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behind。 If； instead of the areas and iron rails； which seem to be
of very little use； there had been a corridore with arcades all
round； as in Covent…garden； the appearance of the whole would
have been more magnificent and striking； those arcades would have
afforded an agreeable covered walk； and sheltered the poor
chairmen and their carriages from the rain； which is here almost
perpetual。 At present； the chairs stand soaking in the open
street； from morning to night； till they become so many boxes of
wet leather； for the benefit of the gouty and rheumatic； who are
transported in them from place to place。 Indeed this is a
shocking inconvenience that extends over the whole city； and； I
am persuaded； it produces infinite mischief to the delicate and
infirm； even the close chairs； contrived for the sick； by
standing in the open air； have their frize linings impregnated
like so many spunges； with the moisture of the atmosphere； and
those cases of cold vapour must give a charming check to the
perspiration of a patient； piping hot from the Bath； with all his
pores wide open。
But； to return to the Circus； it is inconvenient from its
situation； at so great a distance from all the markets； baths；
and places of public entertainment。 The only entrance to it；
through Gay…street； is so difficult； steep； and slippery； that in
wet weather； it must be exceedingly dangerous； both for those
that ride in carriages； and those that walk a…foot； and when the
street is covered with snow； as it was for fifteen days
successively this very winter； I don't see how any individual
could go either up or down； without the most imminent hazard of
broken bones。 In blowing weather； I am told； most of the houses
in this hill are smothered with smoke； forced down the chimneys；
by the gusts of wind reverberated from the hill behind； which （I
apprehend likewise） must render the atmosphere here more humid
and unwholesome than it is in the square below； for the clouds；
formed by the constant evaporation from the baths and rivers in
the bottom； will； in their ascent this way； be first attracted
and detained by the hill that rises close behind the Circus； and
load the air with a perpetual succession of vapours： this point；
however； may be easily ascertained by means of an hygrometer； or
a paper of salt of tartar exposed to the action of the
atmosphere。 The same artist who planned the Circus； has likewise
projected a Crescent； when that is finished； we shall probably
have a Star； and those who are living thirty years hence； may；
perhaps； see all the signs of the Zodiac exhibited in
architecture at Bath。 These； however fantastical； are still
designs that denote some ingenuity and knowledge in the
architect； but the rage of building has laid hold on such a
number of adventurers； that one sees new houses starting up in
every out…let and every corner of Bath； contrived without
judgment； executed without solidity； and stuck together with so
little regard to plan and propriety； that the different lines of
the new rows and buildings interfere with； and intersect one
another in every different angle of conjunction。 They look like
the wreck of streets and squares disjointed by an earthquake；
which hath broken the ground into a variety of holes and
hillocks； or as if some Gothic devil had stuffed them altogether
in a bag； and left them to stand higgledy piggledy； just as
chance directed。 What sort of a monster Bath will become in a few
years； with those growing excrescences； may be easily conceived：
but the want of beauty and proportion is not the worst effect of
these new mansions； they are built so slight； with the soft
crumbling stone found in this neighbourhood； that I shall never
sleep quietly in one of them； when it blowed （as the sailors say）
a cap…full of wind； and； I am persuaded； that my hind； Roger
Williams； or any man of equal strength； would be able to push his
foot through the strongest part of their walls； without any great
exertion of his muscles。 All these absurdities arise from the
general tide of luxury； which hath overspread the nation； and
swept away all； even the very dregs of the people。 Every upstart
of fortune； harnessed in the trappings of the mode； presents
himself at Bath； as in the very focus of observation Clerks
and factors from the East Indies； loaded with the spoil of
plundered provinces； planters； negro…drivers； and hucksters from
our American plantations； enriched they know not how； agents；
commissaries； and contractors； who have fattened； in two
successive wars； on the blood of the nation； usurers； brokers；
and jobbers of every kind； men of low birth； and no breeding；
have found themselves suddenly translated into a state of
affluence； unknown to former ages； and no wonder that their
brains should be intoxicated with pride； vanity； and presumption。
Knowing no other criterion of greatness； but the ostentation of
wealth； they discharge their affluence without taste or conduct；
through every channel of the most absurd extravagance； and all of
them hurry to Bath； because here； without any further
qualification； they can mingle with the princes and nobles of the
land。 Even the wives and daughters of low tradesmen； who； like
shovel…nosed sharks； prey upon the blubber of those uncouth
whales of fortune； are infected with the same rage of displaying
their importance； and the slightest indisposition serves them for
a pretext to insist upon being conveyed to Bath； where they may
hobble country…dances and cotillons among lordlings； squires；
counsellors； and clergy。 These delicate creatures from
Bedfordbury； Butcher…row； Crutched…friers； and Botolph…lane；
cannot breathe in the gross air of the Lower Town； or conform to
the vulgar rules of a common lodging…house； the husband；
therefore； must provide an entire house； or elegant apartments in
the new buildings。 Such is the composition of what is called the
fashionable company at Bath； where a very inconsiderable
proportion of genteel people are lost in a mob of impudent
plebeians； who have neither understanding nor judgment； nor the
least idea of propriety and decorum； and seem to enjoy nothing so
much as an opportunity of insulting their betters。
Thus the number of people； and the number of houses continue to
increase； and this will ever be the case； till the streams that
swell this irresistible torrent of folly and extravagance； shall
either be exhausted； or turned into other channels； by incidents
and events which I do not pretend to foresee。 This； I own； is a
subject on which I cannot write with any degree of patience； for
the mob is a monster I never could abide； either in its head；
tail； midriff； or members； I detest the whole of it； as a mass of
ignorance； presumption； malice and brutality； and； in this term
of reprobation； I include； without respect of rank； station； or
quality； all those of both sexes； who affect its manners； and
court its society。
But I have written till my fingers are crampt； and my nausea
begins to return By your advice； I sent to London a few days
ago for half a pound of Gengzeng； though I doubt much； whether
that which comes from America is equally efficacious