THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER


To Dr LEWIS.

DOCTOR,

The pills are good for nothing -- I might as well swallow
snowballs to cool my reins -- I have told you over and over how
hard I am to move; and at this time of day, I ought to know
something of my own constitution. Why will you be so positive?
Prithee send me another prescription -- I am as lame and as much
tortured in all my limbs as if I was broke upon the wheel:
indeed, I am equally distressed in mind and body -- As if I had
not plagues enough of my own, those children of my sister are
left me for a perpetual source of vexation -- what business have
people to get children to plague their neighbours? A ridiculous
incident that happened yesterday to my niece Liddy, has
disordered me in such a manner, that I expect to be laid up with
another fit of the gout -- perhaps, I may explain myself in my
next. I shall set out tomorrow morning for the Hot Well at
Bristol, where I am afraid I shall stay longer than I could wish.
On the receipt of this send Williams thither with my saddle-horse
and the demi pique. Tell Barns to thresh out the two old ricks,
and send the corn to market, and sell it off to the poor at a
shilling a bushel under market price. -- I have received a
snivelling letter from Griffin, offering to make a public
submission and pay costs. I want none of his submissions, neither
will I pocket any of his money. The fellow is a bad neighbour, and
I desire, to have nothing to do with him: but as he is purse-proud,