Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/216

 Time, and formed his only Amuement. He at lat completed a mot excellent Plan; and very orry we are, that it is not in our Power to preent it to our Reader, ince even the Luxury of the preent Age, I believe, would hardly match it. It had, indeed, in a uperlative Degree, the two principal Ingredients which erve to recommend all great and noble Deigns of this Nature: For it required an immoderate Expence to execute, and a vat Length of Time to bring it to any Sort of Perfection. The former of thee, the immene Wealth of which the Captain uppoed Mr. Allworthy poeed, and which he thought himelf ure of inheriting, promied very effectually to upply; and the latter, the Soundnes of his own Contitution, and his Time of Life, which was only what is called Middle Age, removed all Apprehenion of his not living to accomplih.

Nothing was wanting to enable him to enter upon the immediate Execution of this Plan, but the Death of Mr. Allworthy; in calculating which he had employed much of his own Algebra; beides purchaing every Book extant that treats of the Value of Lives, Reverions, &c. From all which, he atisfied himelf, that as he had every