could be no other than Baker's Chronicle.
    The Curate, surprized to find such Instances of Industry and Application in
a young Man, who had never met with the least Encouragement, asked him, if he
did not extremely regret the want of a liberal Education, and the not having
been born of Parents, who might have indulged his Talents and Desire of
Knowledge? To which he answered, »he hoped he had profited somewhat better from
the Books he had read, than to lament his Condition in this World. That for his
part, he was perfectly content with the State to which he was called, that he
should endeavour to improve his Talent, which was all required of him, but not
repine at his own Lot, nor envy those of his Betters.« »Well said, my Lad,«
reply'd the Curate, »and I wish some who have read many more good Books, nay and
some who have written good Books themselves, had profited so much by them.«
    Adams had no nearer Access to Sir Thomas, or my Lady, than through the
Waiting-Gentlewoman: For Sir Thomas was too apt to estimate Men merely by their
Dress, or Fortune; and my Lady was a Woman of Gaiety, who had been bless'd with
a Town-Education, and never spoke of any of her Country Neighbours, by any other
Appellation than that of The Brutes. They both regarded the Curate as a kind of
Domestic only, belonging to the Parson of the Parish, who was at this time at
variance with the Knight; for the Parson had for many Years lived in a constant
State of Civil War, or, which is perhaps as bad, of Civil Law, with Sir Thomas
himself and the Tenants of his Manor. The Foundation of this Quarrel was a
Modus, by setting which aside, an Advantage of several Shillings per Annum would
have accrued to the Rector: but he had not yet been able to accomplish his
Purpose; and had reaped hitherto nothing better from the Suits than the Pleasure
(which he used indeed frequently to say was no small one) of reflecting that he
had utterly undone many of the poor Tenants, tho' he had at the same time
greatly impoverish'd himself.
    Mrs. Slipslop the Waiting-Gentlewoman, being herself the Daughter of a
Curate, preserved some Respect for Adams; she professed great Regard for his
Learning, and would frequently dispute with him on Points of Theology; but
always insisted on a Deference to be paid to her Understanding, as she had been
frequently at London, and knew