Chap. II. A fhort Hint concerning popular Ingratitude. Mr. Wild's Arrival in the Caftle, with other Occurrences to be found Chap. III. Curious Anecdotes relating to the Chap. IV. The Dead-Warrant arrives for Heartfree; on which Occafion Wild be- Chap. V. The Arrival of a Perfon little Chap. VI. In which the foregoing happy In- Chap. VII. Mrs. Heartfree begins to relate Chap. VIII. In which Mrs. Heartfree conti- nues the Relation of her Adventures. Chap. IX. A wonderful Chapter indeed; which, to thofe who have not read many Voyages, may feem incredible; and which the Reader may believe or not, as be Chap. XIII. The Hiftory returns to the Contemplation of GREATNESS. p. 381 Chap. XIV., A Dialogue between the Ordi- nary of Newgate and Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great: In which the Subjects of Death, Immortality, and other grave Matters are very learnedly handled by Chap. XV. Wild proceeds to the highest Confummation of human GREATNESS THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE of the late Mr. JONATHAN WILD the Great. BOOK I, CHAP. I. Shewing the wholesome Ufes drawn from recording the Atchievements of thofe wonderful Productions of Nature called GREAT MEN. A great and S it is neceffary that all furprizing Events, the Designs of which are laid, conducted, and brought to Perfection by the utmost Force of human Invention and Art, fhould be VL. III. B ma managed by great and eminent Men, fo the Lives of fuch may be justly and properly ftyled the Quinteffence of History. In thefe, when delivered to us by fenfible Writers, we are not only moft agreeably entertained, but ufefully inftructed; for befides the attaining hence a confummate Knowledge of human Nature in general; its fecret Springs, various Windings, and perplexed Mazes; we have here before our Eyes, lively Examples of whatever is amiable or deteftable, worthy of Admiration or Abhorrence, and are confequently taught in a Manner infinitely more effectual than by Precept, what we are eagerly to imitate or carefully to avoid. BUT befides the two obvious Advantages of furveying as it were in a Picture, the true Beauty of Virtue, and Deformity of Vice, we may moreover learn from Plutarch, Nepos, Suetonius, and other Biographers this useful Leffon, not too haftily nor in the Grofs to beftow either our Praife or Cenfure: Since we fhall, often find fuch a Mixture of Good and Evil in the fame Character, that it may require a very very accurate Judgment and elaborate Inquiry to determine which Side the Ballance turns: for tho' we fometimes meet with an Ariftides or a Brutus, a Lyfander or a Nero, yet far the greater Number are of the mixt Kind; neither totally good nor bad; their greatest Virtues being obfcured and allayed by their Vices, and those again foftened and coloured over by their Virtues. OF this Kind was the illuftrious Perfon whose History we here now undertake; who, as he was embellished with many of the greatest and nobleft Endowments, fo these could not well be faid to be abfolutely pure and without Allay. If we view one Side of his Character only, he must be acknowledged equal, if not fuperior to most of the Heroes of Antiquity: But if we turn the Reverse, it must be confeffed our Admiration will be a little abated, and his Character will favour rather of the Weakness of modern than the uniform Greatness of ancient Heroes. |