I then
asked him if he knew that comical gentleman, as he called him? "No,
really, sir," said the landlord, "though a gentleman was saying last
night that he was a sort of rider or rideout to a linendraper at
London." This, Mr Censor, I have since found to be true; for, having
occasion to buy some cloth, I went last week into a linendraper's
shop, in which I found a young fellow whose decent behaviour and plain
dress shewed he was a tradesman. Upon looking full in his face I
thought I had seen it before; nor was it long before I recollected
where it was, and that this was the same beau I had met with in
Somersetshire. The difference in the same man in London, where he was
known, and in the country, where he was a stranger, was beyond
expression; and, was it not impertinent to make observations to you, I
could inlarge upon this sort of behaviour; for I am firmly of opinion
that there is neither spirit nor good sense in oaths, nor any wit or
humour in blasphemy. But as vulgar errors require an abler pen than
mine to correct them, I shall leave that task to you, and am, sir,
your humble servant, R. S.
* * * * *
FAMILIAR LETTERS.
NOTE.
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