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Endings
| Original Ending (1796) | Second Ending (1797) |
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Young Henry: …those in poverty, ungrateful as they are, murmur against
that government from which they receive the blessing; and, unlearned as
they are, would attempt to alter it. We leave to the physician the care of our health, we employ
the soldier in fighting our battles, and the lawyer in the defence of
our fortunes, without presuming to interrupt them in their
vocations—then, why not leave, and without molestation, those to
govern a kingdom who have studied the science of politics?
For though a physician may not always be skilful, a soldier may
not always have courage, a lawyer not always honesty, or a minister
always good fortune—yet, we should consider, that it is not upon earth
we are to look for a state of perfection—it is only in heaven—and
there, we may rest assured, that no practitioner in the professions I
have named will ever be admitted to disturb our eternal felicity (Inchbald
201-3). (Cauwels) |
Henry senior remarks at the end of the book that the dissatisfaction of the poor with their lot was:…the fault of education, of early prejudice. Our children observe us pay respect, even reverence, to the wealthy, while we slight or despise our poor. The impression thus made on their minds in youth is indelible during the more advanced periods of life; and they continue to pine after riches, and lament under poverty:… [To which observations his son replies:] Let the poor, then, no more be their own persecutors--no longer pay homage to wealth-instantaneously the whole idolatrous worship will cease--the idol will be broken (Inchbald 205). (Cauwels) |