Page:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy (Volume 1).pdf/150

 sphere; and I should have made no scruple of ranking him amongst one of the first-rate productions of it, had not there appear'd too many strong lines in it of a family-likeness, which shewed that he derived the singularity of his temper more from blood, than either wind or water, or any modifications or combinations of them whatever: And I have, therefore, oft times wondered, that my father, tho' I believe he had his reasons for it, upon his observing some tokens of eccentricity in my course when I was a boy,—should never once endeavour to account for them in this way; for all the were of an original character throughout;—I mean the males,—the females had no character at all,—except, indeed, my great aunt, who, about sixty years ago, was married and got with child by the coach-