mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in his harmless converfation; and fuch as have been taught to deride religion, will laugh at one whofe chief ftores of comfort are drawn from futurity.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

CONTENT S.

CHAP.

I.

The defcription of the family of Wakefield; in which

a kindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of

perfons.

CHA P. II.

Family misfortunes. The lofs of fortunes only ferves to

increase the pride of the worthy.

CHA P. III.

5

A migration. The fortunate circumftances of our lives are

generally found at laft to be our own procuring.

CHA P. IV.

8

A proof that even the humbleft fortune may grant hap-

pinefs, which depends not on circumftance, but conftitu-

tion.

CHAP. V.

15

A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place

most hopes upon generally proves most fatal.

CHAP. VI.

The happiness of a country fire-fide.

CHAP. VII.

19

22

A town wit defcribed. The dulleft fellows may learn to be

comical for a night or two.

26

CHAP.

CHAP. VIII.

An amour, which promifes little good fortune, yet may be

productive of much.

30

CHAP. IX.

Two ladies of great diftinction introduced.

finery ever jeems to confer fuperior breeding.

Superior

37

CHAP. X.

The family endeavour to cope with their betters. The

miferies of the poor when they attempt to appear above

their circumftances.

CHAP. XI.

The family ftill refolve to hold up their heads.

CHAP. XII.

41

45

Fortune feems refolved to humble the family of Wakefield.

Mortifications are often more painful than real cala-

Mr. Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the

confidence to give difagreeable advice.

CHAP. XIV.

55

Fresh mortifications, or a demonftration that feeming cala-

mities may be real bleffings.

СНАР., ХV.

58

All Mr. Burchell's villany at once detected. The folly of

being over-wife.

CHAP. XVI.

64

The family ufe art, which is oppofed with fill greater.

CHAP. XVII.

69

Scarce any virtue found to refit the power of long and

pleafing temptation.

CHAP. XVIII.

The pursuit of a father to reclaim a loft child to virtue.

CHAP. XIX.

82

The defeription of a perfon difcontented with the prefent

government, and apprehenfive of the loss of our liberties.

CHAP. XX.

87

The history of a philofophic vagabond, pursuing novelty,

but lofing content.

CHAP. XXI.

95

The short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious,

which is coeval only with mutual fatisfaction.

CHAP. XXII.

ΠΟ

Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom.

CHAP. XXIII.

118

None but the guilty can be long and completely miferable.

CHAP. XXIV.

Fresh calamities.

CHAP. XXV.

122

126

No fituation, however wretched it feems, but has fome fort

of comfort attending it.

CHAP. XXVI.

131

A reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they

fhould reward as well as punish.

CHAP. XXVII.

135

The fame fubject continued.

140

CHAP.

CHAP. XXVIII.

Happiness and mifery rather the refult of prudence than of

virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being

regarded by heaven as things merely in themselves

trifling, and unworthy its care in the diftribution.

CHAP. XXIX.

144

The equal dealings of Providence demonftrated with re-

gard to the happy and the miferable here below. That

from the nature of pleasure and pain, the wretched

must be repaid the balance of their fufferings in the life

hereafter.

CHAP. XXX.

155

Happier profpects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible,

and fortune will at last change in our favour.

CHAP. XXXI.

159

Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected intereft.

CHAP. XXXII.

The Conclufion.

167

181