Letter XXXIII

Summary

My dear Miss,

I now proceed with my Journal, which I brought down to Tuesday Evening; and of course I begin with

WEDNESDAY.

Towards the Evening came Sir Jacob Swynford, on Horseback, attended by two Servants in Liveries. I was abroad; for I had got Leave for a whole Afternoon, attended by my Polly, which Time I passed in visiting no less than four several poor sick Families, whose Hearts I made glad. But I should be too tedious, were I to give you the Particulars; and besides, I have a brief List of Cases, which, when you’ll favour me with your Company, I may shew you; for I have obliged myself , tho’ not desired, to keep an Account of what I do with no less than 200 l. a Year, that my dear Mr. B. allows me to expend in Acts of Charity and Benevolence.

Lady Davers told me afterwards, that Sir Jacob carried it mighty stiff and formal, when he alighted. He strutted about the Court-yard in his Boots, with his Whip in his Hand; and tho’ her Ladyship went to the great Door, in order to welcome him, he turn’d short, and, whistling, followed the Groom into the Stable, as if he had been at an Inn, only, instead of taking off his Hat, pulling its broad Brim over his Eyes, for a Compliment. In she went in a Pet, as she says, saying to the Countess, A surly Brute he always was! My Uncle! He's more of an Hostler than a Gentleman:1 I’m resolv’d I’ll not stir to meet him again. And yet the Wretch loves Respect from others, tho’ he never practises common Civility himself.

The Countess said, She was glad he was come; for she lov’d to divert herself with such odd Characters now-and-then.

And now let me give you a short Description of him as I found him, when I came in, that you may the better conceive what sort of a Gentleman he is.

He is about Sixty-five Years of Age, a coarse, strong, big-bon’d Gentleman, with large irregular Features; he has a haughty supercilious Look, a swaggering Gait, and a Person not at all bespeaking one's Favour in behalf of his Mind; and his Mind, as you shall hear by-and-by, not clearing up those Prepossessions in his Disfavour, with which his Person and Features at first impress one.