This comment, according to Pamela's Conduct in High Life, "is like the Roman Persecution of the Christians, who sewed them in Bears Skins and then baited them. How unfair he is, and how much of the Goat he has in his Constitution are visible" (I, xiii).
29.1-30.27
Quotation from Letter XV. Concerning this passage, Pamela's Conduct in High Life asks: "What is there immodest in this Account, what to excite any Passions but those of Pity for a virtuous young Creature, and Indignation to a tyrannical lewd Man of Fortune? How do the Fright, the Terror, and Apprehensions of a defenceless Virgin kindle Desire? and when they have deprived her of Sense, how can we fairly from the Words of Pamela's Letter gather, that she fell in an indecent Posture?" "The Warmth of Imagination in this virtuous Censurer," continues Pamela's Conduct in High Life, "supplies the rest: He can't suppose that she could possibly fall but as he has painted her, and if the Editor has been defective in CONVEYING THE MOST ARTFUL AND ALLURING AMOROUS IDEAS, if the Letters do not abound with Incidents which must necessarily raise in the unwary Youth that read them EMOTIONS far distant from the PRINCIPLES of VIRTUE. If they are not replete with Images to enflame, the Censurer endeavours to repair the Fault[. H]e, not the Editor, contrives to give an Idea of Pamela's hidden Beauties, and would have you imagine she lies in the most immodest Posture, such a one as Mrs. Jervis thought Things had gone farther, but can this be gathered from Pamela's Account, or is not this virtuous Censurer endeavouring to impress in the Minds of Youth that read his Defence of Modesty and Virtue, Images that may enflame? Was not, says he, the 'Squire very modest to withdraw? for she lay in such a pretty Posture that Mrs. Jervis thought it was worse. Why did Mrs. Jervis think this from the pretty Posture? Nay, how could she think it from any Posture? when the same Account tells us she and the 'Squire were obliged to burst open the Door, for Mrs. Jervis to get in to her Assistance; Is it not more reasonable for Mrs. Jervis to conclude as she did, from the unruly lawless Passion with which she knew her Master tormented, from the Obstinacy of his Temper, and from the Hopes he might entertain, being Master of a large Fortune, that he might, born up by that, stem the Tide of Justice, and perpetrate the greatest Villainy with Impunity? We are told in the Letters that she fainted away, and fell on the Floor stretch'd at her Length, and as her Gown was caught in, and torn by the Door, she must fall too near it, in whatever Posture, to shew any latent Beauties, but what is there indecent in this Relation? Is there any particular Posture described? Oh, but the Censurer lays her in one which may enflame, you must imagine as lusciously as he does; if the Letter has not discover'd enough, the pious Censurer lends a Hand, and endeavours to surfeit your Sight by lifting the Covering which was left by the Editor, and with the Hand of a boisterous Ravisher takes the Opportunity of Pamela's being in a Swoon to ——" (I, xiv-xv).
30.28
Concerning "whether the 'Squire was not modest," Pamela's Conduct in High Life explains that Mr. B "shews he had some Humanity, and was touch'd with Remorse at the Distress he himself occasioned. This, no doubt the Censurer, who seems as much divested of Humanity as a Stranger to Virtue or even Decency, blames the 'Squire for in his Heart, thinks him a silly Country Booby, a half-paced Sinner, a Milk-sop to be capable of Compassion, and no doubt would gladly have had him gone thorough, that he might have had the Pleasure of imaginary Pimping, and have surfeited his Sight" (I, xv-(xvi)).
31.6-32.19
Concerning this passage, Pamela's Conduct in High Life sums up its argument by saying: "But this unfair Censurer fearing he has not yet warm'd the Imagination of his Readers, lays Pamela in a Posture, and particularizes her latent charms, p. 31, and then charges his own luxurious Fancy on the Author, as he calls the Editor" (I, [xvi]).
33.1-20
Quotation from Letter XVIII.
33.25-34.13