The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

78 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
about vails; and such intolerable scolding ensued on both sides,
that I have been fain to appease the cook and chamber-maid by
stealth. Can’t you find some poor gentleman of Wales, to take this
precious commodity off the hands of
yours,
Bath, May 19. M. BRAMBLE
To Dr. LEWIS
DOCTER LEWS,
GIVE me leaf to tell you, methinks you mought employ your
talons better, than to encourage servants to pillage their masters—
I find by Gwyllim, that Villiams has got my skin; for which he is
an impotent rascal. He has not only got my skin, but, moreover,
my butter-milk to fatten his pigs; and, I suppose, the next thing
he gets, will be my pad to carry his daughter to church and fair:
Roger gets this, and Roger gets that; but I’d have you to know,
I won’t be rogered at this rate by any ragmatical fellow in the
kingdom—And I am surprised, docter Lews, you would offer to
put my affairs in composition with the refuge and skim of the
hearth. I have toiled and moyled to a good purpuss, for the
advantage of Matt’s family, if I can’t safe as much owl as will make
me an under petticoat. As for the butter-milk, ne’er a pig in the
parish shall thrust his snout in it, with my good-will. There’s a
famous physician at the Hot Well, that prescribes it to his patience,
when the case is consumptive; and the Scots and Irish have begun
to drink it already, in such quantities, that there is not a drop left
for the hogs in the whole neighbourhood of Bristol. I’ll have our
butter-milk barrelled up, and sent twice a-week to Aberginny,
where it may be sold for a halfpenny the quart; and so Roger may
carry his pigs to another market—I hope, Docter, you will not go
to put any more such phims in my brother’s head, to the pre-
judice of my pockat; but rather give me some raisins (which
hitherto you have not done) to subscribe myself
your humble servant,
Bath, May 19. TAB. BRAMBLE