New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

scrption Of the life Of the road, especially at
the inns, was regarded as Il transcript Of reality.
The second of these i'm time OF production
which is placed in the lead as his greatest work.
appeared I'm 1749 under the title The History
OF Tom Jones Founding" How long time
the author had been engaged upon IL is UNI
known. but it was probably begun soon after
the appearance Of Joseph Andrews seven years
before. although the authors attention must
have been diverted from it by other occupa-
tons and the death Of his first wife. which oc-
CURED IN lI43. and his remarriage in lIiJ. His
health was badly broken. and he was =
great sufferer from govt The loss OF his wife
so seriously affected him that his friends feared
for his reason, but he was able after a time 10
take up MS profession, In the stirring times OF
114J. when Charles Edward. The Young Pre-
tender sought the throne Of kipg George
Fielding started weekly newspaper in the in
te-ests OF the government called The True Pa
trio',' which was continued until the rebellion
ended In 1747 he became founder and editor
Of The Jacohtc Journal" which ran year
AIr. yielding then, through the influence OF his
friend and patron. George LyttetoD. was made
Justice 90 n" peacc for Westminster. He
soon gained distinction by the upright manner
in which Ac dispensed Justice. In days when the
trading Justices IS they We're called. gave dis
credit 60 the bench and ne did much To check
Tho srrcad Of Vice and crime. and MddlcseX
was added 90 his district
But an this did not keen MS pen idle. and II
was In the first flush OF hiss WaEistraCy that
Tom Jones appeared and gained instant popu-
larity. The purpose of the author set forth
by himself was so present human nature IN
that more plain ana simple manner I'm which II
ragoo il with all the high French and Italian
seasoning of aicct1tion and vice which courts
and cities afford IN his dedication To his
patron Lyttietou, he says his purpose has been
20 recommend goodness and innocence and 10
promote the cause OF religion and virtue
This work is the longest Of Fleldius's produC-
lions. tIIinG over seven hundred pages OF the
latest ONE volume edition. and 10 first appeared
I'm six volumes. II g. divided by the author into
eighteen books. containing lruu seven 10 fifteen
chapters each. an" contents covering no less than
sixteen pages. Tho dedication. To the Honor
able George Lyttcltou. ESQ. one OF the Lords
Commissioners Of tGc Treasury is more In the
nature ~ preface thau "A dedication, as the
author says. In II he acknowledges his indebt-
edue>S 1" his patrons saving. Il partly owe -
you my existence during the greater part Of the
time which ! have employed in composing it
and, III is owing TO you that tho history appears
what 10 now Isl Ia the first chapter of Book III
the author remarks: My reader. then. is not
10 b" surprised il. i'm the course OF this work
he shall find some chapters very short and
others altogether as long; some that contain
only the time OF single daN and others that
comprise years, I'm word. II my history some
times seems To- stand Still. and sometimes 10
fy. For all of which / shall not look upon my
self accountable to any court of critical iuris-
diction whatever for, / am in reality the
founder Of now province of writing so / am
at liberty 10 make what laws I please therein"
Tom Jones is the cornerstone on which rests
the lasting repute of Fielding as a novelist.