The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

THE EXPEDITION OF HUMPHRY CLINKER 77
whom I should give my vote, nor whether I should give it for any.—
The truth is, I look upon both candidates in the same light; and
should think myself a traitor to the constitution of my country, if
I voted for either. If every elector would bring the same considera-
tion home to his conscience, we should not have such reason to
exclaim against the venality of p——ts. But we are all a pack of
venal and corrupted rascals; so lost to all sense of honesty, and all
tenderness of character, that, in a little time, I am fully persuaded,
nothing will be infamous but virtue and public-spirit.
G. H——, who is really an enthusiast in patriotism, and repre-
sented the capital in several successive parliaments, declared to me
t’other day, with the tears in his eyes, that he had lived above thirty
years in the city of London, and dealt in the way of commerce with
all the citizens of note in their turns; but that, as he should answer
to God, he had never, in the whole course of his life, found above
three or four whom he could call thoroughly honest: a declaration,
which was rather mortifying than surprising to me; who have found
so few men of worth in the course of my acquaintance, that they
serve only as exceptions; which, in the grammarian’s phrase, con-
firm and prove a general canon—I know you will say, G. H——
saw imperfectly through the mist of prejudice, and I am rankled
by the spleen—Perhaps, you are partly in the right; for I have per-
ceived that my opinion of mankind, like mercury in the thermo-
meter, rises and falls according to the variations of the weather.
Pray settle accompts with Barnes; take what money of mine is in
his hands, and give him acquittance. If you think Davis has stock
or credit enough to do justice to the farm, give him a discharge for
the rent that is due; this will animate his industry; for I know that
nothing is so discouraging to a farmer, as the thoughts of being in
arrears with his landlord. He becomes dispirited, and neglects his
labour; and so the farm goes to wreck. Tabby has been clamouring
for some days about the lamb’s skin, which Williams, the hind,
begged of me, when he was last at Bath. Pr’ythee take it back, pay-
ing the fellow the full value of it, that I may have some peace in my
own house; and let him keep his own counsel, if he means to keep
his place—O! I shall never presume to despise or censure any poor
man, for suffering himself to be hen-pecked; conscious how I my-
self am obliged to truckle to a domestic dæmon; even though
(blessed be God) she is not yoked with me for life, in the matri-
monial waggon—She has quarrelled with the servants of the house