Henry Fielding: a Memoir Part 18

[5] T. Whitehead. _Original Anecdotes of the late Duke of Kingston_, 1795.

p. 95.

[6] _Some Hapsburghs, Fieldings, Denbighs and Desmonds_, by J. E. M. F.

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 a.s.seruit, suum cuique tribuens; Non quin ipse subinde irritaretur evitandis Ardensin amicitia, in miseria sublevanda effusus Hilaris urba.n.u.s 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. [1]

[1] _Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries_. Vol. viii. p. 353.

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 Ma.n.u.scripts, 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." [1] 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 There are no other of his Works left unpublished.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 Friends.h.i.+p. [2]

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

[1] Morrison Ma.n.u.scripts. Catalogue.

[2] _The Athenaeum_. February 1. 1890.

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 pa.s.sage 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_." [1]

Fielding's residence in Barnes is no less illusive. The following pa.s.sage 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." [2] In the edition of 1811 the house is described as "now the property of Mrs Stanton, widow of the late Admiral Stanton." [3] 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." [4] 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.

[1] _History of Wilts.h.i.+re_. Sir R. C. h.o.a.re; volume ent.i.tled "Old and New Sarum or Salisbury," by R. Benson and H. Hatcher, 1843. p 602.

[2] Lysons. _Environs of London_, edition of 1795. Vol. i. part iii. p.

544.

[3] _Ibid_. Edition 1811. Vol. i. p. 10.

[4] Manning and Bray. _History of Surrey_, 1814, vol. iii. p. 316.

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. [1]

Wednesday evening

Madam,--I have presumed to send your ladys.h.i.+p 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 ladys.h.i.+p'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 ladys.h.i.+p'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 grat.i.tude, madam,

Your ladys.h.i.+p's most obedient, most devoted humble servant.

[1] Letters and Works of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, edited by Lord Wharncliffe and W. M. Thomas. Vol. ii. p. 3, note I, and p. 22.

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."