 his assertions, and no trust to be put in his
promises - However, to give the devil his due, he's very good-natured; and even
friendly, when close urged in the way of solicitation - As for principle, that's
out of the question - in a word, he is a wit and an orator, extremely
entertaining, and he shines very often at the expence even of those ministers to
whom he is a retainer - This is a mark of great imprudence, by which he has made
them all his enemies, whatever face they may put upon the matter; and sooner or
later he'll have cause to wish he had been able to keep his own counsel - I have
several times cautioned him on this subject; but 'tis all preaching to the
desert - His vanity runs away with his discretion -« I could not help thinking
the captain himself might have been the better for some hints of the same nature
- His panegyric, excluding principle and veracity, puts me in mind of a contest
I once over-heard, in the way of altercation, betwixt two apple-women in
Spring-garden - One of those viragos having hinted something to the prejudice of
the other's moral character, her antagonist, setting her hands in her sides,
replied - »Speak out, hussy - I scorn your malice - I own I'm both a whore and a
thief; and what more have you to say? - Damn you, what more have you to say?
bating that, which all the world knows, I challenge you to say black is the
white of my eye -« We did not wait for Mr. T--'s coming forth; but after captain
C-- had characterised all the originals in waiting, we adjourned to a
coffee-house, where we had buttered muffins and tea to breakfast, the said
captain still favouring us with his company - Nay, my uncle was so diverted with
his anecdotes, that he asked him to dinner, and treated him with a fine turbot,
to which he did ample justice - That same evening I spent at the tavern with
some friends, one of whom let me into C--'s character, which Mr. Bramble no
sooner understood, than he expressed some concern for the connexion he had made,
and resolved to disengage himself from it without ceremony.
    We are become members of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, and
have assisted at some of their deliberations, which were conducted with equal
spirit and sagacity - My uncle is extremely fond
