Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/85

 the inferior Sort of People may learn one good Leon, viz. Repect and Deference to their Superiors. Since it mut hew them the wide Ditinction Fortune intends between thoe Perons who are to be corrected for their Faults, and thoe who are not; which Leon, if they do not learn, I am afraid, they very rarely learn any other good Leon, or improve their Morals, at the Houe of Correction.

A Lawyer may, perhaps, think Mr. Allworthy exceeded his Authority a little in this Intance. And, to ay the Truth, I quetion, as here was no regular Information before him, whether his Conduct was trictly regular. However, as his Intention was truly upright, he ought to be excued in Foro Concientiæ, ince o many arbitrary Acts are daily committed by Magitrates, who have not this Excue to plead for themelves.

Tom was no ooner informed by the Contable, whither they were proceeding, (indeed he pretty well gueed it of himelf) than he caught Molly in his Arms, and embracing her tenderly before them all, wore he would murder the firt Man who offered to lay hold of her. He bid her dry her