But as we cannot poſſibly divine what Complexion our Reader may be of, and as it will be ſome Time before he will hear any more of Jenny, we think proper to give him a very early Intimation, that Mr. Allworthy was, and will hereafter appear to be, abſolutely innocent of any criminal Intention whatever. He had indeed committed no other than an Error in Politics, by tempering Juſtic with Mercy, and by refuſing to gratify the good-natured Diſpoſition of the Mob,[1] with an Object for their Compaſſion to work on in the Perſon of poor Jenny, whom, in order to pity, they deſired to have ſeen ſacrificed to Ruin and Infamy by a ſhameful Correction in Bridewel.
So far from complying with this their Inclination, by which all Hopes of Reformation would have been aboliſhed, and even the Gate ſhut againſt her, if her own Inclinations ſhould ever hereafter lead her to chuſe the Road of Virtue, Mr. Allworthy rather choſe to encourage the Girl to return thither by the only poſſible Means;for
- ↑ Whenever this Word occurs in our Writings, it intends Perſons without Virtue, or Senſe, in all Stations, and many of the higheſt Rank are often meant by it.
