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understanding； nay； it sometimes becomes so incredibly depraved；
as to aspire at infamy； and find pleasure in bearing the stigmas
of reproach。
I have now given you a sketch of the character and situation of
Mr Dennison； when he came down to take possession of this estate；
but as the messenger； who carries the letters to the next town；
is just setting off； I shall reserve what further I have to say
on this subject； till the next post； when you shall certainly
hear from
Yours always；
MATT。 BRAMBLE
Oct。 8。
To Dr LEWIS。
Once more； dear doctor； I resume the pen for your amusement。 It
was on the morning after our arrival that； walking out with my
friend； Mr Dennison； I could not help breaking forth into the
warmest expressions of applause at the beauty of the scene； which
is really inchanting； and I signified； in particular； how much I
was pleased with the disposition of some detached groves； that
afforded at once shelter and ornament to his habitation。
'When I took possession of these lands； about two and twenty
years ago （said he）； there was not a tree standing within a mile
of the house； except those of an old neglected orchard； which
produced nothing but leaves and moss。 It was in the gloomy month
of November； when I arrived； and found the house in such a
condition； that it might have been justly stiled the tower of
desolation。 The court…yard was covered with nettles and docks ；
and the garden exhibited such a rank plantation of weeds as I had
never seen before； the window…shutters were falling in pieces；
the sashes broken； and owls and jack…daws had taken possession
of the chimnies。 The prospect within was still more dreary All
was dark； and damp； and dirty beyond description； the rain
penetrated in several parts of the roof； in some apartments the
very floors had given way； the hangings were parted from the
walls； and shaking in mouldy remnants； the glasses were dropping
out of their frames； the family…pictures were covered with dust。
and all the chairs and tables worm…eaten and crazy。 There was
not a bed in the house that could be used； except one old…fashioned
machine； with a high gilt tester and fringed curtains
of yellow mohair； which had been； for aught I know； two centuries
in the family。 In short； there was no furniture but the utensils
of the kitchen； and the cellar afforded nothing but a few empty
butts and barrels； that stunk so abominably； that I would not
suffer any body to enter it until I had flashed a considerable
quantity of gunpowder to qualify the foul air within。
'An old cottager and his wife； who were hired to lie in the
house； had left it with precipitation； alledging； among other
causes of retreat； that they could not sleep for frightful
noises； and that my poor brother certainly walked after his
death。 In a word； the house appeared uninhabitable； the barn；
stable； and outhouses were in ruins； all the fences broken down；
and the fields lying waste。
'The farmer who kept the key never dreamed I had any intention to
live upon the spot He rented a farm of sixty pounds； and his
lease was just expiring。 He had formed a scheme of being
appointed bailiff to the estate； and of converting the house and
the adjacent grounds to his own use。 A hint of his intention I
received from the curate at my first arrival； I therefore did not
pay much regard to what he said by way of discouraging me from
coming to settle in the country； but I was a little startled
when he gave me warning that he should quit the farm at the
expiration of his lease； unless I could abate considerably in the
rent。
'At this period I accidentally became acquainted with a person；
whose friendship laid the foundation of all my prosperity。 In the
next market…town I chanced to dine at an inn with a Mr Wilson；
who was lately come to settle in the neighbourhood。 He had been
lieutenant of a man of war； but quitted the sea in some disgust；
and married the only daughter of farmer Bland； who lives in this
parish； and has acquired a good fortune in the way of husbandry。
Wilson is one of the best natured men I ever knew； brave； frank；
obliging； and ingenuous He liked my conversation； I was charmed
with his liberal manner； and acquaintance immediately commenced；
and this was soon improved into a friendship without reserve。
There are characters which； like similar particles of matter；
strongly attract each other。 He forthwith introduced me to his
father…in…law； farmer Bland； who was well acquainted with every
acre of my estate； of consequence well qualified to advise me on
this occasion。 Finding I was inclined to embrace a country life；
and even to amuse myself with the occupation of farming； he
approved of my design He gave me to understand that all my farms
were underlett； that the estate was capable of great improvement；
that there was plenty of chalk in the neighbourhood； and that my
own ground produced excellent marle for manure。 With respect to
the farm； which was like to fall into my hands； he said he would
willingly take it at the present rent； but at the same time
owned； that if I would expend two hundred pounds in enclosure； it
would be worth more than double the sum。
'Thus encouraged； I began the execution of my scheme without
further delay； and plunged into a sea of expence； though I had no
fund in reserve； and the whole produce of the estate did not
exceed three hundred pounds a year In one week； my house was
made weather…tight； and thoroughly cleansed from top to bottom；
then it was well ventilated by throwing all the doors and windows
open； and making blazing fires of wood in every chimney from the
kitchen to the garrets。 The floors were repaired； the sashes new
glazed； and out of the old furniture of the whole house； I made
shift to fit up a parlour and three chambers in a plain yet
decent manner。 The court…yard was cleared of weeds and rubbish；
and my friend Wilson charged himself with the dressing of the
garden； bricklayers were set at work upon the barn and stable；
and labourers engaged to restore the fences； and begin the work
of hedging and ditching； under the direction of farmer Bland； at
whose recommendation I hired a careful hind to lie in the house；
and keep constant fires in the apartments。
'Having taken these measures； I returned to London； where I
forthwith sold off my household…furniture； and； in three weeks
from my first visit； brought my wife hither to keep her
Christmas。 Considering the gloomy season of the year； the
dreariness of the place； and the decayed aspect of our
habitation； I was afraid that her resolution would sink under the
sudden transition from a town life to such a melancholy state of
rustication； but I was agreeably disappointed。 She found the
reality less uncomfortable than the picture I had drawn。 By this
time indeed； things were mended in appearance The out…houses had
risen out of their ruins； the pigeon…house was rebuilt； and
replenished by Wilson； who also put my garden in decent order；
and provided a good stock of poultry； which made an agreeable
figure in my yard； and the house； on the whole； looked like the
habitation of human creatures。 Farmer Bland spared me a milch
cow for my family； and an ordinary saddle…horse for my servant to
go to market at the next town。 I hired a country lad for a
footman； the hind's daughter was my house…maid； and my wife had
brought a cook…maid from London。
'Such was my family when I began house…keeping in this place；
with three hundred pounds in my pocket； raised from the sale of
my superfluous furniture。 I knew we should find occupation
enough through the day to employ our time； but I dreaded the long
winter evenings； yet； for those too we found a remedy： The
curate； who was a single man； soon became so naturalized to the
family； that he generally lay in the house； and his company was
equally agreeable and useful。 He was a modest man； a good
scholar； and perfectly well qualified to instruct me in such
country matters as I wanted to know。 Mr Wilson brought his wife
to see us； and she became so fond of Mrs Dennison； that she said
she was never so happy as when she enjoyed the benefit of her
conversation。 She was then a fine buxom country lass；
exceedingly docile； and as good…natured as her husband Jack
Wilson； so that a friendship ensued among the women； which hath
continued to this day。
'As for Jack； he hath been my constant companion； counsellor； and
commissary。 I would not for a hundred pounds you should leave my
house without seeing him。 Jack is an universal genius his
talents are really astonishing： He is an excellent carpenter；
joiner； and turner； and a cunning artist in iron and brass。 He
not only superintended my oeconomy； but also presided over my
pastimes He taught me to brew beer； to make cyder； perry； mead；
usquebaugh； and plague…water； to cook several outlandish
delicacies； such as ollas； pepper…pots； pillaws； corys； chabobs；
and stufatas。 He understands all manner of games from chess down
to chuck…farthing； sings a good song； plays upon the violin； and
dances a hornpipe with surprising agility。 He and I walked； and
rode； and hunted； and fished together； witho