Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/232

 many have been long impatient to be introduced to his Acquaintance.  ''The Hero of this great Hitory appears with very bad Omens. A little Tale, of o  a Kind, that ome may think it not worth their Notice. A Word or two concerning a Squire, and more relating to a Game-keeper, and a Schoolmater.''

S we determined when we firt at down to write this Hitory, to flatter no Man; but to guide our Pen throughout by the Directions of Truth, we are obliged to bring our Hero on the Stage in a much more diadvantageous Manner than we could wih; and to declare honetly, even at his firt Appearance, that it was the univeral Opinion of all Mr. Allworthy’s Family, that he was certainly born to be hanged.

Indeed, I am orry to ay, there was too much Reaon for this Conjecture. The Lad having from his earliet Years dicovered a Propenity to many Vices, and epecially to one, which hath as direct a Tendency as any other to that Fate, which we have jut now