 so apt to hiss and explode him.
    To give a higher Idea of the Principle I mean, as well as one more familiar
to the present Age; it may be considered as sitting on its Throne in the Mind,
like the LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR of this Kingdom in his Court; where it presides,
governs, directs, judges, acquits and condemns according to Merit and Justice;
with a Knowledge which nothing escapes, a Penetration which nothing can deceive,
and an Integrity which nothing can corrupt.
    This active Principle may perhaps be said to constitute the most essential
Barrier between us, and our Neighbours the Brutes; for if there be some in the
human Shape, who are not under any such Dominion, I chuse rather to consider
them as Deserters from us to our Neighbours; among whom they will have the Fate
of Deserters, and not be placed in the first Rank.
    Our Heroe, whether he derived it from Thwackum or Square I will not
determine, was very strongly under the Guidance of this Principle: for though he
did not always act rightly, yet he never did otherwise without feeling and
suffering for it. It was this which taught him, that to repay the Civilities and
little Friendships of Hospitality by robbing the House where you have received
them, is to be the basest and meanest of Thieves. He did not think the Baseness
of this Offence lessened by the Height of the Injury committed; on the contrary,
if to steal another's Plate deserved Death and Infamy, it seemed to him
difficult to assign a Punishment adequate to the robbing a Man of his whole
Fortune, and of his Child into the Bargain.
    This Principle therefore prevented him from any Thought of making his
Fortune by such Means (for this, as I have said, is an active Principle, and
doth not content itself with Knowledge or Belief only). Had he been greatly
enamoured of Sophia, he possibly might have thought otherwise; but give me Leave
to say, there is great Difference between running away with a Man's Daughter
from the Motive of Love, and doing the same Thing from the Motive of Theft.
    Now though this young Gentleman was not insensible of the Charms of Sophia;
tho' he greatly liked her Beauty, and esteemed all her other Qualifications, she
had made, however, no deep Impression on his Heart: For which, as it renders him
liable to the Charge of Stupidity, or at least of Want of Taste, we shall now
proceed to account.
    The Truth then is, his Heart was in the Possession of another Woman. Here I
question not, but
