按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
general tide of luxury； which hath overspread the nation； and
swept away all； even the very dregs of the people。 Every upstart
of fortune； harnessed in the trappings of the mode； presents
himself at Bath； as in the very focus of observation Clerks
and factors from the East Indies； loaded with the spoil of
plundered provinces； planters； negro…drivers； and hucksters from
our American plantations； enriched they know not how； agents；
commissaries； and contractors； who have fattened； in two
successive wars； on the blood of the nation； usurers； brokers；
and jobbers of every kind； men of low birth； and no breeding；
have found themselves suddenly translated into a state of
affluence； unknown to former ages； and no wonder that their
brains should be intoxicated with pride； vanity； and presumption。
Knowing no other criterion of greatness； but the ostentation of
wealth； they discharge their affluence without taste or conduct；
through every channel of the most absurd extravagance； and all of
them hurry to Bath； because here； without any further
qualification； they can mingle with the princes and nobles of the
land。 Even the wives and daughters of low tradesmen； who； like
shovel…nosed sharks； prey upon the blubber of those uncouth
whales of fortune； are infected with the same rage of displaying
their importance； and the slightest indisposition serves them for
a pretext to insist upon being conveyed to Bath； where they may
hobble country…dances and cotillons among lordlings； squires；
counsellors； and clergy。 These delicate creatures from
Bedfordbury； Butcher…row； Crutched…friers； and Botolph…lane；
cannot breathe in the gross air of the Lower Town； or conform to
the vulgar rules of a common lodging…house； the husband；
therefore； must provide an entire house； or elegant apartments in
the new buildings。 Such is the composition of what is called the
fashionable company at Bath； where a very inconsiderable
proportion of genteel people are lost in a mob of impudent
plebeians； who have neither understanding nor judgment； nor the
least idea of propriety and decorum； and seem to enjoy nothing so
much as an opportunity of insulting their betters。
Thus the number of people； and the number of houses continue to
increase； and this will ever be the case； till the streams that
swell this irresistible torrent of folly and extravagance； shall
either be exhausted； or turned into other channels； by incidents
and events which I do not pretend to foresee。 This； I own； is a
subject on which I cannot write with any degree of patience； for
the mob is a monster I never could abide； either in its head；
tail； midriff； or members； I detest the whole of it； as a mass of
ignorance； presumption； malice and brutality； and； in this term
of reprobation； I include； without respect of rank； station； or
quality； all those of both sexes； who affect its manners； and
court its society。
But I have written till my fingers are crampt； and my nausea
begins to return By your advice； I sent to London a few days
ago for half a pound of Gengzeng； though I doubt much； whether
that which comes from America is equally efficacious with what is
brought from the East Indies。 Some years ago a friend of mine
paid sixteen guineas for two ounces of it； and； in six months
after； it was sold in the same shop for five shillings the pound。
In short； we live in a vile world of fraud and sophistication； so
that I know nothing of equal value with the genuine friendship of
a sensible man； a rare jewel！ which I cannot help thinking myself
in possession of； while I repeat the old declaration； that I am；
as usual；
Dear Lewis；
Your affectionate
M。 BRAMBLE；
After having been agitated in a short hurricane； on my first
arrival； I have taken a small house in Milsham…street； where I am
tolerably well lodged； for five guineas a week。 I was yesterday
at the Pump…room； and drank about a pint of water； which seems to
agree with my stomach； and to…morrow morning I shall bathe； for
the first time； so that in a few posts you may expect farther
trouble； mean while； I am glad to find that the inoculation
has succeeded so well with poor Joyce； and that her face will be
but little marked。 If my friend Sir Thomas was a single man； I
would not trust such a handsome wench in his family； but as I
have recommended her； in a particular manner； to the protection
of lady G； who is one of the best women in the world； she may
go thither without hesitation as soon as she is quite recovered
and fit for service Let her mother have money to provide her
with necessaries； and she may ride behind her brother on Bucks；
but you must lay strong injunctions on Jack； to take particular
care of the trusty old veteran； who has faithfully earned his
present ease by his past services。
To Miss WILLIS at Gloucester。
BATH； April 26。
MY DEAREST COMPANION；
The pleasure I received from yours； which came to hand yesterday；
is not to be expressed。 Love and friendship are； without doubt；
charming passions； which absence serves only to heighten and
improve。 Your kind present of the garnet bracelets； I shall keep
as carefully as I preserve my own life； and I beg you will accept；
in return； my heart…housewife； with the tortoise…shell
memorandum…book； as a trifling pledge of my unalterable
affection。
Bath is to me a new world All is gayety； good…humour； and
diversion。 The eye is continually entertained with the splendour
of dress and equipage； and the ear with the sound of coaches；
chairs； and other carriages。 The merry bells ring round； from
morn till night。 Then we are welcomed by the city…waits in our
own lodgings； we have music in the Pump…room every morning；
cotillons every forenoon in the rooms； balls twice a week； and
concerts every other night； besides private assemblies and
parties without number As soon as we were settled in lodgings；
we were visited by the Master of the Ceremonies； a pretty little
gentleman； so sweet； so fine； so civil； and polite； that in our
country he might pass for the prince of Wales； then he talks so
charmingly； both in verse and prose； that you would be delighted
to hear him discourse； for you must know he is a great writer；
and has got five tragedies ready for the stage。 He did us the
favour to dine with us； by my uncle's invitation； and next day
squired my aunt and me to every part of Bath； which； to be sure；
is an earthly paradise。 The Square； the Circus； and the Parades；
put you in mind of the sumptuous palaces represented in prints
and pictures； and the new buildings； such as Princes…row；
Harlequin's…row； Bladud's…row； and twenty other rows； look like
so many enchanted castles； raised on hanging terraces。
At eight in the morning； we go in dishabille to the Pump…room
which is crowded like a Welsh fair； and there you see the highest
quality； and the lowest trades folks； jostling each other；
without ceremony； hail…fellow well…met。 The noise of the music
playing in the gallery； the heat and flavour of such a crowd； and
the hum and buz of their conversation； gave me the head…ach and
vertigo the first day； but； afterwards； all these things became
familiar； and even agreeable。 Right under the Pump…room
windows is the King's Bath； a huge cistern； where you see the
patients up to their necks in hot water。 The ladies wear jackets
and petticoats of brown linen with chip hats； in which they fix
their handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat from their faces； but；
truly； whether it is owing to the steam that surrounds them； or
the heat of the water； or the nature of the dress； or to all
these causes together； they look so flushed； and so frightful；
that I always turn my eyes another way My aunt； who says every
person of fashion should make her appearance in the bath； as well
as in the abbey church； contrived a cap with cherry…coloured
ribbons to suit her complexion； and obliged Win to attend her
yesterday morning in the water。 But； really； her eyes were so
red； that they made mine water as I viewed her from the Pump…room；
and as for poor Win； who wore a hat trimmed with blue； what
betwixt her wan complexion and her fear； she looked like the
ghost of some pale maiden； who had drowned herself for love。 When
she came out of the bath； she took assafoetida drops； and was
fluttered all day； so that we could hardly keep her from going
into hysterics： but her mistress says it will do her good； and
poor Win curtsies； with the tears in her eyes。 For my part； I
content myself with drinking about half a pint of the water every
morning。
The pumper； with his wife and servant； attend within a bar； and
the glasses； of different sizes； stand ranged in order before
them； so you have nothing to do but to point at that which you
choose； and it is filled immediately； hot and sparkling from the
pump。 It is the only hot water I could ever drink； without being
sick Far from having that effect； it is rather agreeable to
the taste； grateful to the stomach； and reviving to the spirits。
You cannot imagine what wonderful cures it performs My uncle
began with it the other day； but he made wry faces in drinking；
and I'm afraid he will leave it off The first day we came to
Bath； he fell into a violent passi