How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
My landlord, who had been called out by the arrival of a horseman at the gate, now returned into the kitchen, and with an affrighted countenance cried out, "What do you think, gentlemen? The rebels have given the duke the slip, and are got almost to London. It is certainly true, for a man on horseback just now told me so." (12.7.18-21)
In the town where Tom and Partridge watch the puppet-show, they stay at an inn where the landlord and his guests wind up discussing current political issues of the day. The landlord hears news from a horseman that the rebels have escaped from the duke. And he's totally wrong.
But this scene reveals something interesting about news back in the day: no one in these smaller British towns really know what's going on with national politics at any given time. It's all rumor and gossip. These guys talk about politics the way we talk about our Fantasy Football leagues—it's all speculation and fandom.
Quote #8
He began therefore to make a very warm answer to her last speech, when a mask, in the character of an old woman, joined them. This mask was one of those ladies who go to a masquerade only to vent ill-nature, by telling people rude truths, and by endeavouring, as the phrase is, to spoil as much sport as they are able. This good lady, therefore, having observed Jones, and his friend, whom she well knew, in close consultation together in a corner of the room, concluded she could nowhere satisfy her spleen better than by interrupting them. (13.7.16)
This woman at the masquerade ball uses the fact that she is wearing a mask as an opportunity to offend the people whom she recognizes. (The fact that her mask is shaped like "an old woman" might also suggest a particular association between old ladies and mean gossip.) Honestly, this woman's strategy of hiding behind her anonymous identity to bully the people around her reminds us of something ultra-modern: online bullying. She's like any troll who uses the internet as a mask to tell people "rude truths" and to "vent ill-nature."
Quote #9
I shud sartenly haf kaled on you a cordin too mi prommiss haddunt itt bin that hur lashipp prevent mee; for to bee sur, Sir, you nose very well that evere persun must luk furst at ome, and sartenly such anuther offar mite not have ever hapned, so as I shud ave bin justly to blam, had I not excepted of it when her lashipp was so veri kind as to offar to mak mee hur one uman without mi ever askin any such thing, to be sur shee is won of thee best ladis in thee wurld, and pepil who sase to the kontrari must bee veri wiket pepil in thare harts. (15.10.10)
Oh jeepers, this effort by Fielding to imitate the bad spelling of an uneducated person (in this case, Mrs. Honour) is almost as embarrassing and offensive as his attempts to portray the gypsy king's accent. Why do you think Fielding includes Mrs. Honour's letter here in this manner? Why might Fielding be so focused on exactly describing his characters' accents or how they write?