The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

person only; but certainly, it would be next to a miracle that a fact of

his wife in the most cruel manner. Nay, in some places it was reported he had murdered her; in others, that he had broke her arms; in others, her legs: in sho

tridge had caught her husband in bed with his maid, so many other reasons, of a very different

thought proper to conceal it; and the rather, perhaps, as the blame was universally laid on Mr Partridge; and his wife

little foundling, she fancied it would be rendering him an agreeable service, if she could make any discoveries that might lessen the affection which Mr Allworthy seemed to have contracted for this child, and which gave visible uneasiness to the captain, who could not entirely conce

atisfy herself thoroughly of all the particulars; and then acquainted the captain, that she had at last discovered the true father of

uld by no means have admitted it. And to say the truth, there is no conduct less politic, than to enter into any confederacy with your friend's servants against their master: for by these means you afterwards become the slave of these very

his discovery, he enjoyed not a little from it in his own

some other person; but Mrs Wilkins, whether she resented the captain's behaviour, or whether his cunning was

ose from a jealousy in Mrs Blifil, that Wilkins showed too great a respect to the foundling; for while she was endeavouring to ruin the little infant, in order to ingratiate herself with the captain, she was every day more and more commending it before Allworthy, as his fondness for it every day increased. This, notwithstanding all the care she took at other times to express the direct co

ory in danger of perishing, at last to

which the captain, with great learning, proved to Mr Allworthy, that

st elevation of thought, in purity approaching to angelic perfection, to be attained, expressed, and felt only by grace. Those," he said, "came nearer to the Scripture meaning, who understood by it candour, or the forming of a benevolent opinion of our brethren, and passing a favourable judgme

, to have been preached to them. And, as we could not well imagine this doctrine should be preached by its Divine Autho

was your case in your bounty to that worthless fellow Partridge: for two or three such examples must greatly lessen the inward satisfaction which a good man would otherwise find in generosity; nay, may even make him timorous in bestowing, lest he should be guilty of supporting vice, and encouraging the wicked; a crime of

ay nothing as to the true sense of the word which is translated charity; but that he had always thought it

e what construction it would, it sufficiently appeared to be from the whole tenor of the New Testament. And as he thought it an indispensable duty, enjoined both by the Christia

t of them, by giving what even our own necessities cannot well spare. This is, I think, meritorious; but to relieve our brethren only with our superfluities; to be charitable (I must use the word) rather at the expense of our coffers than ourselves; to save several families from misery rather than hang up an extraordinary picture in our houses or grat

s of his fellow-creatures; nor do I believe it can ever have such effect on a truly benevolent mind. Nothing less than a persuasion of universal depravity can lock up the charity of a good man; and this persuasion must lead him, I think, either into atheism, or enthusiasm; but surely it is u

schoolmaster, what do you call him? Partridge, the fa

at at his ignorance of it; for he said he had known it above a month: and a

of the fact: for the captain exprest great dislike at all hasty proceedings in criminal matters, and said he would by no means have Mr Allworthy take any resolution either to the prejudice of the child or its fat