The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

146 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
sagacious enough to discern something very villainous in his aspect;
which (begging their pardon) is the very picture of simplicity; and
the justice himself put a very unfavourable construction upon
some of his answers, which, he said, savoured of the ambiguity and
equivocation of an old offender; but, in my opinion, it would have
been more just and humane to impute them to the confusion into
which we may suppose a poor country lad to be thrown on such an
occasion. I am still persuaded he is innocent; and, in this per-
suasion, I can do no less than use my utmost endeavours that he
may not be oppressed—I shall, to-morrow, send my nephew to
wait on the gentleman who was robbed, and beg he will have the
humanity to go and see the prisoner; that, in case he should find
him quite different from the person of the highwayman, he may
bear testimony in his behalf—Howsoever it may fare with Clinker,
this cursed affair will be to me productive of intolerable chagrin—
I have already caught a dreadful cold, by rushing into the open air
from the justice’s parlour, where I had been stewing in the crowd;
and though I should not be laid up with the gout, as I believe I
shall, I must stay at London for some weeks, till this poor devil
comes to his trial at Rochester; so that, in all probability, my
northern expedition is blown up.
If you can find any thing in your philosophical budget, to con-
sole me in the midst of these distresses and apprehensions, pray
let it be communicated to
your unfortunate friend,
London, June 12. MATT. BRAMBLE
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS, Bart. of Jesus college, Oxon.
DEAR WAT,
THE farce is finished, and another piece of a graver cast brought
upon the stage.—Our aunt made a desperate attack upon Barton,
who had no other way of saving himself, but by leaving her in pos-
session of the field, and avowing his pretensions to Liddy, by whom
he has been rejected in his turn.—Lady Griskin acted as his advo-
cate and agent on this occasion, with such zeal as embroiled her
with Mrs. Tabitha, and a high scene of altercation passed betwixt
these two religionists, which might have come to action, had not