 Commodities, at less than half Value to some
London
Undertakers. But, what he lost, in Point of Property, he gained in Matter of Morals; for he grew extremely cautious of adding to the Measure of his former Iniquities, for fear of another Visit from his recent Guests.
As Mr.
Fenton
could not but be frequently apprized of these Prodigies and Alarms, that kept all
Hamstead
waking, and nightly grouped every Family into a single Room. He compared, in his own Mind, the Discomfiture and Banishment of the unfortunate
Snarle,
with the Circumstances of the Provocation which
Ned
had received. He found that all answered, as well in Point of Time, as to
Ned
's natural Unluckiness and Talents at Invention. Yet he could scarce conceive how a Child, little more than eight Years of Age, should be capable of contriving Mischiefs, so formidable in the Execution, and so extensive in their Consequences. Now
Ned
was so happy, on this singular Occasion, that nothing transpired. Wherefore, as Mr.
Fenton
could produce no Manner of Proof, was too delicate to ask any Questions on the Case, lest, on one Hand, he should tempt the Boy into a Lye; or, on the other, be obliged to chastise, or check him for Faults that his Generosity might induce him to confess.
Matters, therefore, with Respect to
Ned,
preserved their State of Tranquillity; though Mr.
Fenton
would often view him with an Eye of Wonder and Suspicion; and could hardly bring himself to believe that a Boy of his extraordinary Genius, should be no other by Birth than a Beggar's Brat. But here, pardon me, Mr.
Fenton,
if I dissent from your Opinion. With humble Deference to your Judgment in other Matters, I conceive that an Infant, begot on a Dunghill, brought forth in a Pigstye, and swathed with a rotten Remnant of the Covering of an Ass, may have Talents and Capacity above the Son of an Emperor.
The Singularity of your Sentiments often strikes me with Astonishment. Do you really think in a way apart from all other People? or is it a Distinction that you affect? Here you set yourself at Fistycuffs with universal Persuasion, with historical Facts, and with the Experience as well as Opinion of all Ages. You seem wholly to have forgot the Circumstances that attended the Birth and Discovery of
Cyrus,
of
O Edipus,
of
Romulus
and
Remus,
with a thousand other Instances, whereby it is evident, that the Beauty, Prowess, and Virtues, of great and glorious Ancestors, naturally devolve upon their Offspring
