VI.
A scene in which some ladies will possibly think Amelia's conduct exceptionable
CHAPTER VII.
A chapter in which there is much learning
CHAPTER VIII.
Containing some unaccountable behaviour in Mrs.. Ellison
CHAPTER IX.
Containing a very strange incident
BOOK VII.
CHAPTER I.
A very short chapter, and consequently requiring no preface
CHAPTER II.
The beginning of Mrs. Bennet's history
CHAPTER III.
Continuation of Mrs. Bennet's story
CHAPTER IV.
Farther continuation
CHAPTER V.
The story of Mrs. Bennet continued
CHAPTER VI.
Farther continued
CHAPTER VII.
The story farther continued
CHAPTER VIII.
Farther continuation
CHAPTER IX.
The conclusion of Mrs. Bennet's history
CHAPTER X.
Being the last chapter of the seventh book
BOOK VIII.
CHAPTER I.
Being the first chapter of the eighth book
CHAPTER II.
Containing an account of Mr. Booth's fellow-sufferers
CHAPTER III.
Containing some extraordinary behaviour in Mrs. Ellison
CHAPTER IV.
Containing, among many matters, the exemplary behaviour of Colonel James
CHAPTER V.
Comments upon authors
CHAPTER VI.
Which inclines rather to satire than panegyric
CHAPTER VII.
Worthy a very serious perusal
CHAPTER VIII.
Consisting of grave matters
CHAPTER IX.
A curious chapter, from which a curious reader may draw sundry observations
CHAPTER X.
In which are many profound secrets of philosophy
BOOK IX.
CHAPTER I
In which the history looks backwards
CHAPTER II.
In which the history goes forward
CHAPTER III.
A conversation between Dr Harrison and others
CHAPTER IV.
A dialogue between Booth and Amelia
CHAPTER V.
A conversation between Amelia and Dr Harrison, with the result
CHAPTER VI.
Containing as surprising an accident as is perhaps recorded in history
CHAPTER VII.
In which the author appears to be master of that profound learning called the knowledge of the town
CHAPTER VIII.
In which two strangers make their appearance
CHAPTER IX.
A scene of modern wit and humour
CHAPTER X.
A curious conversation between the doctor, the young clergyman, and the young clergyman's father
BOOK X.
CHAPTER I.
To which we will prefix no preface
CHAPTER II.
What happened at the masquerade
CHAPTER III.
Consequences of the masqtierade, not uncommon nor surprizing
CHAPTER IV.
Consequences of the masquerade
CHAPTER V.
In which Colonel Bath appears in great glory
CHAPTER VI.
Read, gamester, and observe
CHAPTER VII.
In which Booth receives a visit from Captain Trent
CHAPTER VIII.
Contains a letter and other matters
CHAPTER IX.
Containing some things worthy observation
BOOK XI
CHAPTER I.
Containing a very polite scene
CHAPTER II.
Matters political
CHAPTER III.
The history of Mr. Trent
CHAPTER IV.
Containing some distress
CHAPTER V.
Containing more wormwood and other ingredients
CHAPTER VI.
A scene of the tragic kind
CHAPTER VII.
In which Mr. Booth meets with more than one adventure
CHAPTER VIII.
In which Amelia appears in a light more amiable than gay
CHAPTER IX.
A very tragic scene
BOOK XII.
CHAPTER I.
The book begins with polite history
CHAPTER II.
In which Amelia visits her husband
CHAPTER III.
Containing matter pertinent to the history
CHAPTER IV.
In which Dr Harrison visits Colonel James
CHAPTER V.
What passed at the bailiff's house
CHAPTER VI.
What passed between the doctor and the sick man
CHAPTER VII.
In which the history draws towards a conclusion
CHAPTER VIII.
Thus this history draws nearer to a conclusion
CHAPTER IX.
In which the history is concluded
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FIELDING'S BIRTHPLACE, SHARPHAM PARK
SHE THEN GAVE A LOOSE TO HER PASSION
THEY OPENED THE HAMPER
HE SEIZED HIM BY THE COLLAR
AMELIA AND HER CHILDREN
COLONEL BATH
LAWYER MURPHY
LEANING BOTH HIS ELBOWS ON THE TABLE, FIXED HIS EYES ON HER
BOOTH BETWEEN A BLUE DOMINO AND A SHEPHERDESS
DR HARRISON
INTRODUCTION.
Fielding's third great novel has been the subject of much more discordant judgments than either of its forerunners. If we take the period since its appearance as covering four generations, we find the greatest authority in the earliest, Johnson, speaking of it with something more nearly approaching to enthusiasm than he allowed himself in reference to any other work of an author, to whom he was on the whole so unjust. The greatest man of letters of the next generation, Scott (whose attitude to Fielding was rather undecided, and seems to speak a mixture of intellectual admiration and moral dislike, or at least failure in sympathy), pronounces it "on the whole unpleasing," and regards it chiefly as a sequel to Tom Jones, showing what is to be expected of a libertine and thoughtless husband. But he too is enthusiastic over the heroine. Thackeray (whom in this special connection at any rate it is scarcely too much to call the greatest man of the third generation) overflows with predilection for it, but chiefly, as it would seem, because of his affection for Amelia herself, in which he practically agrees with Scott and Johnson. It would be invidious, and is noways needful, to single out any critic of our own time to place beside these great men. But it cannot be denied that the book, now as always, has incurred a considerable amount of hinted fault and hesitated dislike. Even Mr. Dobson notes some things in it as "unsatisfactory;" Mr. Gosse, with evident consciousness of temerity, ventures to ask whether it is not "a little dull." The very absence of episodes (on the ground that Miss Matthews's story is too closely connected with the main action to be fairly called an episode) and of introductory dissertations has been brought against it, as the presence of these things was brought against its forerunners.
I have sometimes wondered whether Amelia pays the penalty of an audacity which, a priori, its most unfavourable critics would indignantly deny to be a fault. It
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