ſtrongly attached to the Intereſt only of one ſingle Perſon; and who that ſingle Perſon was, the Reader will be able to divine without any Aſſiſtance of ours.
Theſe two Characters are not always received in the World with the different Regard which ſeems ſeverally due to either; and which one would imagine Mankind, from Self-intereſt, should ſhew towards them. But perhaps there may be a political Reaſon for it: In finding one of a truly benevolent Diſpoſition, Men may very reaſonably ſuppoſe, they have found a Treaſure, and be deſirous of keeping it, like all other good Things, to themſelves. Hence they may imagine, that to trumpet forth the Praiſes of ſuch a Perſon, would, in the vulgar Phraſe, be crying Roaſt-meat; and calling in Partakers of what they intend to apply ſolely to their own Uſe. If this Reaſon doth not ſatisfy the Reader, I know no other Means of accounting for the little Reſpect which I have commonly ſeen paid to a Character which really doth great Honour to Human Nature, and is productive of the higheſt Good to Society. But it was otherwiſe with Sophia. She honoured Tom Jones, and ſcorned Maſter Blifil, almoſt asſoon
