The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 189
wards learned) he valued exceedingly, as the only present he had
ever received in his life.
Having seen this favourite steed properly accommodated in the
stable, he sent up his compliments to the ladies, begging per-
mission to thank them in person for the marks of concern they had
shewn at his disaster in the court-yard—As the ’squire said they
could not decently decline his visit, he was shewn up stairs, and
paid his respects in the Scotch dialect, with much formality—
‘Leddies, (said he) perhaps ye may be scandaleezed at the ap-
pearance my heed made, when it was uncovered by accident; but
I can assure you, the condition you saw it in, is neither the effects
of disease, nor of drunkenness; but an honest scar received in the
service of my country.’ He then gave us to understand, that having
been wounded at Ticonderoga, in America, a party of Indians
rifled him, scalped him, broke his scull with the blow of a toma-
hawk, and left him for dead on the field of battle; but that being
afterwards found with signs of life, he had been cured in the
French hospital, though the loss of substance could not be repaired;
so that the scull was left naked in several places, and these he
covered with patches.
There is no hold by which an Englishman is sooner taken than
that of compassion—We were immediately interested in behalf
of this veteran—Even Tabby’s heart was melted; but our pity was
warmed with indignation, when we learned, that in the course of
two sanguinary wars, he had been wounded, maimed, mutilated,
taken, and enslaved, without ever having attained a higher rank
than that of lieutenant—My uncle’s eyes gleamed, and his nether
lip quivered, while he exclaimed, ‘I vow to God, sir, your case is
a reproach to the service—The injustice you have met with is so
flagrant—’ ‘I must crave your pardon, sir, (cried the other, inter-
rupting him) I complain of no injustice—I purchased an ensigncy
thirty years ago; and, in the course of service, rose to be a lieutenant,
according to my seniority—’ ‘But in such a length of time, (resumed
the ’squire) you must have seen a great many young officers put
over your head—’ ‘Nevertheless, (said he) I have no cause to mur-
mur—They bought their preferment with their money—I had no
money to carry to market—that was my misfortune; but no body
was to blame—’ ‘What! no friend to advance a sum of money?’
(said Mr. Bramble) ‘Perhaps I might have borrowed money for
the purchase of a company (answered the other); but that loan