Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/259

  The Opinions of the Divine and the Philoopher concerning the two Boys; with ome Reaons for their Opinions, and other Matters.

T is probable, that by dicloing this Secret, which had been communicated in the utmot Confidence to him, young Blifil preerved his Companion from a good Lahing: For the Offence of the bloody Noe would have been of itelf ufficient Caue for Thwackum to have proceeded to Correction; but now this was totally aborbed, in the Conideration of the other Matter; and with Regard to this, Mr. Allworthy declared privately, he thought the Boy deerved Reward rather than Punihment; o that Thwackum’s Hand was withheld by a general Pardon.

Thwackum, whoe Meditations were full of Birch, exclaimed againt this weak, and as he aid he would venture to call it, wicked Lenity. To remit the Punihment of uch Crimes was, he aid, to encourage them. He enlarged much on the Correction of Children, and quoted many Texts from