[3]. Ibid. Vol. ii. p. 289. [Back]
[4]. It is curious that to this unlucky incident, based according to Lady Louisa Stuart, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's grand-daughter, on a real accident to Mrs Fielding, Dr Johnson attributed the failure of the book with the public: "that vile broken nose ruined the sale," he declared. Early in January Fielding himself protests in his Covent Garden Journal that every reader of any intelligence would have discovered that the effects of Amelia's terrible carriage accident had been wholly remedied by "a famous Surgeon"; and that "the Author of her History, in a hurry, forgot to inform his Readers of that Particular." The particular has by now fallen into its due insignificance, and, save for Johnson's explanation therein of the poor sale of the book, is scarce worth recalling. [Back]
[5]. London Magazine. December 1751. p. 531 and Appendix. [Back]
[6]. Fielding. Austin Dobson. p. 161. [Back]
Footnotes for Chapter 15
[1]. A dramatic satire, advertised in March at Covent Garden Theatre and written (as stated by Dibdin, History of the Stage. Vol. v. p. 156), by the actor Macklin, bore for sub-title Pasquin turned Drawcansir, Censor of Great Britain. The name, and the further details of the advertisement, recall Fielding's early success with his political Pasquin: but all further trace of this 'Satire' seems lost. See [Appendix C]. [Back]
[2] A faithful Narrative.... By Drawcansir.... Alexander. 1752. [Back]
[4]. All trace seems now lost of the actual part Fielding may have taken in the drafting of this Act. [Back]