The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling | Page 5

Henry Fielding
vi
-- By what means the squire came to discover his daughter.

Chapter vii
-- In which various misfortunes befel poor Jones.

Chapter viii
-- Short and sweet.

Chapter ix
-- Containing love-letters of several sorts.

Chapter x
-- Consisting partly of facts, and partly of observations upon them.

Chapter xi
-- Containing curious, but not unprecedented matter.

Chapter xii
-- A discovery made by Partridge.
BOOK XVI -- CONTAINING THE SPACE OF FIVE DAYS.

Chapter i
-- Of prologues.

Chapter ii
-- A whimsical adventure which befel the squire, with the distressed situation of Sophia.

Chapter iii
-- What happened to Sophia during her confinement.

Chapter iv
-- In which Sophia is delivered from her confinement.

Chapter v
-- In which Jones receives a letter from Sophia, and goes to a play with Mrs Miller and Partridge.

Chapter vi
-- In which the history is obliged to look back.

Chapter vii
-- In which Mr Western pays a visit to his sister, in company with Mr Blifil.

Chapter viii
-- Schemes of Lady Bellaston for the ruin of Jones.

Chapter ix
-- In which Jones pays a visit to Mrs Fitzpatrick.

Chapter x
-- The consequence of the preceding visit.
BOOK XVII -- CONTAINING THREE DAYS.

Chapter i
-- Containing a portion of introductory writing.

Chapter ii
-- The generous and grateful behaviour of Mrs Miller.

Chapter iii
-- The arrival of Mr Western, with some matters concerning the paternal authority.

Chapter iv
-- An extraordinary scene between Sophia and her aunt.

Chapter v
-- Mrs Miller and Mr Nightingale visit Jones in the prison.

Chapter vi
-- In which Mrs Miller pays a visit to Sophia.

Chapter vii
-- A pathetic scene between Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller.

Chapter viii
-- Containing various matters.

Chapter ix
-- What happened to Mr Jones in the prison.
BOOK XVIII -- CONTAINING ABOUT SIX DAYS.

Chapter i
-- A farewel to the reader.

Chapter ii
-- Containing a very tragical incident.

Chapter iii
-- Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strange discovery that he made on that occasion.

Chapter iv
-- Containing two letters in very different stiles.

Chapter v
-- In which the history is continued.

Chapter vi
-- In which the history is farther continued.

Chapter vii
-- Continuation of the history.

Chapter viii
-- Further continuation.

Chapter ix
-- A further continuation.

Chapter x
-- Wherein the history begins to draw towards a conclusion.

Chapter xi
-- The history draws nearer to a conclusion.

Chapter xii
-- Approaching still nearer to the end.

Chapter the
last -- In which the history is concluded.

To the Honourable
GEORGE LYTTLETON, ESQ;
One of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.
Sir,
Notwithstanding your constant refusal, when I have asked leave to prefix your name to this dedication, I must still insist on my right to desire your protection of this work.
To you, Sir, it is owing that this history was ever begun. It was by your desire that I first thought of such a composition. So many years have since past, that you may have, perhaps, forgotten this circumstance: but your desires are to me in the nature of commands; and the impression of them is never to be erased from my memory.
Again, Sir, without your assistance this history had never been completed. Be not startled at the assertion. I do not intend to draw on you the suspicion of being a romance writer. I mean no more than that I partly owe to you my existence during great part of the time which I have employed in composing it: another matter which it may be necessary to remind you of; since there are certain actions of which you are apt to be extremely forgetful; but of these I hope I shall always have a better memory than yourself.
Lastly, It is owing to you that the history appears what it now is. If there be in this work, as some have been pleased to say, a stronger picture of a truly benevolent mind than is to be found in any other, who that knows you, and a particular acquaintance of yours, will doubt whence that benevolence hath been copied? The world will not, I believe, make me the compliment of thinking I took it from myself. I care not: this they shall own, that the two persons from whom I have taken it, that is to say, two of the best and worthiest men in the world, are strongly and zealously my friends. I might be contented with this, and yet my vanity will add a third to the number; and him one of the greatest and noblest, not only in his rank, but in every public and private virtue. But here, whilst my gratitude for the princely benefactions of the Duke of Bedford bursts from my heart, you must forgive my reminding you that it was you who first recommended me to the notice of my benefactor.
And what are your objections to the allowance of the honour which I have sollicited? Why, you have commended the book so warmly, that you should be ashamed of reading your name before the dedication. Indeed, sir, if the book itself doth not make you ashamed of your commendations, nothing that I can here write will, or ought. I
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