The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

136 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
Mrs. Jenkins, who sometimes speak as if they were really inspired;
so that I am not like to want for either exhortation or example, to
purify my thoughts, and recall them from the vanities of this world,
which, indeed, I would willingly resign, if it was in my power;
but to make this sacrifice, I must be enabled by such assistance
from above as hath not yet been indulged to
Your unfortunate friend,
June 10. LYDIA MELFORD
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, of Jesus college, Oxon.
DEAR PHILLIPS,
THE moment I received your letter, I began to execute your com-
mission—With the assistance of mine host at the Bull and Gate,
I discovered the place to which your fugitive valet had retreated,
and taxed him with his dishonesty—The fellow was in manifest
confusion at sight of me, but he denied the charge with great con-
fidence, till I told him, that if he would give up the watch, which
was a family piece, he might keep the money and the clothes, and
go to the devil his own way, at his leisure; but if he rejected this
proposal, I would deliver him forthwith to the constable, whom I
had provided for that purpose, and he would carry him before the
justice without further delay. After some hesitation, he desired to
speak with me in the next room, where he produced the watch,
with all its appendages, and I have delivered it to our landlord,
to be sent you by the first safe conveyance—So much for business.
I shall grow vain, upon your saying you find entertainment in
my letters; barren, as they certainly are, of incident and im-
portance, because your amusement must arise, not from the matter,
but from the manner, which you know is all my own—Animated,
therefore, by the approbation of a person, whose nice taste and
consummate judgment I can no longer doubt, I will chearfully
proceed with our memoirs—As it is determined we shall set out
next week for Yorkshire, I went to-day in the forenoon with my
uncle to see a carriage, belonging to a coach-maker in our neigh-
bourhood—Turning down a narrow lane, behind Longacre, we
perceived a crowd of people standing at a door; which, it seems,
opened into a kind of a methodist meeting, and were informed, that