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will do your best （replied the other）； for my part； I come not
here to trifle。 Our lives are in the hands of God； and one of us
already totters on the brink of eternity' This remark seemed to
make some impression upon the squire； who changed countenance；
and with a faultering accent observed； 'That it ill became a
clergyman to be concerned in quarrels and bloodshed' 'Your
insolence to me （said Eastgate） I should have bore with patience；
had not you cast the most infamous reflections upon my order； the
honour of which I think myself in duty bound to maintain； even at
the expence of my heart's blood； and surely it can be no crime to
put out of the world a profligate wretch； without any sense of
principle； morality； or religion' 'Thou may'st take away my life
（cried Prankley； in great perturbation） but don't go to murder my
character。 What！ has't got no conscience？' 'My conscience is
perfectly quiet （replied the other）； and now； Sir； we are upon
the spot Take your ground as near as you please； prime your
pistol； and the Lord； of his infinite mercy； have compassion upon
your miserable soul！'
This ejaculation he pronounced in a loud solemn tone； with his
hat off； and his eyes lifted up； then drawing a large horse…pistol；
he presented； and put himself in a posture of action。
Prankley took his distance； and endeavoured to prime； but his
hand shook with such violence； that he found this operation
impracticable His antagonist； seeing how it was with him；
offered his assistance； and advanced for that purpose； when the
poor squire； exceedingly alarmed at what he had heard and seen；
desired the action might be deferred till next day； as he had not
settled his affairs。 'I ha'n't made my will （said he）； my sisters
are not provided for； and I just now recollect an old promise；
which my conscience tells me I ought to perform I'll first
convince thee； that I'm not a wretch without principle； and then
thou shalt have an opportunity to take my life； which thou
seem'st to thirst after so eagerly。'
Eastgate understood the hint； and told him； that one day should
break no squares： adding； 'God forbid that I should be the means
of hindering you from acting the part of an honest man； and a
dutiful brother' By virtue of this cessation； they returned
peaceably together。 Prankley forthwith made out the presentation
of the living； and delivered it to Eastgate； telling him at the
same time； he had now settled his affairs； and was ready to
attend him to the Fir…grove； but Tom declared he could not think
of lifting his hand against the life of so great a benefactor He
did more： when they next met at the coffeehouse； he asked pardon
of Mr Prankley； if in his passion he had said any thing to give
him offence； and the squire was so gracious as to forgive him
with a cordial shake of the hand； declaring； that he did not like
to be at variance with an old college companion Next day；
however； he left Bath abruptly； and then Eastgate told me all
these particulars； not a little pleased with the effects of his
own sagacity； by which he has secured a living worth 160l。 per
annum。
Of my uncle； I have nothing at present to say； but that we set
out tomorrow for London en famille。 He and the ladies； with the
maid and Chowder in a coach； I and the man…servant a…horseback。
The particulars of our journey you shall have in my next；
provided no accident happens to prevent；
Yours ever；
J。 MELFORD
BATH May 17。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR DICK；
I shall to…morrow set out for London； where I have bespoke
lodgings； at Mrs Norton's in Golden…square。 Although I am no
admirer of Bath； I shall leave it with regret； because I must
part with some old friends； whom； in all probability； I shall
never see again。 In the course of coffeehouse conversation； I had
often heard very extraordinary encomiums passed on the
performances of Mr T； a gentleman residing in this place； who
paints landscapes for his amusement。 As I have no great
confidence in the taste and judgment of coffeehouse connoisseurs；
and never received much pleasure from this branch of the art；
those general praises made no impression at all on my curiosity；
but； at the request of a particular friend； I went yesterday to
see the pieces； which had been so warmly commended I must own I
am no judge of painting； though very fond of pictures。 I don't
imagine that my senses would play me so false； as to betray me
into admiration of any thing that was very bad； but； true it is；
I have often overlooked capital beauties； in pieces of
extraordinary merit。 If I am not totally devoid of taste；
however； this young gentleman of Bath is the best landscape…painter
now living： I was struck with his performances in such a
manner； as I had never been by painting before。 His trees not
only have a richness of foliage and warmth of colouring； which
delights the view； but also a certain magnificence in the
disposition and spirit in the expression； which I cannot
describe。 His management of the chiaro oscuro； or light and
shadow； especially gleams of sunshine； is altogether wonderful；
both in the contrivance and execution； and he is so happy in his
perspective； and marking his distances at sea； by a progressive
series of ships； vessels； capes； and promontories； that I could
not help thinking； I had a distant view of thirty leagues upon
the back…ground of the picture。 If there is any taste for
ingenuity left in a degenerate age； fast sinking into barbarism；
this artist； I apprehend； will make a capital figure； as soon as
his works are known。
Two days ago； I was favoured with a visit by Mr Fitzowen； who；
with great formality； solicited my vote and interest at the
general election。 I ought not to have been shocked at the
confidence of this man； though it was remarkable； considering
what had passed between him and me on a former occasion These
visits are mere matter of form； which a candidate makes to every
elector； even to those who； he knows； are engaged in the interest
of his competitor； lest he should expose himself to the
imputation of pride； at a time when it is expected he should
appear humble。 Indeed； I know nothing so abject as the behaviour
of a man canvassing for a seat in parliament This mean
prostration （to borough…electors； especially） has； I imagine；
contributed in a great measure to raise that spirit of insolence
among the vulgar； which； like the devil； will be found very
difficult to lay。 Be that as it may； I was in some confusion at
the effrontery of Fitzowen； but I soon recollected myself； and
told him； I had not yet determined for whom I should give my
vote； nor whether I should give it for any。 The truth is； I look
upon both candidates in the same light； and should think myself a
traitor to the constitution of my country； if I voted for either。
If every elector would bring the same consideration home to his
conscience； we should not have such reason to exclaim against the
venality of pts。 But we all are a pack of venal and corrupted
rascals； so lost to all sense of honesty； and all tenderness of
character； that； in a little time； I am fully persuaded； nothing
will be infamous but virtue and public…spirit。
G。 H； who is really an enthusiast in patriotism； and
represented the capital in several successive parliaments；
declared to me t'other day； with the tears in his eyes； that he
had lived above thirty years in the city of London； and dealt in
the way of commerce with all the citizens of note in their turns；
but that； as he should answer to God； he had never； in the whole
course of his life； found above three or four whom he could call
thoroughly honest： a declaration which was rather mortifying than
surprising to me； who have found so few men of worth in the
course of my acquaintance； that they serve only as exceptions；
which； in the grammarian's phrase； confirm and prove a general
canon I know you will say； G。 H saw imperfectly through the
mist of prejudice； and I am rankled by the spleen Perhaps； you
are partly in the right； for I have perceived that my opinion of
mankind； like mercury in the thermometer； rises and falls
according to the variations of the weather。
Pray settle accompts with Barnes； take what money of mine is in
his hands； and give him acquittance。 If you think Davis has stock
or credit enough to do justice to the farm； give him a discharge
for the rent that is due； this will animate his industry； for I
know that nothing is so discouraging to a farmer as the thoughts
of being in arrears with his landlord。 He becomes dispirited； and
neglects his labour； and so the farm goes to wreck。 Tabby has
been clamouring for some days about the lamb's skin； which
Williams； the hind； begged of me； when he was last at Bath。
Prithee take it back； paying the fellow the full value of it；
that I may have some peace in my own house； and let him keep his
own counsel； if he means to keep his place O！ I shall never
presume to despise or censure any poor man； for suffering himself
to be henpecked； conscious how I myself am obliged to truckle to
a domestic demon； even though （blessed be God） she is not yoked
with me for life； in the matrimonial waggon She has quarrelled
with the