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AMELIA VOLUME II
AMELIA VOLUME II HENRY FIELDING VOL. II.
EDITED BY GEORGE
SAINTSBURY WITH
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
HERBERT RAILTON
& E. J. WHEELER.
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
BOOK V.
CHAPTER I.
In which the reader will meet with an old acquaintance
CHAPTER I.
Containing a brace of doctors and much physical matter
CHAPTER II.
In which Booth pays a visit to the noble lord
CHAPTER III.
Relating principally to the affairs of serjeant Atkinson
CHAPTER IV.
Containing matters that require no preface
CHAPTER V.
Containing much heroic matter
CHAPTER VI.
In which the reader will find matter worthy his consideration
CHAPTER VII.
Containing various matters
CHAPTER VIII.
The heroic behaviour of Colonel Bath
CHAPTER IX.
Being the last chapter of the fifth book
BOOK VI.
CHAPTER I.
Panegyrics on beauty with other grave matters
CHAPTER II.
Which will not appear we presume unnatural to all married readers
CHAPTER III.
In which the history looks a little backwards
CHAPTER IV.
Containing a very extraordinary incident
CHAPTER V.
Containing some matters not very unnatural
CHAPTER 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
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
AMELIA AND HER CHILDREN . . . Frontispiece
COLONEL BATH
LAWYER MURPHY
BOOK V.
Chapter i.
_In which the reader will meet with an old acquaintance._
Booth's affairs were put on a better aspect than they had ever worn
before and he was willing to make use of the opportunity of one day
in seven to taste the fresh air.
At nine in the morning he went to pay a visit to his old friend
Colonel James resolving if possible to have a full explanation of
that behaviour which appeared to him so mysterious: but the colonel
was as inaccessible as the best defended fortress; and it was as
impossible for Booth to pass beyond his entry as the Spaniards found
it to take Gibraltar. He received the usual answers; first that the
colonel was not stirring and an hour after that he was gone out. All
that he got by asking further questions was only to receive still
ruder answers by which if he had been very sagacious he might have
been satisfied how little worth his while it was to desire to go in;
for the porter at a great man's door is a kind of thermometer by
which you may discover the warmth or coldness of his master's
friendship. Nay in the highest stations of all as the great man
himself hath his different kinds of salutation from an hearty embrace
with a kiss and my dear lord or dear Sir Charles down to well Mr.
---- what would you have me do? so the porter to some bows with
respect to others with a smile to some he bows more to others less
low to others not at all. Some he just lets in and others he just
shuts out. And in all this they so well correspond that one would be
inclined to think that the great man and his porter had compared their
lists together and like two actors concerned to act different parts
in the same scene had rehearsed their parts privately together before
they ventured to perform in public.
Though Booth did not perhaps see the whole matter in this just
light for that in reality it is yet he was discerning enough to
conclude from the behaviour of the servant especially when he
considered that of the master likewise that he had entirely lost the
friendship of James; and this conviction gave him a concern that not
only the flattering prospect of his lordship's favour was not able to
compensate but which even obliterated and made him for a while
forget the situation in which he had left his Amelia: and he wandered
about almost two hours scarce knowing where he went till at last he
dropt into a coffee-house near St James's where he sat himself down.
He had scarce drank his dish of coffee before he heard a young officer
of the guards cry to another "Od d--n me Jack here he comes--
here's old honour and dignity faith." Upon which he saw a chair open
and out issued a most erect and stately figure indeed with a vast
periwig on his head and a vast hat under his arm. This august
personage having entered the room walked directly up to the upper
end where having paid his respects to all present of any note to
each according to seniority he at last cast his eyes on Booth and
very civilly though somewhat coldly asked him how he did.
Booth who had long recognized the features of his old acquaintance
Major Bath returned the compliment with a very low bow; but did not
venture to make the first advance to familiarity as he was truly
possessed of that quality which the Greeks considered in the highest
light of honour and which we term modesty; though indeed neither
ours nor the Latin language hath any word adequate to the idea of the
original.
The colonel after having discharged himself of two or three articles
of news and made his comments upon them when the next chair to him
became vacant called upon Booth to fill it. He then asked him several
questions relating to his affairs; and when he heard he was out of
the army advised him earnestly to use all means to get in again
saying that he was a pretty lad and they must not lose him.
Booth told him in a whisper that he had a great deal to say to him on
that subject if they were in a more private place; upon this the
colonel proposed a walk in the Park which the other readily accepted.
During their walk Booth opened his heart and among other matters
acquainted Colonel Bath that he feared he had lost the friendship of
Colonel James; "though I am not" said he "conscious of having done
the least thing to deserve it."
Bath answered "You are certainly mistaken Mr. Booth. I have indeed
scarce seen my brother since my coming to town; for I have been here
but two days; however I am convinced he is a man of too nice honour
to do anything inconsistent with the true dignity of a gentleman."
Booth answered "He was far from accusing him of anything
dishonourable."--"D--n me" said Bath "if there is a man alive can or
dare accuse him: if you have the least reason to take anything ill
why don't you go to him? you are a gentleman and his rank doth not
protect him from giving you satisfaction." "The affair is not of any
such kind" says Booth; "I have great obligations to the colonel and
have more reason to lament than complain; and if I could but see him
I am convinced I should have no cause for either; but I cannot get
within his house; it was but an hour ago a servant of his turned me
rudely from the door." "Did a servant of my brother use you rudely?"
said the colonel with the utmost gravity. "I do not know sir in
what light you see such things; but to me the affront of a servant
is the affront of the master; and if he doth not immediately punish
it by all the dignity of a man I would see the master's nose between
my fingers." Booth offered to explain but to no purpose; the colonel
was got into his stilts; and it was impossible to take him down nay
it was as much as Booth could possibly do to part with him without an
actual quarrel; nor would he perhaps have been able to have
accomplished it had not the colonel by accident turned at last to
take Booth's side of the question; and before they separated he swore
many oaths that James should give him proper satisfaction.
Such was the end of this present interview so little to the content
of Booth that he was heartily concerned he had ever mentioned a
syllable of the matter to his honourable friend.
[This chapter occurs in the original edition of _Amelia_ between 1
and 2. It is omitted later and would have been omitted here but for
an accident. As it had been printed it may as well appear: for though
it has no great value it may interest some readers as an additional
illustration of Fielding's dislike to doctors.--ED.
_Containing a brace of doctors and much physical matter._
He now returned with all his uneasiness to Amelia whom he found in a
condition very little adapted to relieve or comfort him. That poor
woman was now indeed under very great apprehensions for her child
whose fever now began to rage very violently: and what was worse an
apothecary had been with her and frightened her almost out of her
wits. He had indeed represented the case of the child to be very
desperate and had prevailed on the mother to call in the assistance
of a doctor.
Booth had been a very little time in the room before this doctor
arrived with the apothecary close at his heels and both approached
the bed where the former felt the pulse of the sick and performed
several other physical ceremonies.
He then began to enquire of the apothecary what he had already done
for the patient; all which as soon as informed he greatly approved.
The doctor then sat down called for a pen and ink filled a whole
side of a sheet of paper with physic then took a guinea and took his
leave; the apothecary waiting upon him downstairs as he had attended
him up.
All that night both Amelia and Booth sat up with their child who
rather grew worse than better. In the morning Mrs. Ellison found the
infant in a raging fever burning hot and very light-headed and the
mother under the highest dejection; for the distemper had not given
the least ground to all the efforts of the apothecary and doctor but
seemed to defy their utmost power with all that tremendous apparatus
of phials and gallypots which were arranged in battle-array all over
the room.
Mrs. Ellison seeing the distrest and indeed distracted condition of
Amelia's mind attempted to comfort her by giving her hopes of the
child's recovery. "Upon my word madam" says she "I saw a child of
much the same age with miss who in my opinion was much worse
restored to health in a few days by a physician of my acquaintance.
Nay I have known him cure several others of very bad fevers; and if
miss was under his care I dare swear she would do very well." "Good
heavens! madam" answered Amelia "why should you not mention him to
me? For my part I have no acquaintance with any London physicians nor
do I know whom the apothecary hath brought me." "Nay madam" cries
Mrs. Ellison "it is a tender thing you know to recommend a
physician; and as for my doctor there are abundance of people who
give him an ill name. Indeed it is true he hath cured me twice of
fevers and so he hath several others to my knowledge; nay I never
heard of any more than one of his patients that died; and yet as the
doctors and apothecaries all give him an ill character one is
fearful you know dear madam." Booth enquired the doctor's name
which he no sooner heard than he begged his wife to send for him
immediately declaring he had heard the highest character imaginable
of him at the Tavern from an officer of very good understanding.
Amelia presently complied and a messenger was despatched accordingly.
But before the second doctor could be brought the first returned with
the apothecary attending him as before. He again surveyed and handled
the sick; and when Amelia begged him to tell her if there was any
hopes he shook his head and said "To be sure madam miss is in a
very dangerous condition and there is no time to lose. If the
blisters which I shall now order her should not relieve her I fear
we can do no more."--"Would not you please sir" says the apothecary
"to have the powders and the draught repeated?" "How often were they
ordered?" cries the doctor. "Only _tertia_ quaq. hora" says the
apothecary. "Let them be taken every hour by all means" cries the
doctor; "and--let me see pray get me a pen and ink."--"If you think
the child in such imminent danger" said Booth "would you give us
leave to call in another physician to your assistance--indeed my
wife"--"Oh by all means" said the doctor "it is what I very much
wish. Let me see Mr. Arsenic whom shall we call?" "What do you think
of Dr Dosewell?" said the apothecary.--"Nobody better" cries the
physician.--"I should have no objection to the gentleman" answered
Booth "but another hath been recommended to my wife." He then
mentioned the physician for whom they had just before sent. "Who
sir?" cries the doctor dropping his pen; and when Booth repeated the
name of Thompson "Excuse me sir" cries the doctor hastily "I shall
not meet him."--"Why so sir?" answered Booth. "I will not meet him"
replied the doctor. "Shall I meet a man who pretends to know more than
the whole College and would overturn the whole method of practice
which is so well established and from which no one person hath
pretended to deviate?" "Indeed sir" cries the apothecary "you do
not know what you are about asking your pardon; why he kills
everybody he comes near." "That is not true" said Mrs. Ellison. "I
have been his patient twice and I am alive yet." "You have had good
luck then madam" answered the apothecary "for he kills everybody
he comes near." "Nay I know above a dozen others of my own
acquaintance" replied Mrs. Ellison "who have all been cured by him."
"That may be madam" cries Arsenic; "but he kills everybody for all
that--why madam did you never hear of Mr. ----? I can't think of the
gentleman's name though he was a man of great fashion; but everybody
knows whom I mean." "Everybody indeed must know whom you mean"
answered Mrs. Ellison; "for I never heard but of one and that many
years ago."
Before the dispute was ended the doctor himself entered the room. As
he was a very well-bred and very good-natured man he addressed
himself with much civility to his brother physician who was not quite
so courteous on his side. However he suffered the new comer to be
conducted to the sick-bed and at Booth's earnest request to deliver
his opinion.
The dispute which ensued between the two physicians would perhaps be
unintelligible to any but those of the faculty and not very
entertaining to them. The character which the officer and Mrs. Ellison
had given of the second doctor had greatly prepossessed Booth in his
favour and indeed his reasoning seemed to be the juster. Booth
therefore declared that he would abide by his advice upon which the
former operator with his zany the apothecary quitted the field and
left the other in full possession of the sick.
The first thing the new doctor did was (to use his own phrase) to blow
up the physical magazine. All the powders and potions instantly
disappeared at his command; for he said there was a much readier and
nearer way to convey such stuff to the vault than by first sending it
through the human body. He then ordered the child to be blooded gave
it a clyster and some cooling physic and in short (that I may not
dwell too long on so unpleasing a part of history) within three days
cured the little patient of her distemper to the great satisfaction
of Mrs. Ellison and to the vast joy of Amelia.
Some readers will perhaps think this whole chapter might have been
omitted; but though it contains no great matter of amusement it may
at least serve to inform posterity concerning the present state of
physic.]
Chapter ii.
_In which Booth pays a visit to the noble lord._
When that day of the week returned in which Mr. Booth chose to walk
abroad he went to wait on the noble peer according to his kind
invitation.
Booth now found a very different reception with this great man's
porter from what he had met with at his friend the colonel's. He no
sooner told his name than the porter with a bow told him his lordship
was at home: the door immediately flew wide open and he was conducted
to an ante-chamber where a servant told him he would acquaint his
lordship with his arrival. Nor did he wait many minutes before the
same servant returned and ushered him to his lordship's apartment.
He found my lord alone and was received by him in the most courteous
manner imaginable. After the first ceremonials were over his lordship
began in the following words: "Mr. Booth I do assure you you are
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