixed；　like　that　of　Norway；　with　saw　dust　and
fish…bones；　but　that　oatmeal　was；　he　apprehended；　as　nourishing
and　salutary　as　wheat…flour；　and　the　Scots　in　general　thought　it
at　least　as　savoury。　　He　affirmed；　that　a　mouse；　which；　in　the
article　of　self…preservation；　might　be　supposed　to　act　from
infallible　instinct；　would　always　prefer　oats　to　wheat；　as
appeared　from　experience；　for；　in　a　place　where　there　was　a
parcel　of　each；　that　animal　has　never　begun　to　feed　upon　the
latter　till　all　the　oats　were　consumed：　for　their　nutritive
quality；　he　appealed　to　the　hale；　robust　constitutions　of　the
people　who　lived　chiefly　upon　oatmeal；　and；　instead　of　being
inflammatory；　he　asserted；　that　it　was　a　cooling　sub…acid；
balsamic　and　mucilaginous；　insomuch；　that　in　all　inflammatory
distempers；　recourse　was　had　to　water…gruel；　and　flummery　made　of
oatmeal。

'At　least　（said　I）；　give　me　leave　to　wish　them　such　a　degree　of
commerce　as　may　enable　them　to　follow　their　own　inclinations。'　
'Heaven　forbid！　（cried　this　philosopher）。　Woe　be　to　that　nation；
where　the　multitude　is　at　liberty　to　follow　their　own
inclinations！　Commerce　is　undoubtedly　a　blessing；　while
restrained　within　its　proper　channels；　but　a　glut　of　wealth
brings　along　with　it　a　glut　of　evils：　it　brings　false　taste；
false　appetite；　false　wants；　profusion；　venality；　contempt　of
order；　engendering　a　spirit　of　licentiousness；　insolence；　and
faction；　that　keeps　the　community　in　continual　ferment；　and　in
time　destroys　all　the　distinctions　of　civil　society；　so　that
universal　anarchy　and　uproar　must　ensue。　Will　any　sensible　man
affirm；　that　the　national　advantages　of　opulence　are　to　be　sought
on　these　terms？'　'No；　sure；　but　I　am　one　of　those　who　think；
that；　by　proper　regulations；　commerce　may　produce　every　national
benefit；　without　the　allay　of　such　concomitant　evils。'

So　much　for　the　dogmata　of　my　friend　Lismahago；　whom　I　describe
the　more　circumstantially；　as　I　firmly　believe　he　will　set　up　his
rest　in　Monmouthshire。　Yesterday；　while　I　was　alone　with　him　he
asked；　in　some　confusion；　if　I　should　have　any　objection　to　the
success　of　a　gentleman　and　a　soldier；　provided　he　should　be　so
fortunate　as　to　engage　my　sister's　affection。　I　answered　without
hesitation；　that　my　sister　was　old　enough　to　judge　for
herself；　and　that　I　should　be　very　far　from　disapproving　any
resolution　she　might　take　in　his　favour。　　His　eyes　sparkled　at
this　declaration。　He　declared；　he　should　think　himself　the
happiest　man　on　earth　to　be　connected　with　my　family；　and　that　he
should　never　be　weary　of　giving　me　proofs　of　his　gratitude　and
attachment。　I　suppose　Tabby　and　he　are　already　agreed；　in　which
case；　we　shall　have　a　wedding　at　Brambleton…hall；　and　you　shall
give　away　the　bride。　　It　is　the　least　thing　you　can　do；　by　way
of　atonement　for　your　former　cruelty　to　that　poor　love…sick
maiden；　who　has　been　so　long　a　thorn　in　the　side　of


Yours；
MATT。　BRAMBLE
Sept。　20。

We　have　been　at　Buxton；　but；　as　I　did　not　much　relish　either　the
company　or　the　accommodations；　and　had　no　occasion　for　the　water；
we　stayed　but　two　nights　in　the　place。




To　Sir　WATKIN　PHILLIPS；　Bart。　of　Jesus　college；　Oxon。

DEAR　WAT；

Adventures　begin　to　thicken　as　we　advance　to　the　southward。
Lismahago　has　now　professed　himself　the　admirer　of　our　aunt；　and
carries　on　his　addresses　under　the　sanction　of　her　brother's
approbation；　so　that　we　shall　certainly　have　a　wedding　by
Christmas。　I　should　be　glad　you　was　present　at　the　nuptials；　to
help　me　throw　the　stocking；　and　perform　other　ceremonies　peculiar
to　that　occasion。　　I　am　sure　it　will　be　productive　of　some
diversion；　and；　truly；　it　would　be　worth　your　while　to　come
across　the　country　on　purpose　to　see　two　such　original　figures　in
bed　together；　with　their　laced　night　caps；　he；　the　emblem　of　good
cheer；　and　she；　the　picture　of　good　nature。　All　this　agreeable
prospect　was　clouded；　and　had　well　nigh　vanished　entirely；　in
consequence　of　a　late　misunderstanding　between　the　future
brothers…in…law；　which；　however；　is　now　happily　removed。

A　few　days　ago；　my　uncle　and　I；　going　to　visit　a　relation；　met
with　lord　Oxmington　at　his　house；　who　asked　us　to　dine　with　him；
next　day；　and　we　accepted　the　invitation。　　Accordingly；　leaving
our　women　under　the　care　of　captain　Lismahago；　at　the　inn　where
we　had　lodged　the　preceding　night；　in　a　little　town；　about　a　mile
from　his　lordship's　dwelling；　we　went　at　the　hour　appointed；　and
had　a　fashionable　meal　served　up　with　much　ostentation　to　a
company　of　about　a　dozen　persons；　none　of　whom　he　had　ever　seen
before。　　His　lordship　is　much　more　remarkable　for　his　pride　and
caprice；　than　for　his　hospitality　and　understanding；　and；　indeed；
it　appeared；　that　he　considered　his　guests　merely　as　objects　to
shine　upon；　so　as　to　reflect　the　lustre　of　his　own　magnificence　
There　was　much　state；　but　no　courtesy；　and　a　great　deal　of
compliment　without　any　conversation。　　Before　the　desert　was
removed；　our　noble　entertainer　proposed　three　general　toasts；
then　calling　for　a　glass　of　wine；　and　bowing　all　round；　wished　us
a　good　afternoon。　This　was　the　signal　for　the　company　to　break
up；　and　they　obeyed　it　immediately；　all　except　our　'squire　who
was　greatly　shocked　at　the　manner　of　this　dismission　　He　changed
countenance；　bit　his　lip　in　silence；　but　still　kept　his　seat；　so
that　his　lordship　found　himself　obliged　to　give　us　another　hint；
by　saying；　he　should　be　glad　to　see　us　another　time。　'There　is　no
time　like　the　present　（cried　Mr　Bramble）；　your　lordship　has　not
yet　drank　a　bumper　to　the　best　in　Christendom。'　'I'll　drink　no
more　bumpers　to…day　（answered　our　landlord）；　and　I　am　sorry　to
see　you　have　drank　too　many。　　Order　the　gentleman's　carriage　to
the　gate。'　　So　saying；　he　rose　and　retired　abruptly；　our　'squire
starting　up　at　the　same　time；　laying　his　hand　upon　his　sword；　and
eyeing　him　with　a　most　ferocious　aspect。　The　master　having
vanished　in　this　manner；　our　uncle　bad　one　of　the　servants　to　see
what　was　to　pay；　and　the　fellow　answering；　'This　is　no　inn；'　'I
cry　you　mercy　（cried　the　other）；　I　perceive　it　is　not；　if　it
were；　the　landlord　would　be　more　civil。　There's　a　guinea；
however；　take　it；　and　tell　your　lord；　that　I　shall　riot　leave　the
country　till　I　have　had　the　opportunity　to　thank　him　in　person
for　his　politeness　and　hospitality。'

We　then　walked　down　stairs　through　a　double　range　of　lacqueys；
and　getting　into　the　chaise；　proceeded　homewards。　Perceiving　the
'squire　much　ruffled；　I　ventured　to　disapprove　of　his　resentment；
observing；　that　as　lord　Oxmington　was　well　known　to　have　his
brain　very　ill　timbered；　a　sensible　man　should　rather　laugh；　than
be　angry　at　his　ridiculous　want　of　breeding。