The History of Tom Jones (Penguin Classics)

by Henry Fielding

  Sir,

  Your most obliged,

  Obedient humble Servant

  Thomas Square.

  The Reader will, after this, scarce wonder at the Revolution so visibly appearing in Mr. Allworthy, notwithstanding he received from Thwackum, by the same Post, another Letter of a very different Kind, which we shall here add, as it may possibly be the last Time we shall have Occasion to mention the Name of that Gentleman.

  Sir,

  I am not at all surprized at hearing from your worthy Nephew a fresh Instance of the Villainy of Mr. Square the Atheist’s young Pupil. I shall not wonder at any Murders he may commit; and I heartily pray that your own Blood may not seal up his final Commitment to the Place of Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth.4

  Though you cannot want sufficient Calls to Repentance for the many unwarrantable Weaknesses exemplified in your Behaviour to this Wretch, so much to the Prejudice of your own lawful Family, and of your Character. I say, tho’ these may sufficiently be supposed to prick and goad your Conscience at this Season; I should yet be wanting to my Duty, if I spared to give you some Admonition, in order to bring you to a due Sense of your Errors. I therefore pray you seriously to consider the Judgment which is likely to overtake this wicked Villain; and let it serve at least as a Warning to you, that you may not for the future despise the Advice of one who is so indefatigable in his Prayers for your Welfare.

  Had not my Hand been with-held from due Correction, I had scourged much of this diabolical Spirit out of a Boy, of whom from his Infancy I discovered the Devil had taken such entire Possession; but Reflections of this Kind now come too late.

  I am sorry you have given away the Living of Westerton so hastily. I should have applied on that Occasion earlier, had I thought you would not have acquainted me previous to the Disposition.——Your Objection to Pluralities is being righteous over-much.5 If there were any Crime in the Practice, so many godly Men would not agree to it. If the Vicar of Aldergrove should die (as we hear he is in a declining Way) I hope you will think of me, since I am certain you must be convinced of my most sincere Attachment to your highest Welfare. A Welfare to which all worldly Considerations are as trifling as the small Tithes mentioned in Scripture are, when compared to the weighty Matters of the Law.6

  I am, Sir,

  Your faithful humble Servant,

  Roger Thwackum.

  This was the first Time Thwackum ever wrote in this authoritative Stile to Allworthy, and of this he had afterward sufficient Reason to repent, as in the Case of those who mistake the highest Degree of Goodness for the lowest Degree of Weakness. Allworthy had indeed never liked this Man. He knew him to be proud and ill-natured; he also knew that his Divinity itself was tinctured with his Temper, and such as in many Respects he himself did by no means approve: But he was at the same Time an excellent Scholar, and most indefatigable in teaching the two Lads. Add to this the strict Severity of his Life and Manners, an unimpeached Honesty, and a most devout Attachment to Religion. So that upon the whole, though Allworthy did not esteem nor love the Man, yet he could never bring himself to part with a Tutor to the Boys, who was, both by Learning and Industry, extremely well qualified for his Office; and he hoped, that as they were bred up in his own House, and under his own Eye, he should be able to correct whatever was wrong in Thwackum’s Instructions.

  CHAPTER V.

  In which the History is continued.

  Mr. Allworthy, in his last Speech, had recollected some tender Ideas concerning Jones, which had brought Tears into the good Man’s Eyes. This Mrs. Miller observing, said, ‘Yes, yes, Sir, your Goodness to this poor young Man is known, notwithstanding all your Care to conceal it; but there is not a single Syllable of Truth in what those Villains said. Mr. Nightingale hath now discovered the whole Matter. It seems these Fellows were employed by a Lord, who is a Rival of poor Mr. Jones, to have pressed him on board a Ship.——I assure them I don’t know who they will press next. Mr. Nightingale here hath seen the Officer himself, who is a very pretty Gentleman, and hath told him all, and is very sorry for what he undertook, which he would never have done, had he known Mr. Jones to have been a Gentleman; but he was told that he was a common strolling Vagabond.’

  Allworthy stared at all this, and declared he was a Stranger to every Word she said. ‘Yes, Sir,’ answered she, ‘I believe you are.——It is a very different Story, I believe, from what those Fellows told the Lawyer.’

  ‘What Lawyer, Madam? what is it you mean?’ said Allworthy. ‘Nay, nay,’ said she, ‘this is so like you to deny your own Goodness; but Mr. Nightingale here saw him.’ ‘Saw whom, Madam?’ answered he. ‘Why your Lawyer, Sir,’ said she, ‘that you so kindly sent to enquire into the Affair.’ ‘I am still in the Dark, upon my Honour,’ said Allworthy. ‘Why then do you tell him, my dear Sir,’ cries she. ‘Indeed, Sir,’ said Nightingale, ‘I did see that very Lawyer who went from you when I came into the Room, at an Alehouse in Aldersgate, in Company with two of the Fellows who were employed by Lord Fellamar to press Mr. Jones, and who were by that means present at the unhappy Rencounter between him and Mr. Fitzpatrick.’ ‘I own, Sir,’ said Mrs. Miller, ‘When I saw this Gentleman come into the Room to you, I told Mr. Nightingale that I apprehended you had sent him thither to enquire into the Affair.’ Allworthy shewed Marks of Astonishment in his Countenance at this News, and was indeed for two or three Minutes struck dumb by it. At last, addressing himself to Mr. Nightingale, he said, ‘I must confess myself, Sir, more surprized at what you tell me, than I have ever been before at any Thing in my whole Life. Are you certain this was the Gentleman?’ ‘I am most certain,’ answered Nightingale. ‘At Aldersgate?’ cries Allworthy. ‘And was you in Company with this Lawyer and the two Fellows?’——‘I was, Sir,’ said the other, ‘very near half an Hour.’——‘Well, Sir,’ said Allworthy, ‘and in what Manner did the Lawyer behave? Did you hear all that past between him and the Fellows?’ ‘No, Sir,’ answered Nightingale, ‘they had been together before I came.——In my Presence the Lawyer said little; but after I had several Times examined the Fellows, who persisted in a Story directly contrary to what I had heard from Mr. Jones, and which I find by Mr. Fitzpatrick was a rank Falshood; the Lawyer then desired the Fellows to say nothing but what was the Truth, and seemed to speak so much in Favour of Mr. Jones, that when I saw the same Person with you, I concluded your Goodness had prompted you to send him thither.’—‘And did you not send him thither?’ says Mrs. Miller.——‘Indeed I did not,’ answered Allworthy; ‘nor did I know he had gone on such an Errand ’till this Moment.’——‘I see it all!’ said Mrs. Miller: ‘Upon my Soul, I see it all! No Wonder they have been closetted so close lately. Son Nightingale, let me beg you run for these Fellows immediately—find them out if they are above Ground. I will go myself.’——‘Dear Madam,’ said All-worthy, ‘be patient, and do me the Favour to send a Servant up Stairs to call Mr. Dowling hither, if he be in the House, or if not, Mr. Blifil.’ Mrs. Miller went out muttering something to herself, and presently returned with an Answer. ‘That Mr. Dowling was gone; but that the t’other, as she called him, was coming.’

  Allworthy was of a cooler Disposition than the good Woman, whose Spirits were all up in Arms in the Cause of her Friend. He was not however without some Suspicions which were near a-kin to hers. When Blifil came into the Room, he asked him with a very serious Countenance, and with a less friendly Look than he had ever before given him, ‘Whether he knew any Thing of Mr. Dowling’s having seen any of the Persons who were present at the Duel between Jones and another Gentleman?’

  There is nothing so dangerous as a Question which comes by Surprize on a Man, whose Business it is to conceal Truth, or to defend Falsehood. For which Reason those worthy Personages, whose noble Office it is to save the Lives of their Fellow Creatures at the Old-Bailey, take the utmost Care, by frequent previous Examination, to divine every Question, which may be asked their Clients on the Day of Trial, that they may be supply’d with proper and ready Answers, which the
most fertile Invention cannot supply in an Instant. Besides, the sudden and violent Impulse on the Blood, occasioned by these Surprizes, causes frequently such an Alteration in the Countenance, that the Man is obliged to give Evidence against himself. And such indeed were the Alterations which the Countenance of Blifil underwent from this sudden Question, that we can scarce blame the Eagerness of Mrs. Miller, who immediately cry’d out, ‘Guilty, upon my Honour! Guilty, upon my Soul!’

  Mr. Allworthy sharply rebuked her for this Impetuosity; and then turning to Blifil, who seemed sinking into the Earth, he said, ‘Why do you hesitate, Sir, at giving me an Answer? You certainly must have employed him; for he would not, of his own Accord, I believe, have undertaken such an Errand, and especially without acquainting me.’

  Blifil then answered, ‘I own, Sir, I have been guilty of an Offence, yet may I hope your Pardon?’——‘My Pardon?’ said Allworthy very angrily.—‘Nay, Sir,’ answered Blifil, ‘I knew you would be offended; yet surely my dear Uncle will forgive the Effects of the most amiable of human Weaknesses. Compassion for those who do not deserve it, I own, is a Crime; and yet it is a Crime from which you yourself are not entirely free. I know I have been guilty of it in more than one Instance to this very Person; and I will own I did send Mr. Dowling, not on a vain and fruitless Enquiry, but to discover the Witnesses, and to endeavour to soften their Evidence. This, Sir, is the Truth; which though I intended to conceal from you, I will not deny.’

  ‘I confess,’ said Nightingale, ‘this is the Light in which it appeared to me from the Gentleman’s Behaviour.’

  ‘Now, Madam,’ said Allworthy, ‘I believe you will once in your Life own you have entertained a wrong Suspicion, and are not so angry with my Nephew as you was.’

  Mrs. Miller was silent; for though she could not so hastily be pleased with Blifil, whom she looked upon to have been the Ruin of Jones, yet in this particular Instance he had imposed upon her as well as upon the rest; so entirely had the Devil stood his Friend. And indeed, I look upon the vulgar Observation, That the Devil often deserts his Friends, and leaves them in the Lurch, to be a great Abuse on that Gentleman’s Character. Perhaps he may sometimes desert those who are only his Cup Acquaintance; or who, at most, are but half his; but he generally stands by those who are thoroughly his Servants, and helps them off in all Extremities, ’till their Bargain expires.

  As a conquered Rebellion strengthens a Government,1 or as Health is more perfectly established by Recovery from some Diseases; so Anger, when removed, often gives new Life to Affection. This was the Case of Mr. Allworthy; for Blifil having wiped off the greater Suspicion, the lesser, which had been raised by Square’s Letter, sunk of Course, and was forgotten; and Thwackum, with whom he was greatly offended, bore alone all the Reflections which Square had cast on the Enemies of Jones.

  As for that young Man, the Resentment of Mr. Allworthy began more and more to abate towards him. He told Blifil, ‘he did not only forgive the extraordinary Efforts of his Good-Nature, but would give him the Pleasure of following his Example.’ Then turning to Mrs. Miller, with a Smile which would have become an Angel, he cry’d, ‘What say you, Madam; shall we take a Hackney-Coach, and all of us together pay a Visit to your Friend? I promise you it is not the first Visit I have made in a Prison.’

  Every Reader, I believe, will be able to answer for the worthy Woman; but they must have a great deal of Good-Nature, and be well acquainted with Friendship, who can feel what she felt on this Occasion. Few, I hope, are capable of feeling what now past in the Mind of Blifil; but those who are, will acknowledge, that it was impossible for him to raise any Objection to this Visit. Fortune, however, or the Gentleman lately mentioned above, stood his Friend, and prevented his undergoing so great a Shock: For at the very Instant when the Coach was sent for, Partridge arrived, and having called Mrs. Miller from the Company acquainted her with the dreadful Accident lately come to Light; and hearing Mr. Allworthy’s Intention, begged her to find some Means of stopping him; ‘for,’ says he, ‘the Matter must at all Hazards be kept a Secret from him; and if he should now go, he will find Mr. Jones and his Mother, who arrived just as I left him, lamenting over one another the horrid Crime they have ignorantly committed.’

  The poor Woman, who was almost deprived of her Senses at his dreadful News, was never less capable of Invention than at present. However, as Women are much readier at this than Men, she bethought herself of an Excuse, and returning to Allworthy said, ‘I am sure, Sir, you will be surprized at hearing any Objection from me to the kind Proposal you just now made; and yet I am afraid of the Consequence of it, if carried immediately into Execution. You must imagine, Sir, that all the Calamities which have lately befallen this poor young Fellow, must have thrown him into the lowest Dejection of Spirits: And now, Sir, should we all on a sudden fling him into such a violent Fit of Joy, as I know your Presence will occasion, it may, I am afraid, produce some fatal Mischief, especially as his Servant who is without, tells me he is very far from being well.’

  ‘Is his Servant without?’ cries Allworthy; ‘Pray call him hither. I will ask him some Questions concerning his Master.’

  Partridge was at first afraid to appear before Mr. Allworthy; but was at length persuaded, after Mrs. Miller, who had often heard his whole Story from his own Mouth, had promised to introduce him.

  Allworthy recollected Partridge the Moment he came into the Room, though many Years had passed since he had seen him. Mrs. Miller therefore might have spared here a formal Oration, in which indeed she was something prolix: For the Reader, I believe, may have observed already that the good Woman, among other Things, had a Tongue always ready for the Service of her Friends.

  ‘And are you,’ said Allworthy to Partridge, ‘the Servant of Mr. Jones?’ ‘I can’t say, Sir, answered he, that I am regularly a Servant, but I live with him, an’t please your Honour, at present. Non sum qualis eram, as your Honour very well knows.’

  Mr. Allworthy then asked him many Questions concerning Jones, as to his Health, and other Matters; to all which Partridge answered, without having the least Regard to what was, but considered only what he would have Things appear; for a strict Adherence to Truth was not among the Articles of this honest Fellow’s Morality, or his Religion.

  During this Dialogue Mr. Nightingale took his Leave, and presently after Mrs. Miller left the Room, when Allworthy likewise dispatched Blifil; for he imagined that Partridge, when alone with him, would be more explicit than before Company. They were no sooner left in private together, than Allworthy began as in the following Chapter.

  CHAPTER VI.

  In which the History is farther continued.

  ‘Sure, Friend,’ said the good Man, ‘you are the strangest of all human Beings. Not only to have suffered as you have formerly, for obstinately persisting in a Falshood; but to persist in it thus to the last, and to pass thus upon the World for a Servant of your own Son? What Interest can you have in all this? What can be your Motive?’

  ‘I see, Sir,’ said Partridge, falling down upon his Knees, ‘that your Honour is prepossessed against me, and resolved not to believe any Thing I say, and therefore what signifies my Protestations? but yet there is one above who knows that I am not the Father of this young Man.’

  ‘How!’ said Allworthy, ‘Will you yet deny what you was formerly convicted of upon such unanswerable, such manifest Evidence? Nay, what a Confirmation is your being now found with this very Man, of all which twenty Years ago appeared against you. I thought you had left the Country; nay, I thought you had been long since dead.—In what Manner did you know any Thing of this young Man? Where did you meet with him, unless you had kept some Correspondence together? Do not deny this; for I promise you it will greatly raise your Son in my Opinion, to find that he hath such a Sense of filial Duty, as privately to support his Father for so many Years.’

  ‘If your Honour will have Patience, to hear me,’ said Partridge, ‘I will tell you all.’——Being bid go on, he proceeded thus: ‘When yo
ur Honour conceived that Displeasure against me, it ended in my Ruin soon after; for I lost my little School; and the Minister, thinking I suppose it would be agreeable to your Honour, turned me out from the Office of Clerk; so that I had nothing to trust to but the Barber’s Shop, which in a Country Place like that, is a poor Livelihood; and when my Wife died (for ’till that Time I received a Pension of 12l. a Year from an unknown Hand, which indeed I believe was your Honour’s own, for no Body that ever I heard of doth these Things besides) but as I was saying, when she died, this Pension forsook me; so that now as I owed two or three small Debts, which began to be troublesome to me, (particularly one* which an Attorney brought up by Law-charges from 15 s. to near 30 l.) and as I found all my usual Means of living had forsook me, I packed up my little All as well as I could, and went off.

  ‘The first Place I came to was Salisbury, where I got into the Service of a Gentleman belonging to the Law, and one of the best Gentlemen that ever I knew; for he was not only good to me, but I know a Thousand good and charitable Acts which he did while I staid with him; and I have known him often refuse Business, because it was paultry and oppressive.’——‘You need not be so particular,’ said Allworthy; ‘I know this Gentleman, and a very worthy Man he is, and an Honour to his Profession.’——‘Well, Sir,’ continued Partridge, ‘from hence I removed to Lymington, where I was above three Years in the Service of another Lawyer,2 who was likewise a very good Sort of a Man, and to be sure one of the merriest Gentlemen in England. Well, Sir, at the End of the three Years I set up a little School, and was likely to do well again, had it not been for a most unlucky Accident. Here I kept a Pig; and one Day, as ill Fortune would have it, this Pig broke out, and did a Trespass I think they call it, in a Garden belonging to one of my Neighbours, who was a proud, revengeful Man, and employed a Lawyer, one—one—I can’t think of his Name; but he sent for a Writ against me, and had me to Size.3 When I came there, Lord have Mercy upon me—to hear what the Counsellors said. There was one that told my Lord a Parcel of the confoundedst Lies about me; he said, that I used to drive my Hogs into other Folks Gardens, and a great deal more; and at last he said, He hoped I had at last brought my Hogs to a fair Market. To be sure, one would have thought, that instead of being Owner only of one poor little Pig, I had been the greatest Hog-merchant in England. Well’—‘Pray,’ said Allworthy, ‘do not be so particular. I have heard nothing of your Son yet.’ ‘O it was a great many Years,’ answered Partridge, ‘before I saw my Son, as you are pleased to call him.—I went over to Ireland after this, and taught School at Cork, (for that one Suit ruined me again, and I lay seven Years in Winchester Goal.)’— ‘Well,’ said Allworthy, ‘pass that over till your Return to England.’—‘Then, Sir,’ said he, ‘it was about half a Year ago that I landed at Bristol, where I stayed some Time, and not finding it do there, and hearing of a Place between that and Gloucester, where the Barber was just dead, I went thither, and there I had been about two Months when Mr. Jones came thither.’ He then gave Allworthy a very particular Account of their first Meeting, and of every Thing as well as he could remember, which had happened from that Day to this; frequently interlarding his Story with Panegyrics on Jones, and not forgetting to insinuate the great Love and Respect which he had for Allworthy. He concluded with saying, ‘Now, Sir, I have told your Honour the whole Truth.’ And then repeated a most solemn Protestation, ‘That he was no more the Father of Jones than of the Pope of Rome;’ and imprecated the most bitter Curses on his Head, if he did not speak Truth.