FOOTNOTES:

[1] A bathing-man under the west cliff, in great request among the fair.

[2] Meaning, perhaps, toujours perdrix.

[3] Miss Lacecap here uses a different word from many of her sister novelists when expressing the same idea. With them the favourite word is error. If a man seduces the sister, daughter, or wife of his friend, that is an error. If a woman leaves her husband for a gallant, the poor lady is in an error. Should a young lady, in the elegant periphrasis of modern novels, be a mother without being a wife, the unfortunate girl is in an error. However, I think Miss Lacecap’s phrase of mistake may answer the purpose as well, and may also suit in other kind affections as well as love. Should a person’s sentimental susceptibility, instead of your wife or your daughter, fancy your purse or your watch, and under the influence of too ardent passion, happen to put his hand into your pocket, why not call this error a mistake? Or should the same susceptibility be turned towards your cups and spoons, and should its votary with two or three more as sentimental as himself, pay your house a nocturnal visit and elope with the beloved objects, why should not this error be called a mistake? Or if one should happen to put another person’s name to a bill or bond instead of his own, soft and sentimental phraseology may also call that a mistake.

Fielding has expressed it otherwise. For instance: We do not find that Miss Maria Seagrim, the sentimental sensibility of whose heart had betrayed her into error with Will Barns, Tom Jones, and Square the philosopher, is even, by the eloquence of Parson Supple, exhibited with such courtly circumlocution. See the chapter in which that worthy clergyman informs Squire Western and Sophia of the state of the too susceptible Maria, with the penetration and facetious remarks of the squire on the occasion.

[4] See Castle Spectre, Cambrobritons, &c.