THE

HISTORY

OF A

FOUNDLING.

W

Containing a portion of introductory writing.

HEN a comic writer hath made his principal characters as happy as he can, or when a tragic writer hath brought them to the higheft pitch of human mifery, they both conclude their bufinefs to be done, and that their work is come to a period.

Had we been of the tragic complexion, the reader must allow we were very nearly arrived at this period; fince it would be difficult for the devil, or any of his representatives on earth, to have contrived much greater torments for poor Jones than thofe in which we left him in the laft chapter; and as for Sophia, a good-natured wcman would hardly wifh more uneafinefs to a rival than what fhe muft at prefent be fuppofed to feel. What then remains to complete the tragedy but a murder or two, and a few moral fentences.

But to bring our favourites out of their prefent anguifh and diftrefs, and to land them at laft on the fhore of happiness, feems a much harder tafk; a task indeed fo hard that we do not undertake to execute it. In regard to Sophia, it is more than probable that we fhall, fomewhere or other, provide a good hufband for her in the end, either Blifil or my Lord, or fomebody elfe: but as

to poor Jones, fuch are the calamities in which he is at prefent involved, owing to his imprudence, by which, if a man doth not become a felon to the world, he is at leaft a felo de fe; fo deftitute is he now of friends, and fo perfecuted by enemies, that we almoft defpair of bringing him to any good; and if our reader delights in feeing executions, I think he ought not to lofe any time in taking a first row at Tyburn.

This I faithfully promife, that notwithstanding any affection which we may be fuppofed to have for this rogue, whom we have unfortunately made our hero, we will lend him none of that fupernatural affiftance with which we are intrufted, upon condition that we use it only on very important occafions. If he doth not, therefore, find fome natural means of fairly extricating himself from all his diftreffes, we will do no violence to the truth and dignity of history for his fake; for we had rather relate that he was hanged at Tyburn, (which may very probably be the cafe), than forfeit our integrity, or fhock the faith of our reader.

In this the ancients had a great advantage over the moderns. Their mythology, which was at that time more firmly believed by the vulgar than any religion is at prefent, gave them always an opportunity of delivering a favourite hero. Their deities were always ready at the writer's elbow, to execute any of his purpofes; and the more extraordinary the invention was, the greater was the furprife and delight of the credulous reader. Thofe writers could with greater eafe have conveyed a friend from one country to another; nay, from one world to another,and have brought him back again, than a poor circumfcribed modern can deliver him from a gaol.

The Arabians and Perfians had an equal advantage in writing their tales from the Genii and Fairies, which they believe in as an article of their faith, upon the authority of the Koran itself. But we have none of these helps. To natural means alone are we confined; let us try therefore what by thefe means may be done for poor Jones; though to confefs the truth, fomething whifpers me in the ear, that he doth not yet know the worst of his fortune; and that a more fhocking piece of news

than any he hath yet heard, remains for him in the unopened leaves of fate.

CHA P. II.

4

The generous and grateful behaviour of Mrs Miller.

MR

* once.

6

6

R Allworthy and Mrs Miller were just fat down to breakfast, when Blifil, who had gone out very early that morning, returned to make one of the company. He had not been long feated before he began as fol lows: Good Lord! my dear uncle, what do you think hath happened? I vow I am afraid of telling it you, for fear of fhecking you with the remembrance of ever having thewn any kindnefs to fuch a villain' • What is the matter, child?' faid the uncle, I fear I have fhewn kindness in my life to the unworthy more than But charity doth not adopt the vices of its ob. jes.' O, Sir,' returned Blifil, it is not without the fecret direction of Providence that you mention the word adoption. Your adopted fon, Sir, that Jones, that wretch whom you nourished in your bofom, hath proved one of the greateft villains upon earth." • By all that's facred, 'tis falfe,' cries Mrs Miller. Jones is no villain. He is one of the worthieft creatures breathing; and if any other perfon had called him villain, I would have thrown all this boiling wa ter in his face. Mr Allworthy looked very much amazed at this behaviour. But fhe did not give him time to fpeak, before, turning to him, fhe cried, I hope you will not be angry with me; I would not offend you, Sir, for the world; but indeed I could not bear to hear him called fo." I must own, Madam,' faid Allworthy, very gravely, I am a little furprifed to hear you fo warmly defend a fellow you do not know.'

• Mr

I do know him, Mr Allworthy,' faid fhe, indeed I do; I should be the most ungrateful of all wretches if I denied it. O he hath preserved me and my little family; we have all reafon to blefs him while we live.

And I pray Heaven to blefs him, and turn the hearts of his malicious enemies. I know, I find, I fee he hath fuch.' You furprise me, Madam, ftill more,

It is

faid Allworthy; fure you must mean fome other. 'impoffible you should have any fuch obligations to the man my nephew mentions.' Too furely,' anfwered

fhe;

6 many

I have obligations to him of the greateft and tendereft kind. He hath been the preferver of me and mine.- Believe me, Sir, he hath been abused, grofsly abused to you; I know he hath, or you, whom I know to be all goodness and honour, would not, after the kind and tender things I have heard you fay of this poor helpless child, have fo difdainfully called him • fellow. Indeed, my beft of friends, he deferves a kinder appellation from you, had you heard the good, the kind, the grateful things which I have heard him utter of you. He never mentions your name but with a fort of adoration. In this very room I have seen him on his knees, imploring all the bleffings of heaven upon 6 your head. I do not love that child there better than • he loves you.'

I fee, Sir, now,' faid Blifil, with one of thofe grinning fneers with which the devil marks his best beloved, Mrs Miller really doth know him. I fuppofe you will find fhe is not the only one of your acquaintance to whom he hath expofed you. As for my character, I perceive by fome hints fhe hath thrown out, he hath been very free with it; but I forgive him.?" • And the Lord forgive you, Sir,' fays Mrs Miller; we have all fins enough to ftand in need of his forgiveness.'

Upon my word, Mrs Miller,' faid Allworthy, I do not take this behaviour of yours to my nephew kindly; and I do affure you, as any reflections which you caft upon him must come only from that wickedest of men, they would only ferve, if that were poffible, to heighten my refentment against bim: for I must tell you, Mrs Miller, the young man who now ftands before you, hath ever been the warmest advocate for the ungrate⚫ful wretch whose cause you efpouse. This, I think when 6 you hear it from my own mouth, will make you wonder at fo much bafenefs and ingratitude.'

You are deceived, Sir," answered Mrs Miller; if they were the last words which were to iffue from my lips, I would fay you are deceived; and I once more repeat it, the Lord forgive thofe who have deceived

'you. I do not pretend to fay the young man is without faults; but they are the faults of wildness and of youth faults which he may, nay, which I am certain • he will relinquish; and if he should not, they are vastly overbalanced by one of the moft humane, tender, honeft hearts that ever man was bleffed with.'

6

Indeed, Mrs Miller,' faid Allworthy, had this been related of you, I fhould not have believed it.' • Indeed, Sir,' anfwered fhe, you will believe every thing I have faid, I am fure you will; and when you • have heard the flory which I fhall tell you, (for I will tell you all), you will be fo far from being offended, that you will own (I know your juftice fo well) that I must have been the most despicable and meft ungrate ful of wretches, if I had acted any other part than I

• have.'

Well, Madam,' faid Allworthy, I fhall be very glad to hear any good excufe for a behaviour which, I must confefs, I think wants an excuse. And now, Madam, will you be pleased to let my nephew proceed in his story without interruption. He would not have ⚫ introduced a matter of flight confequence with fuch a preface. Perhaps even this ftory will cure you of your

• mistake.'

Mrs Miller gave tokens of fubmiffion, and then Mr Blifil began thus: I am fure, Sir, if you don't think proper to refent the ill ufuage of Mrs Miller, I fhall eafily forgive what affects me only. I think your goodnefs hath not deferved this indignity at her hands.' Well, child,' faid Allworthy, but what is this new inftance? what hath he done of late?" 'What,' cries Blifil, notwithstanding all Mrs Miller hath faid, I am 6 very forry to relate, and what you should never have heard from me, had it not been a matter impoffible to conceal from the whole world; in short, he hath killed a man; I will not fay murdered,- -for perhaps it " may not be fo conftrued in law, and I hope the best for his fake.'

Allworthy looked fhocked, and bleffed himfelf; and then turning to Mrs Miller, he cried, Well, Madam, what fay you now?'

Why, I fay, Sir,' anfwered fhe, that I never was