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contracted at boarding…school； will last for life I doubt not
but on my side it will daily increase and improve； as I gain
experience； and learn to know the value of a true friend。 O； my
dear Letty！ what shall I say about poor Mr Wilson？ I have
promised to break off all correspondence； and； if possible； to
forget him： but； alas！ I begin to perceive that will not be in my
power。 As it is by no means proper that the picture should remain
in my hands； lest it should be the occasion of more mischief； I
have sent it to you by this opportunity； begging you will either
keep it safe till better times； or return it to Mr Wilson
himself； who； I suppose； will make it his business to see you at
the usual place。 If he should be low…spirited at my sending back
his picture； you may tell him I have no occasion for a picture；
while the original continues engraved on my But no； I would not
have you tell him that neither； because there must be an end of
our correspondence I wish he may forget me； for the sake of
his own peace； and yet if he should； he must be a barbarous
But it is impossible poor Wilson cannot be false and
inconstant： I beseech him not to write to me； nor attempt to see
me for some time； for； considering the resentment and passionate
temper of my brother Jery； such an attempt might be attended with
consequences which would make us all miserable for life let us
trust to time and the chapter of accidents； or rather to that
Providence which will not fail； sooner or later； to reward those
that walk in the paths of honour and virtue。 I would offer my
love to the young ladies； but it is not fit that any of them
should know you have received this letter。 If we go to Bath； I
shall send you my simple remarks upon that famous center of
polite amusement； and every other place we may chance to visit；
and I flatter myself that my dear Miss Willis will be punctual in
answering the letters of her affectionate；
LYDIA MELFORD
CLIFTON； April 6。
To Dr LEWIS。
DEAR LEWIS；
I have followed your directions with some success； and might have
been upon my legs by this time； had the weather permitted me to
use my saddle…horse。 I rode out upon the Downs last Tuesday； in
the forenoon； when the sky； as far as the visible horizon； was
without a cloud； but before I had gone a full mile； I was
overtaken instantaneously by a storm of rain that wet me to the
skin in three minutes whence it came the devil knows； but it
has laid me up （I suppose） for one fortnight。 It makes me sick to
hear people talk of the fine air upon Clifton…downs： How can the
air be either agreeable or salutary； where the demon of vapours
descends in a perpetual drizzle？ My confinement is the more
intolerable； as I am surrounded with domestic vexations。 My niece
has had a dangerous fit of illness； occasioned by that cursed
incident at Gloucester； which I mentioned in my last。 She is a
poor good…natured simpleton； as soft as butter； and as easily
melted not that she's a
fool the girl's parts are not despicable； and her education
has not been neglected； that is to say； she can write and spell；
and speak French； and play upon the harpsichord； then she dances
finely； has a good figure； and is very well inclined； but； she's
deficient in spirit； and so susceptible and so tender
forsooth！ truly； she has got a languishing eye； and reads
romances。 Then there's her brother； 'squire Jery； a pert
jackanapes； full of college…petulance and self…conceit； proud as
a German count； and as hot and hasty as a Welch mountaineer。 As
for that fantastical animal； my sister Tabby； you are no stranger
to her qualifications I vow to God； she is sometimes so
intolerable； that I almost think she's the devil incarnate come
to torment me for my sins； and yet I am conscious of no sins that
ought to entail such family…plagues upon me why the devil
should not I shake off these torments at once？ I an't married to
Tabby； thank Heaven！ nor did I beget the other two： let them
choose another guardian： for my part I an't in a condition to
take care of myself； much less to superintend the conduct of
giddy…headed boys and girls。 You earnestly desire to know the
particulars of our adventure at Gloucester； which are briefly
these； and I hope they will go no further： Liddy had been so
long copped up in a boarding…school； which； next to a nunnery； is
the worst kind of seminary that ever was contrived for young
women； that she became as inflammable as touch…wood； and going to
a play in holiday…time； 'sdeath； I'm ashamed to tell you！ she
fell in love with one of the actors a handsome young fellow
that goes by the name of Wilson。 The rascal soon perceived the
impression he had made； and managed matters so as to see her at a
house where she went to drink tea with her governess。 This was
the beginning of a correspondence； which they kept up by means of
a jade of a milliner； who made and dressed caps for the girls at
the boarding…school。 When we arrived at Gloucester； Liddy came to
stay at lodgings with her aunt； and Wilson bribed the maid to
deliver a letter into her own hands； but it seems Jery had
already acquired so much credit with the maid （by what means he
best knows） that she carried the letter to him； and so the whole
plot was discovered。 The rash boy； without saying a word of the
matter to me； went immediately in search of Wilson； and； I
suppose； treated him with insolence enough。 The theatrical hero
was too far gone in romance to brook such usage： he replied in
blank verse； and a formal challenge ensued。 They agreed to meet
early next morning and decide the dispute with sword and pistol。
I heard nothing at all of the affair； till Mr Morley came to my
bed…side in the morning； and told me he was afraid my nephew was
going to fight； as he had been overheard talking very loud and
vehement with Wilson at the young man's lodgings the night
before； and afterwards went and bought powder and ball at a shop
in the neighbourhood。 I got up immediately； and upon inquiry
found he was just going out。 I begged Morley to knock up the
mayor； that he might interpose as a magistrate； and in the mean
time I hobbled after the squire； whom I saw at a distance walking
at a great pace towards the city gate in spite of all my
efforts； I could not come up till our two combatants had taken
their ground； and were priming their pistols。 An old house
luckily screened me from their view； so that I rushed upon them
at once； before I was perceived。 They were both confounded； and
attempted to make their escape different ways； but Morley coming
up with constables； at that instant； took Wilson into custody；
and Jery followed him quietly to the mayor's house。 All this time
I was ignorant of what had passed the preceding day； and neither
of the parties would discover a tittle of the matter。 The mayor
observed that it was great presumption in Wilson； who was a
stroller； to proceed to such extremities with a gentleman of
family and fortune； and threatened to commit him on the vagrant
act。 The young fellow bustled up with great spirit； declaring
he was a gentleman； and would be treated as such； but he refused
to explain himself further。 The master of the company being sent
for； and examined； touching the said Wilson； said the young man
had engaged with him at Birmingham about six months ago； but
never would take his salary； that he had behaved so well in his
private character； as to acquire the respect and good…will of all
his acquaintance； and that the public owned his merit as an actor
was altogether extraordinary。 After all； I fancy； he will turn
out to be a run…away prentice from London。 The manager offered
to bail him for any sum； provided he would give his word and
honour that he would keep the peace； but the young gentleman was
on his high ropes； and would by no means lay himself under any
restrictions： on the other hand； Hopeful was equally
obstinate； till at length the mayor declared； that if they both
refused to be bound over； he would immediately commit Wilson as a
vagrant to hard labour。 I own I was much pleased with Jery's
behaviour on this occasion： he said； that rather than Mr Wilson
should be treated in such an ignominious manner； he would give
his word and honour to prosecute the affair no further while they
remained at Gloucester Wilson thanked him for his generous
manner of proceeding； and was discharged。 On our return to our
lodgings； my nephew explained the whole mystery； and I own I was
exceedingly incensed Liddy being questioned on the subject；
and very severely reproached by that wildcat my sister Tabby；
first swooned away； then dissolving in a flood of tears；
confessed all the particulars of the correspondence； at the same
time giving up three letters； which was all she had received from
her admirer。 The last； which Jery intercepted； I send you
inclosed； and when you have read it； I dare say you won't wonder
at the progress the writer had made in the heart of a simple
girl； utterly unacquainted with the characters of mankind。
Thinking it was high time to remove her from such a dangerous
connexion； I carried her off the very next day to Bristol； but
the poor creature was so fright