a "great tatter'd Bard," treading cautiously through the streets lest he meet a bailiff, oppressed with "want and with contempt," his very liberty to "wholesome Air" taken from him, yet possessing the greatness of mind that no circumstances can touch, and the power to bestow a fame that shall outlive the gifts of kings. This latter claim foreshadows the magnificent apostrophe in _Tom Jones_ on that unconquerable force of genius, able to confer immortality both on the poet, and the poet's theme. Was the 'great tatter'd Bard,' cautiously treading the streets, little esteemed, and yet the conscious possessor of true greatness (did not the author of _Tom Jones_ rely with confidence on receiving honour from generations yet unborn), none other than the tall figure of Fielding himself? At least we know that soon after this year he writes of having lately suffered accidents and waded through distresses, sufficient to move the pity of his readers, were he "fond enough of Tragedy" to make himself "the Hero of one." One of the rare fragments of Fielding's autograph, [2] refers both to this pamphlet, and to the _Vernoniad_: "Mr Nourse, "Please to deliver Mr Chappell 50 of [crossed out: my] [_sic_] True Greatness and 50 of the Vernoniad. Y'rs "Hen. Ffielding. "_April_ 20 1741." In June of this year occurred the death of General Edmund Fielding, briefly noticed in the _London Magazine_ as that of an officer who "had served in the late Wars against _France_ with much Bravery and Reputation." The General's own struggles to support his large family probably prevented his death affecting the circumstances of his eldest son. In the same month Fielding appears as attending a "Meeting of the Partners in the Champion," held at the Feathers Tavern, on June 29. The list of the partners present at the Feathers is given as follows:--[3] Present Mr Fielding Mr Nourse Mr Hodges Mr Chappelle Mr Cogan Mr Gilliver Mr Chandler The business recorded was the sale of the "Impressions of the Champion in two Vollumes, 12'o, No. 1000." The impression was put up to the Company by auction, and was knocked down to Mr Henry Chappelle for £110, to be paid to the partners. The majority of the partners are declared by the Minutes to have confirmed the bargain; the minority, as appears from the list of signatures, being strictly that of one, Henry Fielding. After this dissension Fielding's name ceases to appear at the _Champion_ meetings; and as he himself states that he left off writing for the paper from this very month the evidence certainly points to a withdrawal on his part in June 1741 from both the literary and the business management of the paper. The edition referred to in the Minutes is doubtless that advertised in the _London Daily Post_ a few days before the meeting of the partners, as a publication of the _Champion_ "in two neat Pocket Volumes." [4]