ther, as this fuperlative degree often forms its own objects; fees what is not, and always more than really exifts. This is that quick fighted penetration, whofe hawk's eyes no fymptom of evil can efcape; which obferves not only upon the actions, but upon the words and looks of men; and as it proceeds from the heart of the observer, fo it dives into the heart of the obferved, and there efpies evil, as it were in the first embryo; nay fometimes before it can be faid to be conceived. An admirable faculty, if it were infallible; but as this degree of perfection is not even claimed by more than one mortal being; fo from the fallibi lity of fuch acute difcernment have arifen many fad` mischiefs and moft grievous heart-aches to innocence and virtue. I cannot help therefore regarding this vaft quick-fightedness into evil, as a vicious excefs, and as a very pernicious evil in itself. And I am the more inclined to this opinion, as I am afraid it always proceeds from a bad heart, for the reafons I have above-mentioned, and for one more, namely, because I never knew it the property of a good one. Now from this degree of fufpicion I entirely and abfolutely acquit Sophia.

A fecond degree of this quality feems to arife from the head, This is indeed no other than the faculty of feeing what is before your eyes, and of drawing conclufions from what you fee. The former of thefe is unavoidable by thofe who have any eyes, and the latter is perhaps no lefs certain and neceffary a confequence of our having any brains. This is altogether as bitter an enemy to guilt, as the former is to innocence; nor can I fee it in an unamiable light, even though, through human fallibility, it fhould be fometimes miftaken. For inflance, if a husband should accidentally furprize his wife in the lap or in the embraces of fome of thofe pretty young gentlemen who profefs the art. of cuckold-making, I fhould not highly, I think, blame him for concluding fomething more than what he faw, from the familiarities which he really had feen, and which we are at least favourable enough to, when we call them innocent freedoms. The reader will eafily fuggeft great plenty of inftances to himself;

I fhall

I fhall add but one more which however unchriftian it may be thought by fome, I cannot help efteeming to be strictly justifiable; and this is a fufpicion that a man is capable of doing what he hath done already, and that it is poffible for one who hath been a villain once, to act the fame part again. And to confefs the truth of this degree of fufpicion, I believe Sophia was guilty. From this degree of fufpicion fhe had, in fact. conceived an opinion, that her coufin was really not better than the fhould be

The cafe it feems, was this: Mrs. Fitzpatrick wifely confidered, that the virtue of a young lady is, in the world, in the fame fituation with a poor hare, which is certain, whenever it ventures abroad, to meet its enemies: for it can hardly meet any other. No fooner therefore was the determined to take the first opportunity of quitting the protection of her hufband, than fhe refolved to caft herself under the protection of fome other man; and whom could fhe fo properly chufe to be her guardian as a perfon of quality, of fortune, of honour and who, befides a gallant difpofition, which inclines men to knight-errantry, that is, to be the champions of ladies in diftrefs, had often declared a violent attachment to herfelf, and had already given her all the inftances of it in his power?

:

But as the law hath foolishly omitted this office of vice-husband, or guardian to an eloped lady; and as malice is apt to denominate him by a more difagreeable appellation; it was concluded that his lordship fhould perform all fuch kind offices to the lady in fecret, and without publickly affuming the character of her protector Nay, to prevent any other perfon from seeing him in this light, it was agreed that the lady fhould proceed directly to Bath, and that his lordship fhould first go to London, and thence fhould go down to that place by the advice of his physicians.

Now all this Sophia very plainly understood, not from the lips or behaviour of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, but from the peer, who was infinitely lefs expert at retaining a fecret, than was the good lady; and perhaps the exact fecrecy which Mrs. Fitzpatrick had observed on this head in her narrative, ferved not a little to heighten

thofe

thofe fufpicions which were now rifen in the mind of her cousin.

Sophia very eafily found out the lady fhe fought; for indeed there was not a chairman in town to whom her house was not perfectly well known; and as she received, in return of her firft meffage, a most preffing invitation. The immediately accepted it. Mrs. Fitzpatrick indeed did not defire her cousin to stay with her with more earnestness than civility required. Whether fhe had difcerned and refented the fufpicion above-mentioned, or from what other motive it arose, I cannot fay, but certain it is, fhe was full as defirous of parting with Sophia, as Sophia herfelf could be of going. The young lady when he came to take leave of her coufin, could not avoid giving her a fhort hint of advice. She begged her, for heaven's fake, to take care of herself, and to confider in how dangerous a fituation she stood; adding, fhe hoped fome method would be found of reconciling her to her husband. You must remember, my dear,' fays fhe, the maxim which my aunt Western hath fo often repeated to us both; That whenever the matrimonial alliance is broke, and war declared between hufband and wife, fhe can hardly make a difadvantageous peace for herself on any conditions. These are my aunt's very words, and fhe hath had a great deal of experience in the world.' Mrs. Fitzpatrick anfwered with a contemp. tuous fmile, 'Never fear me, child, take care of your felf; for you are younger than I. I will come and 'vifit you in a few days; but, dear Sophy, let me give you one piece of advice: leave the character of Graveairs in the country; for, believe me, it will fet very aukwardly upon you in this town.'

Thus the two coufins parted, and Sophia repaired directly to lady Bellafton, where she found a moft hearty, as well as a moft polite welcome. The lady had taken a great fancy to her when fhe had feen her formerly with her aunt Western. She was indeed extremely glad to fee her, and was no fooner acquainted with the reafons which induced her to leave the 'fquire and fly to London, than fhe highly applauded her fenfe and refolution; and after expreffing the highest satisfaction

in

in the opinion which Sophia had declared fhe entertained of her ladyfhip, by chufing her houfe for an afylum, fhe promised her all the protection which it was in her power to give.

As we have now brought Sophia into fafe hands, the reader will, I apprehend, be contented to depofit her there a while, and to look a little after other perfonages, and particularly poor Jones, whom we have left long enough to do penance for his paft offences, which, as is the nature of vice, brought fufficient punishment upon him themselves.

THE

HISTORY

OF A

FOUNDLING.

BOOK XII.

Containing the fame individual time with the former.

CHAP. I.

Shewing what is to be deemed plagiarism in a modern Author, and what is to be confidered as a lawful prize.

HE learned reader must have obferved, that

THE in the courfe of this mighty work, I have often tranflated paffages out of the best ancient Authors, without quoting the original, or without taking the leaft notice of the book from whence they were bor⚫ rowed.

This conduct in writing is placed in a very proper light by the ingenious Abbé Bannier, in his preface to his Mythology, a work of great erudition, and of equal judgment. "It will be eafy," fays he, " for "the reader to obferve, that I have frequently had greater regard to him, than to my own reputation: "for an Author certainly pays him a confiderable "compliment, when for his fake he fuppreffes learn"ed quotations that come in his way, and which "would have coft him but the bare trouble of tran"fcribing."

VOL. VIII.

X

To