An Enquiry into the Causes of the late Increase of Robbers/Dedication

by Henry Fielding

To the

RIGHT HONOURABLE

Philip Lord Hardwick,

Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.

My Lord,

As the Reformation of any Part of our Civil Polity requires as much the Knowledge of the Statesman as of the Lawyer, the following Sheets are, with the strictest Propriety, addressed to a Person of the highest Eminence in both these Capacities.

The Subject of this Treatise cannot be thought unworthy of such a Protection, because it touches only those Evils which have arisen in the lower Branches of our Constitution. This Consideration will account for their having hitherto escaped your Lordship's Notice; and that alone will account for their having so long prevailed: But your Lordship will not, for this Reason, think it below your Regard; since, however ignoble the Parts may be in which the Disease is first engendered, it will in time be sure to affect the whole Body.

The Subject, indeed, is of such Importance, that we may truly apply to it those Words of Cicero, in his First Book of Laws: Ad Reipublicæ formandas & stabiliendas vires, & ad sanandos Populos omnis pergit Oratio. How far I have been able to succeed in the Execution, must be submitted to your Lordship's Candour. I hope I have no immodest Opinion of my own Abilities; but, in truth, I have much less Confidence in my Authority. Indeed the highest Authority is necessary to any Degree of Success in an Attempt of this Kind. Permit me, therefore, my Lord, to fly to the Protection of the Highest which doth now exist, or which perhaps ever did exist, in this Kingdom.

This great Sanction is, I am convinced, always ready to support what really tends to the Public Utility: If I fail, therefore, of obtaining the Honour of it, I shall be fully satisfied that I do not deserve it, and shall sit down contented with the Merit of a good Intent: for surely there is some Praise due to the bare Design of doing a Service to the Public. Nor can my Enemies, I think, deny that I am intirely disinterested in my Endeavour, unless they should discover the Gratification which my Ambition finds in the Opportunity of this Address.

I am,

with the most profound Respect,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obedient,

most devoted humble Servant,

Henry Fielding.