按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
powerfully that I sneezed three times； and found myself
wonderfully refreshed； and this to be sure is the raisin why
there are no fits in Haddingborrough。
I was likewise made believe； that there was nothing to be had but
oatmeal and seeps…heads； but if I hadn't been a fool； I mought
have known there could be no heads without kerkasses This very
blessed day I dined upon a delicate leg of Velsh mutton and
cully…flower； and as for the oat…meal； I leave that to the
sarvants of the country； which are pore drudges； many of them
without shoes or stockings Mr Clinker tells me here is a great
call of the gospel； but I wish； I wish some of our family be not
fallen off from the rite way O； if I was given to tailbaring； I
have my own secrets to discover There has been a deal of
huggling and flurtation betwixt mistress and an ould Scotch
officer； called Kismycago。 He looks for all the orld like the
scare…crow that our gardener has set up to frite away the
sparrows； and what will come of it； the Lord knows； but come what
will； it shall never be said that I menchioned a syllabub of the
matter Remember me kindly to Saul and the kitten I hope they
got the horn…buck； and will put it to a good yuse； which is the
constant prayer of；
Dear Molly；
Your loving friend；
WIN。 JENKINS
ADDINGBOROUGH； July 18。
To Sir WATKIN PHILLIPS； Bart。 of Jesus college； Oxon。
DEAR PHILLIPS；
If I stay much longer at Edinburgh； I shall be changed into a
downright Caledonian My uncle observes； that I have already
acquired something of the country accent。 The people here are so
social and attentive in their civilities to strangers； that I am
insensibly sucked into the channel of their manners and customs；
although they are in fact much more different from ours than you
can imagine That difference； however； which struck me very much
at my first arrival； I now hardly perceive； and my ear is
perfectly reconciled to the Scotch accent； which I find even
agreeable in the mouth of a pretty woman It is a sort of Doric
dialect； which gives an idea of amiable simplicity You cannot
imagine how we have been caressed and feasted in the good town of
Edinburgh of which we are become free denizens and guild
brothers； by the special favour of the magistracy。
I had a whimsical commission from Bath； to a citizen of this
metropolis。 Quin； understanding our intention to visit Edinburgh；
pulled out a guinea； and desired the favour I would drink it at a
tavern； with a particular friend and bottle…companion of his； Mr
R C； a lawyer of this city I charged myself with the
commission； and； taking the guinea； 'You see （said I） I have
pocketed your bounty。' 'Yes （replied Quin； laughing）； and a
headake into the bargain； if you drink fair。' I made use of this
introduction to Mr C； who received me with open arms； and gave
me the rendezvous； according to the cartel。 He had provided a
company of jolly fellows； among whom I found myself extremely
happy； and did Mr C and Quin all the justice in my power； but；
alas； I was no more than a tiro among a troop of veterans； who
had compassion upon my youth and conveyed me home in the morning
by what means I know not Quin was mistaken； however； as to the
head…ake； the claret was too good to treat me so roughly。
While Mr Bramble holds conferences with the graver literati of
the place； and our females are entertained at visits by the
Scotch ladies； who are the best and kindest creatures upon earth；
I pass my time among the bucks of Edinburgh； who； with a great
share of spirit and vivacity； have a certain shrewdness and self…
command that is not often found among their neighbours； in the
high…day of youth and exultation Not a hint escapes a Scotchman
that can be interpreted into offence by any individual in the
company； and national reflections are never heard In this
particular； I must own； we are both unjust and ungrateful to the
Scots； for； as far as I am able to judge； they have a real esteem
for the natives of South…Britain； and never mention our country；
but with expressions of regard Nevertheless； they are far from
being servile imitators of our modes and fashionable vices。 All
their customs and regulations of public and private oeconomy； of
business and diversion； are in their own stile。 This remarkably
predominates in their looks； their dress and manner； their music；
and even their cookery。 Our 'squire declares； that he knows not
another people upon earth； so strongly marked with a national
character Now we are upon the article of cookery； I must own；
some of their dishes are savoury； and even delicate； but I am not
yet Scotchman enough to relish their singed sheep's…head and
haggice； which were provided at our request； one day at Mr
Mitchelson's； where we dined The first put me in mind of the
history of Congo； in which I had read of negroes' heads sold
publickly in the markets； the last； being a mess of minced
lights； livers； suet； oat…meal； onions； and pepper； inclosed in a
sheep's stomach； had a very sudden effect upon mine； and the
delicate Mrs Tabby changed colour； when the cause of our disgust
was instantaneously removed at the nod of our entertainer。 The
Scots； in general； are attached to this composition； with a sort
of national fondness； as well as to their oat…meal bread； which
is presented at every table； in thin triangular cakes； baked upon
a plate of iron； called a girdle； and these； many of the natives；
even in the higher ranks of life； prefer to wheaten…bread； which
they have here in perfection You know we used to vex poor Murray
of Baliol college； by asking； if there was really no fruit but
turnips in Scotland？ Sure enough； I have seen turnips make their
appearance； not as a desert； but by way of hors d'oeuvres； or
whets； as radishes are served betwixt more substantial dishes in
France and Italy； but it must be observed； that the turnips of
this country are as much superior in sweetness； delicacy； and
flavour； to those in England； as a musk…melon is to the stock of
a common cabbage。 They are small and conical； of a yellowish
colour； with a very thin skin and； over and above their agreeable
taste； are valuable for their antiscorbutic quality As to the
fruit now in season； such as cherries； gooseberries； and
currants； there is no want of them at Edinburgh； and in the
gardens of some gentlemen； who live in the neighbourhood； there
is now a very favourable appearance of apricots； peaches；
nectarines； and even grapes： nay； I have seen a very fine shew of
pineapples within a few miles of this metropolis。 Indeed； we have
no reason to be surprised at these particulars； when we consider
how little difference there is； in fact； betwixt this climate and
that of London。
All the remarkable places in the city and its avenues； for ten
miles around； we have visited； much to our satisfaction。 In the
Castle are some royal apartments； where the sovereign
occasionally resided； and here are carefully preserved the
regalia of the kingdom； consisting of a crown； said to be of
great value； a sceptre； and a sword of state； adorned with
jewels Of these symbols of sovereignty； the people are
exceedingly jealous A rep