 who received us with all the
benevolence of hospitality. - The house is old fashioned and irregular, but
lodgeable and commodious. To the south it has the river in front, at the
distance of a hundred paces; and on the north, there is a rising-ground, covered
with an agreeable plantation; the greens and walks are kept in the nicest order,
and all is rural and romantic. I have not yet seen the young gentleman, who is
on a visit to a friend in the neighbourhood, from whose house he is not expected
'till tomorrow.
    In the mean time, as there is a man going to the next market-town with
letters for the post, I take this opportunity to send you the history of this
day, which has been remarkably full of adventures; and you will own I give you
them like a beef-steak at Dolly's, hot and hot, without ceremony and parade,
just as they come from the recollection of
Yours,
                                                                      J. MELFORD
 

                                  To Dr. Lewis

Dear Dick,
    Since the last trouble I gave you, I have met with a variety of incidents,
some of them of a singular nature, which I reserve as a fund for conversation;
but there are others so interesting, that they will not keep in petto till
meeting.
    Know then, it was a thousand pounds to a sixpence, that you should now be
executing my will, instead of perusing my letter! Two days ago, our coach was
overturned in the midst of a rapid river, where my life was saved with the
utmost difficulty, by the courage, activity, and presence of mind of my servant
Humphry Clinker - But this is not the most surprising circumstance of the
adventure - The said Humphry Clinker proves to be Matthew Loyd, natural son of
one Matthew Loyd of Glamorgan, if you know any such person - You see, Doctor,
that notwithstanding all your philosophy, it is not without some reason that we
Welchmen ascribe such energy to the force of blood - But we shall discuss this
point on some future occasion.
    This is not the only discovery which I made in consequence of our disaster -
We happened to be wrecked upon a friendly shore - The lord of the manor is no
other than Charles Dennison, our fellow-rake at Oxford - We are now happily
housed with that gentleman, who has really attained to that pitch of rural
felicity, at which I have been aspiring these twenty years in vain. He is
blessed with a consort, whose disposition is suited to his own in all respects;
tender, generous, and benevolent -
