stories must collapse. While Fielding was engaged on "Tom Jones," he had just two places of residence-Old Boswell Court and Twickenham. Accordingly, houses which long ago disappeared were the real scene of his 66 vast labours." To these cold facts may be adjusted, however, one or two stories. Tradition has been persistent that "Tom Jones" was partly written in a house at Twerton-on-Avon, a village a mile and a half below Bath and close enough to Prior Park for a visit there every day. To this effect we have a detailed account from a contemporary writer— the Rev. Richard Graves, still remembered as the author of an amusing romance against the Methodists called "The Spiritual Quixote." A native of Gloucestershire, Graves graduated at Pembroke College, Oxford, and for some years held a fellowship in All Souls. In 1748, he was appointed to the rectory of Claverton, a parish two or three miles to the west of Twerton. As he was not inducted into the living until the next year, and did not come into permanent residence until 1750, the chances of a personal acquaintance with Fielding are about even. But he was on intimate terms with Allen, who purchased in 1758 the manor of Claverton; and he mentioned among his friends several persons of distinction who came incidentally into the life of Fielding-Lord Camden, Warburton, Shenstone, and Lady Luxborough, for example. After acquiring Claverton, Allen used to dine every week at the manorhouse. "I dined there," says Graves, "more than once with Mrs. Fielding, the author of 'David Simple.' . Mr. Allen very generously allowed her one hundred pounds a year." Gossipy and garrulous, Graves knew all about the local celebrities. For a half-century he walked the Bath hills-a welcome guest everywhere. In the anecdotes which he left about Allen, in a little posthumous volume entitled "The Triflers," he says that Fielding "dined г. IHEIN H iss the author co pruhu st the Metodi, to called "The A never of Gloucestershire, Graveg Caoke College, Oxford, ord for some wit ale 10 hs of Clavort, al per opso into the life o' Fieria · store, and Lady Lu ing Claverton, Micr in Souls. I. 1718, he was y of loverton, a parish two or of Twer'ch. As he was not it. td the best year, or 1 did not corne pl 1786, the chances of a Pilog are out even. Pet Ven, who pavhased in Le ment Add among Me net on who can meant. By ang Can ven, Mar'urto... Sevy., for example. Aber koirto da • every week at 1, p. (1stos Graves, "more than ouer fior of David Sir ple drowed her ene har red por i ,"rulcu, Graves kw a phot dy |