Henry Fielding: a Memoir / Including Newly Discovered Letters and Records with Illustrations from Contemporary Prints

APPENDIX
D

The Walpole 'anecdote'

The following reference to Fielding occurs in a letter by Horace Walpole, to George Montagu, dated May 18, 1749. It may be prefaced by the statement that Fielding's strenuous opposition to Sir Robert Walpole was not likely to be overlooked by Sir Robert's son; and by Mr Austin Dobson's comment "his [Horace Walpole's] absolute injustice, when his partisan spirit was uppermost, is everywhere patent to readers of his Letters ... the story no doubt exaggerated when it reached him, loses nothing under his transforming and malicious pen." Walpole writes: "He [Rigby] and Peter Bathurst t'other night carried a servant of the latter's, who had attempted to shoot him, before Fielding; who, to all his other vocations, has, by the grace of Mr Lyttelton, added that of Middlesex justice. He sent them word he was at supper, that they must come next morning. They did not understand that freedom, and ran up, where they found him banqueting with a blind man, a whore, and three Irishmen, on some cold mutton and a bone of ham, both in one dish, and the dirtiest cloth. He never stirred nor asked them to sit. Rigby, who had seen him so often come to beg a guinea of Sir C. Williams, and Bathurst, at whose father's he had lived for victuals, understood that dignity as little, and pulled themselves chairs; on which he civilised."

The 'blind man' was doubtless the half brother later to be knighted for his distinguished public services, Sir John Fielding; and, adds Mr Austin Dobson, "it is extremely unlikely the lady so discourteously characterised could have been any other than his wife, who Lady Stuart tells us 'had few personal charms.' There remain the 'three Irishmen' who may, or may not, have been perfectly presentable members of society. At all events, their mere nationality, so rapidly decided upon, cannot be regarded as a stigma." Bearing in mind, on the one hand, our knowledge of Fielding as he reveals himself in his own pages, and in his friendships, and on the other the character earned by Horace Walpole's pen, it seems matter for doubt whether this 'anecdote' deserves even a place in an appendix.

Back to Chapter 13, footnote 2.

APPENDIX
E

Fielding's Will

Fielding's will was discovered in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, by Mr G. A. Aitken. It is undated:--

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN--I HENRY FIELDING of the parish of Ealing in the County of Middlesex do hereby give and bequeath unto Ralph Allen of Prior Park in the County of Somerset Esqr and to his heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever to the use of the said Ralph his heirs &c all my Estate real and personal wheresoever and whatsoever and do appoint him sole EXECUTOR of this my last Will--Beseeching him that the whole (except my shares in the Register Office) may be sold and forthwith converted into Money and Annuities purchased thereout for the lives of my dear Wife Mary and my daughters Harriet and Sophia and what proportions my said Executor shall please to reserve to my sons William and Allen shall be paid them severally as they shall attain the age of twenty and three And as for my Shares in the Register or Universal Register Office I give ten thereof to my aforesaid Wife seven to my Daughter Harriet and three to my daughter Sophia my Wife to be put in immediate possession of her shares and my Daughters of theirs as they shall severally arrive at the Age of 21 the immediate Profits to be then likewise paid to my two Daughters by my Executor who is desired to retain the same in his Hands until that time--Witness my Hand--HENRY FIELDING--Signed and acknowledged as his last Will and Testament by the within named Testator in the presence of--MARGARET COLLIER--RICHD BOOR--ISABELLA ASH--

Proved 14th November 1754.

Extracted from the Principal Registry of the Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury

November 1754

HENRY FIELDING Esquire--On the fourteenth day Administration (with the Will annexed) of the Goods Chattels and Credits of Henry Fielding late of Ealing in the County of Middlesex but at Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal Esquire deceased was granted to John Fielding Esquire the Uncle and Curator or Guardian lawfully assigned to Harriet Fielding Spinster a Minor and Sophia Fielding an Infant the natural and lawfull Daughters of the said Deceased and two of the Residuary Legatees named in the said Will for the use and benefit of the said Minor and Infant and until one of them shall attain the age of twenty one years for that Ralph Allen Esquire the sole Executor and Residuary Legatee in Trust named in the said Will hath renounced as well the Execution thereof as Letters of Administration (with the said Will annexed) of the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased and Mary Fielding Widow the Relict of the said deceased and the other Residuary Legatee named in the said Will hath also renounced Letters of Administration (with the said Will annexed) of the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased--the said John Fielding having been first sworn duly to administer.

In addition to the property mentioned here, Fielding possessed a library, as Mr Austin Dobson discovered, 1 which when sold six months after his death, "for the Benefit of his Wife and Family," realised £364, 7s. 1d. or "about £100 more than the public gave in 1785 for the books of Johnson." 2 Also according to the Recollections of the Late John Adolphus, by Henderson, Fielding purchased a 90 years' lease of a house near Canterbury, for one of his daughters.

Of the children mentioned in this will, William became, a contemporary writer tells us, "an eminent barrister at law and inherits the integrity of his father and a large share of his brilliant talents." 3 Mr Austin Dobson refers to William Fielding as being like his father "a strenuous advocate of the poor and unfortunate," and adds that the obituary notice in the Gentleman's Magazine records his worth and piety. 4 Harriet Fielding is said to have been of "a sweet temper and great understanding." 5 Allen Fielding became Vicar of St. Stephens Canterbury, and was "greatly beloved by all, especially the little children," writes a descendant. Allen Fielding's four sons all took Orders, and of the second, Charles, it was written on his death, that "he had not only a heart that could feel for others, but a heart that lived in giving." 6 The noble qualities of Henry Fielding found their echo in his descendants.

APPENDIX
F

Fielding's Tomb and Epitaph

Fielding's present tomb, in the beautiful English cemetery at Lisbon, was erected in 1830. On one side is inscribed:

LUGET BRITANNIA GREMIO NON DARI
FOVERE NATUM

On the other side are the following lines:

Henrici Fielding
A Somersetensibus apud Glastoniam oriundi
Viri summo ingenio
en quae restant:
Stylo quo non alius unquam
Intima qui potuit cordis reserare mores hominum excolendos
suscepit
Virtuti decorum, vitio foeditatem asseruit, suum cuique tribuens;
Non quin ipse subinde irritaretur evitandis
Ardensin amicitia, in miseria sublevanda effusus
Hilaris urbanus et conjux et pater adamantus.
Aliis non sibi vixit
Vixit sed mortem victricem vincit dum natura durat dum saecula
currunt
Naturae prolem scriptis prae se ferens
Suam et sua genlis extendet famam. 7

APPENDIX
G

Fielding's posthumous play "The Fathers"

Fielding's play The Fathers or The Good-natured Man seems to have been lost (apparently after being submitted to Sir Charles Hanbury Williams) till twenty years after Fielding's death. It was discovered by M'r Johnes, M.P. for Cardigan, in 1775, or 1776, who sent it to Garrick. Garrick recognised it as "Harry Fielding's Comedy"; and, after revision, it was produced at Drury Lane on November 30, 1778. Garrick not only appeared in the cast, but also wrote both prologue and epilogue. A note, in the Morrison Manuscripts, from Garrick to D'r John Hoadley, dated January 3, 1776, concludes thus "We have found the lost sheep, Henry Fielding's Good Natured Man which was mislaid near twenty years." 8 In the following pleasant letter Sir John Fielding commends Mrs Fielding's Benefit night to Dr Hunter.

"Sir John Fielding presents his compliments to Dr. Hunter, and acquaints him that the Comedy of 'The Good-natured Man' written by the late Mr. Henry Fielding will be performed at Drury Lane next Monday being the Author's Widow's night.

"He was your old and sincere friend. There are no other of his Works left unpublished. This is the last opportunity you will have of shewing any respect to his Memory as a Genius, so that I hope you will send all your Pupils, all your Patients, all your Friends, & everybody else to the Play that Night, by which Means you will indulge your benevolent feelings and your Sentiments of Friendship. 9

"Bow Street, Dec'r 4, 1778."

APPENDIX
H

Undated Accounts of Fielding at Salisbury and at Barnes

Research has so far failed to identify the period of Fielding's traditional residence in Salisbury. According to the following passage in Old and New Sarum or Salisbury, by R. Benson and H. Hatcher, 1843, he occupied three houses in or near Salisbury. "It is well known that Fielding the Novelist married a lady of Salisbury named Craddock [sic] and was for a time resident in our City. From tradition we learn that he first occupied the house in the Close at the south side of St Anne's Gate. He afterwards removed to that in St Anne's Street next to the Friary; and finally established himself in the Mansion at the foot of Milford Hill, where he wrote a considerable portion of his Tom Jones." 10

Fielding's residence in Barnes is no less illusive. The following passage occurs in the edition of 1795 of Lyson's Environs of London: "Henry Fielding, the celebrated Novelist, resided at Barnes, in the house which is now the property of Mr Partington." 11 In the edition of 1811 the house is described as "now the property of Mrs Stanton, widow of the late Admiral Stanton." 12 In Manning and Bray's Surrey the name of the house is given: "On Barnes Green is a very old house called Milbourne House.... It was once the residence of Henry Fielding the celebrated novel writer. The widow of Admiral Stanton is the present owner of this house." 13 The Barnes Rate-books appear to throw no light on the date of Fielding's residence at Milbourne House. It is noteworthy that both the Barnes and Salisbury statements indicate a man of some means, living as befitted a Fielding.

APPENDIX
I

An undated letter of Fieldings to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu

The following undated letter is printed in The Letters and Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu edited by Lord Wharncliffe and W. M. Thomas. Lord Wharncliffe includes it with the letters from originals among the Wortley papers. 14

Wednesday evening

Madam,--I have presumed to send your ladyship a copy of the play which you did me the honour of reading three acts of last spring, and hope it may meet as light a censure from your ladyship's judgment as then; for while your goodness permits me (what I esteem the greatest, and indeed only happiness of my life) to offer my unworthy performances to your perusal, it will be entirely from your sentence that they will be regarded, or disesteemed by me. I shall do myself the honour of calling at your ladyship's door to-morrow at eleven, which, if it be an improper hour, I beg to know from your servant what other time will be more convenient. I am with the greatest respect and gratitude, madam,

Your ladyship's most obedient, most devoted humble servant.

APPENDIX
J

FIELDING'S Tom Thumb

This play appears to have carried some political significance in Fielding's day; if it was not, indeed, written with a political intention. This may be gathered from an article in the Daily Post of March 29, 1742, apropos of a performance of the Tragedy of Tragedies, that night, at Drury Lane. The article attributes, in detail, political intentions to the Tragedy--"a Piece at first calculated to ridicule some particular Persons and Affairs in Europe (at the Time it was writ) but more especially in this Island."

Footnotes for Chapter 1

1. Chancery Proceedings 1720 sqq. Fielding v. Fielding. From the records of this Chancery suit, instituted on behalf of Henry Fielding and his brother and sisters, as minors, by their grandmother Lady Gould, are taken the hitherto unpublished facts concerning the novelist's boyhood, contained in this chapter. The original documents are preserved in the Record Office. Back

2. See Appendix A. Back

3. By means of a legacy of £3000 left by her father for his daughter's sole use, "her husband having nothing to doe with it." Back

4. History and Antiquities of Leicestershire. J. Nichols. 1810. Vol. iv. Part i. p. 292. Nichols does not state his authority for this statement, and it is not confirmed by local records. See Hutchins' History of Dorset for the list of Stour Provost rectors. Back

5. Chancery Proceedings, 1722. Fielding v. Midford. Record Office. Back

6. Edmund's name was added in October following. Back

7. Chancery Decrees and Order Books. Record Office. Back

8. Tom Jones, Book xiii. Introduction. Back

9. Ibid., Book viii., ch. xiii. Back

10. Tom Jones, Book ix. Introduction. Back

11. See infra, chap. xi. Back

12. Fifty years ago a portrait of the beautiful heiress, in the character of Sophia Western, was still preserved at the house of Bellairs, near Exeter, then the property of the Rhodes family. The present ownership of the picture has, so far, eluded inquiry. Back

13. Fielding, Austin Dobson, p. 202. Back

Footnotes for Chapter 2

1. Joseph Andrews, Book iii. Chap. iii. Back

2. Miscellanies,ed. 1743, vol. ii. p. 62. Back

3. In the Miscellanies of 1743. Back

4. Fielding, Austin Dobson, 1907. App. iv. Back

5. What appears to be the original autograph of the above letter is now (1909) in the library of the Boston Athenaeum, having been presented by Mr C. P. Greenough. Back

6. Notitia Dramatica (British Museum. MSS. Dept.) and Genest give 1734 as the date of Don Quixote; Murphy, edition of 1766, vol. iii p. 249, gives 1733. Back

7. For the refutation of Genest's confusion of Timothy Fielding, a strolling player, with Henry Fielding, see Austin Dobson, Fielding, pp. 28, 29. Back

8. The Miscellanies. Edition 1743. Back

Footnotes for Chapter 3

1. Tom Jones. Book xiii. Introduction. Back

2. See the registers of St Mary Charlcombe. As Sarah Fielding, the novelist's sister, was buried in the entrance to the chancel of this church, it would appear that some connection existed between Charlcombe and the Fielding family. Back

3. Seasonable Reproof--a Satire in the manner of Horace, 1735. Back

4. The entry in the East Stour Registers is "W'm. Young, Curate 1731-1740." Back

5. Voyage to Lisbon. Back

Footnotes for chapter 4

1. Works of Henry Fielding, Edited by Edmund Gosse. Introduction, p. xxi. Back

2. Life of Garrick. T. Davies. 1780, vol. i. p. 223. Back

3. Notitia Dramatica, MSS. Dept. British Museum, speaks of Pasquin as performed for the fortieth time on April 21, 1736: and quotes an advertisement of the play for March 5. There seems to be no record of the actual first night. Back

4. Rich appears to have been the manager at Covent Garden from 1733 to 1761. Back

5. Autobiography of Mrs Delany. 1861. Vol I. p. 554. Back

6. See Fielding's ironic reference to such "iniquitous surmises" in the Dedication to the Historical Register. Back

7. The earliest newspaper reference, so far available, is that of the Daily Journal for April 6 1737, which speaks of April 11 as the ninth day of the Register. Back

8. In the succeeding Epilogue of Eurydice Hiss'd it must be admitted that Sir Robert's love of the bottle is broadly satirised. Back

9. Daily Advertiser, April 29. 1737. Back

10. Life of Garrick, T. Davies, vol. ii. p. 206. Back

Footnotes for Chapter 5

1. Life of Garrick. T. Davies, vol. ii. Back

2. Works of Henry Fielding, edited by Edmund Gosse. Introduction, p. xxix. Back

3. The Works of Mr George Lillo, with some Account of his Life, T. Davies. Back

Footnotes for Chapter 6

1. The fullest newspaper for theatrical notices at this date, preserved in the British Museum, the London Daily Post, is unfortunately missing for this year. Back

2. Now first printed, from documents at the Record Office. Back

3. A table inscribed by a former owner as having belonged to Henry Fielding, Esq., novelist, is now in the possession of the Somersetshire Archaeological Society. The inscription adds that Fielding "hunted from East Stour Farm in 1718." He would then be eleven years old! Back

4. From the hitherto unpublished original, in the library of Alfred Huth, Esq. Back

5. "Cro: Eliz." is the legal abbreviation for Justice Croke's law reports for the reign of Elizabeth. Back

6. Champion, February 26, 1740. Back

7. The Tryal of Colley Cibber, Comedian etc. 1740. Back

8. Those of April 22, and April 29, 1740. Back

9. And see Daily Gazeteer, Oct. 9, 1740. Back

10. Champion, December 22, 1739. Back

11. For April 22, April 29, May 6, and May 17. Back

12. Boswell's Johnson, edited by Birkbeck Hill. Vol. i. p. 169. n. 2: "Ralph ... as appears from the minutes of the partners of the Champion in the possession of Mr Reed of Staple Inn, succeeded Fielding in his share of the paper before the date of that eulogium [1744]." Back

Footnotes for Chapter 7

1. A tantalising reference to one such acquaintance occurs in Lord Campbell's Lives of the Chancellors. Vol. v. p. 357. In notes made by Lord Camden's nephew, George Hardinge, for a proposed Life of the Lord Chancellor there is this entry: "formed an acquaintance ... with Henry Fielding ... called to the Bar." Back

2. Now in the possession of W. K. Bixby, Esq., of St Louis, U.S.A. Back

3. In a manuscript copy of the Minutes, in the possession of the present writer. Back

4. London Daily Post, June 18-26, 1741. Back

5. The hard frost would be the terrible preceding winter of 1739-40, a winter long remembered for the severity of the cold, the cost of provisions, and the suffering of the poor. Back

Footnotes for Chapter 8

1. Cleopatra and Octavia. Sarah Fielding. Introduction. Back

2. See the ledgers of Woodfall, the printer, quoted in Notes and Queries, Series vi. p. 186.Back

3. It is interesting to note that Samuel Rogers was heard to speak with great admiration of chapter xiii. of Book iii., entitled "A curious Dialogue which passed between Mr Abraham Adams and Mr Peter Pounce." (MS. note by Dyce, in a copy of Joseph Andrews, now in the South Kensington Museum.) Back

4. This copy, published in Amsterdam in 1775, is now in the possession of Mr Pierpont Morgan. Back

5. Letters and Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Vol. ii. p. 194. Back

Footnotes for Chapter 9

1. Daily Post, June 5, 1742. Back

2. MS. copy of the Minutes of the Meetings of the Partners in the Champion, in the possession of the present writer. Back

3. See Daily Post. May 29, 1742. Back

4. Preface to the Miscellanies. Back

5. Such as the inscription on some verses, published in the Miscellanies, as "Written Extempore in the Pump-room" at Bath, in 1742. Back

6. Preface to David Simple. Back

Footnotes for Chapter 10

1. These are in the Burney Collection, and are inscribed "These papers are by the celebrated Henry Fielding Esqre." Back

2. See the Gentleman's Magazine. Dec. 1747. Back

3. A Free Comment on the Late Mr. W-G-N's Apology ... By a Lady ... 1748. Back

4. The Patriot Analized. 1748. Back

5. True Patriot No. 14. Back

6. True Patriot. No. 29. May 20, 1746. Back

7. R. Cobbett. Memorials of Twickenham, 1872. Back

8. The Journal's epitaph was promptly written by a scurrilous opponent in lines showing that the prominences of Fielding's profile were well-known:

Beneath this stone
Lies Trott Plaid John
His length of chin and nose.

See the Gentleman's Magazine, November 1748. Back