Anonymous

“ But when Pamela Censured considers the implications of Pamela's fictionality, it raises two valid literary problems, treating the first in a cursory fashion and devoting to the second most of its space and attention. If, as Pamela Censured first of all asserts, the "editor" of Pamela is really the author, then all of the prefatory material in Pamela must be seen as proof of the author's immorality: he is a man consumed by vanity. ”

“ In the mean time, let me address myself in the most earnest Manner to those of maturer Years, who may chance to be your Readears, that they would weigh what Virtue is, and how much these amorous Expressions may tend to corrupt their Children, before they suffer them to peruse it, nor be led away by the slight Viel of a few Religious Sentiments, which are thinly spread over them, to permit the Youth under their Care to discover the naked Charms of an inflaming Passion, which is too much exposed in almost every Page of this much-admir'd Pamela. ”

“ PAMELA is now become a beautiful young Rustic, each latent Grace, and every blooming Charm is called forth to wound, not in affected Finery, but in an artful Simplicity; nor is your Conduct less, Sir, in introducing her to the Squire: Beauties that might grow familiar to the Eye and pall upon the Passion by being often seen in one Habit, thus varied take a surer Aim to strike.——The Instruction here then is to the Ladies, that by altering their Appearance they are more likely to catch their Lover's Affections than by being always the same ”

“ What a World we live in! It is grown more Wonder that Men are resisted than that Women comply.' Indeed Mr. Pamela is very discerning of her Age!
Mrs. Jervis notwithstanding her motherly Goodness, seems still to be Procuress in Ordinary, though indeed she doth not prove so pac'd an One as Mrs. Jewkes doth afterwards; but wou'd any sober Matron after what Attempts have been made before, ever so far comply with the loose Inclinations of her Master as to introduce him into a Closet to overhear a private Conversation and her Charge? ”

“ When a Person, whose Profession and Character in the World claim a Reverence and Attention, exerts himself in earnestly recommending a Piece to our Perusal, as he bespeaks [Pg 2] Esteem for it, so consequently we are induced to be more curious in our Inspection thereof; especially if that Recommendation is back'd by the Sanction of being deliver'd from the most solemn Place, and from whence we are to expect Nothing but Truth and Virtue. PAMELA has been honour'd in this Manner, both the Pulpit and the Press have joined in its Praises, and extoll'd it as the most perfect Piece of the Kind. ”

“ The Young Lady by thus discovering a few latent Charms, as the snowy Complexion of her Limbs, and the beautiful Symmetry and Proportion which a Girl of about fifteen or sixteen must be supposed to shew by tumbling backwards, after being put in a Flurry by her Lover, and agitated to a great Degree takes her smelling Bottle, has her Laces cut, and all the pretty little necessary Things that the most luscious and warm Description can paint, or the fondest Imagination conceive. ”

“ Well then, poor Pamela must be turn'd off, and look'd upon as a vile abandon'd Creature, and every body would despise her; ay, and justly too, Mrs. Jervis; for she that can't keep her Virtue, ought to live in Disgrace." Fine Instruction truly! That is, My Master lik'd me, he would have made a Harlot of me, but then if I should consent, he may be tired perhaps in a Month or two, or meet with Somebody he likes better, then poor Pamela will be turn'd off, and the World will call her a Fool. ”

“ I help joining with one of your complemental Friends, and acknowledge, that your Picture in resembling Life outglows it.
First then, as Editor, you launch forth into all the extravagant Praises that ever could enter the Heart of a young Author, before his first favourite Performance was condemn'd by the Public. In this Disguise you take a full Aim, and by presenting your Readers with a Prologue to your own Praise, you would prepossess them with Applause, and fondly surfeit on the Eccho. ”

“ Thus much, Sir, I have thought proper to observe in regard to your Assistants; now give me Leave to say, that I think your Pamela so far from being a proper Entertainment for the Youth of both Sexes, especially the young Ladies, that it is indisputable no young Girl however innocent she may be; at the Age when Nature softens and moulds the tender yielding Heart to Love can possibly read several Passages in it, which I shall point out, without conceiving Ideas she otherwise might never have dream'd of ”

“ Novels tend to "inflame the Passions and corrupt the Heart" of the reader because they treat real life with all its sordid concerns: sex, social status, pride, money, and the like. If the novel describes such matters in a realistic fashion, "warm scenes" will inevitably creep into it. ”

“ Besides all this, believe me, Sirs, 'tis every Word true; nor do I at all doubt the Success of the Sale; because I confidently assert, that all the desireable Ends are obtained in these Sheets; and if any one should dispute it, I will convince him by two incontestable Proofs. First, that I know from my own Passions, that I never perused these engaging Scenes without being uncommonly moved: [Pg 12] And, for that Reason, I insist upon it, that every Man who reads them must be the same: And next, that I, as an Editor, judge with more Impartiality than an Author can do. ”

“ And little Miss, who just begins to sigh and wish for she knows not what, will be encouraged to wish for a Husband, and think a double Entendre strictly virtuous, even tho' it turns upon the Closet Commerce between the Sexes: And should any one intrusted with her Education inform her that she is in the Wrong, or strive to check the rising Passion; may she not pertly answer. Why sure! There's no Harm in it, for Pamela does so ”

“ Shadows may be founded on Truth; but thus extended like the Reflections from a declining Summer Evening's Sun, it may please Children with their seeming gigantic Heights, while Men acknowledge it but as the last feeble Efforts of his Light. ”

“ So that a young Lover in order to encourage his growing Virtue is not to blame to see his Mistress in her Shift, nor the young Lady to permit it, if she can discreetly do it so as not to let him think she is sensible of it, 'tis as much as to say, ye Rakes! ”

“ Moreover, while Jenny carefully protects her chastity, she does not in any sense seem motivated by mercenary desires since the preservation of her chastity does not necessarily lead to her marriage with the Marquis. Pamela's reward, on the other hand, is marriage to a vicious though presumably reformed rake. The preservation of her chastity, furthermore, seems motivated by mercenary goals. Finding herself in a situation where she either looses her chastity and becomes Mr. B's whore or preserves her chastity and becomes his wife, Pamela clearly chooses the more profitable alternative. ”

“ The wise Father will never think it proper for his Son's Closet, and the careful Mother banish that with other Novels and Romances from her Daughter's Cabinet.
PAMELA begins from the Death of her Lady, and tho' she gives the Narrative in her own Person, yet let us take it as a Tale only, without any Consideration had to it's being epistolary, and the loose Images will be the more connected, and glare the stronger ”

“ And once she offer'd to kiss me. But I said, I don't like this Sort of Carriage, Mrs. Jewkes; it is not like two Persons of one Sex. She fell a laughing very confidently, and said, That's prettily said, I vow! Then thou hadst rather be kiss'd by the other Sex? "Isackins, I commend thee for that"!' There are at present, I am sorry to say it, too many who assume the Characters of Women of Mrs. Jewkes's Cast, I mean Lovers of their own Sex, Pamela seems to be acquainted with this, and indeed shews so much Virtue, [Pg 51] that she has no Objection to the Male Sex as too many of her own have. ”

“ The Idea of peeping thro' a Key-hole to see a fine Woman extended on a Floor in a Posture that must naturally excite Passions of Desire, may indeed be read by one in his grand Climacteric without ever wishing to see one in the same Situation, but the Editor of Pamela directs himself to the Youth of both Sexes, therefore all the Instruction they can possibly receive from this Passage is, first to the young Men that the more they endeavour to find out the hidden Beauties of their Mistresses, the more they must approve them ”

“ Her fears indeed are not ill-founded. After learning social amenities in the household of the Countess of N——, her godmother, Jenny embarks on a series of trials, including an attempted rape, an offer to be set up as a kept woman, threats of an arranged marriage, and even proposals for a clandestine wedding. Held a virtual prisoner, Jenny ponders the advisability of escape; ultimately she decides that it would be better to forfeit her life rather than loose her reputation. One of her last conflicts involves a menacing Swiss soldier who tries to take her into his custody. ”

“ Yet though the Passions are so much touched, there is not a single Idea throughout the Whole that shall shock the exactest Purity, nor shall a Lady be put to the Blush, even where she may very naturally expect it. ”

“ As Pamela Censured complains, men are inflamed by the description of a woman's body, especially when she seems about to be ravished; women are corrupted into believing they can seduce a man into a lucrative marriage without any moral or physical danger. Novels, moreover, are most likely to inflame and corrupt young readers, who lack experience and who are frequently ruled by their passions. [7]
To a moral man like Richardson, the criticisms in Pamela Censured must have seemed painfully serious. ”

“ In attacking Pamela's morality, Pamela Censured raises a problem inherent in virtually all narrative fiction: stories inevitably lead some readers to imitate the vicious characters [Pg iv] rather than the virtuous ones, in spite of any moral statements made by the author or any punishments meted out at the end of the story. ”

“ Lee's fiery Kisses, melting Raptures, and the most luxuriant Flowers of amorous Rhetoric cannot more fully express the Onset of a declining [Pg 39] stifled Passion kindled anew; the warm Struggle, the sudden Grasp, and the languishing Eye can hardly be painted in stronger Terms: And tho' I think it beautiful Colouring, yet I should be sorry my Son or Daughter should be delighted with it. What follows this, is what any one might expect, the Squire, fired with this View of his Pamela, grows more eager to accomplish his Designs ”

“ In spite of these overwhelming similarities, the plots of Pamela and The Fortunate Country Maid fundamentally differ in one important respect. In Pamela, Mr. B tries to rape the heroine; he offers to make her his whore: he attempts to arrange for her a dishonorable marriage with Parson Williams; and he ultimately weds her himself. In contrast, the Marquis of L—— V—— stands virtually outside the action during most of The Fortunate Country Maid. Jenny fends off a rape, but it is attempted by Chevalier d'Elbieux ”

“ Pamela under the Notion of being a Virtuous Modest Girl will be introduced into all Families, and when she gets there, what Scenes does she represent? Why a fine young Gentleman endeavouring to debauch a beautiful Girl of Sixteen. ”

“ The artistic success of Clarissa undoubtedly reflects in part the lesson Richardson learned from such moral attacks as Pamela Censured and Shamela. While "warm scenes" remain in his second novel—as indeed they must in any realistic portrayal of male-female relations—Richardson continually tempers these scenes with clear indications of Lovelace's vicious nature and careful forebodings of Clarissa's tragic fate. Moreover, unlike Pamela, whose reward is marriage to her would-be rapist, Clarissa escapes from her seducer, achieving a morally unambiguous reward, her heroic death. ”

“ The Advances are regular, and the amorous Conflicts so agreeably and warmly depicted, that the young Gentleman Reader will at the best be tempted to rehearse some of the same Scenes with some Pamela or other in the Family, and the Modest Young Lady can never read the Description of Naked Breasts being run over with the Hand, and Kisses given with such Eagerness that they cling to the Lips ”

“ The next Epistle abounds with the same fulsome Flattery as the former, it is there—"full of Instruction and Morality,—a pure clear Fountain of Truth and Innocence;—a Magazine of Virtue and unblemish'd Thoughts:—ALL others tend only to corrupt our Principles and mislead our Judgments, but Pamela must be for the universal Benefit of Mankind, 'twill reclaim the Vicious, and mend the Age in general."
The Introduction to the Second Edition is only calculated to load us with still more Stuff of the same Kind as the former ”

“ If she is contented with only wishing for the same Trial to shew the Steadiness of her Virtue it is sufficient; but if Nature should be too powerful, as Nature at Sixteen is a very formidable Enemy tho' Shame and the Censure of the World may restrain her from openly gratifying the criminal Thought, yet she privately may seek Remedies which may drive her to the most unnatural Excesses.
This then, said he, in short is my Opinion of Pamela ”

“ Its Heroines were distinguished for modesty, delicacy, and the utmost dignity of manners.—The latter [i.e., novels] represent Mankind too much what they are, paint such scenes of pleasure and vice as are unworthy to see the light, and thus in a manner hackney youth in the ways of wickedness, before they are well entered into the World; expose the fair sex in the most wanton and shameless manner to the eyes of the world. ”

“ For I think, when one of our Sex finds she is attempted, it is an Encouragement to a Person to proceed, if one puts one's self in the Way of it, when one can help it; and it shews one can forgive what in short ought, not to be forgiven: Which is no small Countenance to foul Actions, I'll assure you. ”

“ Romances can be dangerous since they often provide faulty models of moral action for readers who are likely to confuse romantic adventures with the roles they must assume in real life. This attack on romances in Northanger Abbey, moreover, is neither new nor unique, Catherine Moreland being but the literary descendant of such eighteenth-century "female quixotes" as Polly Peachum, Lydia Languish, Polly Honeycomb, and Lydia Melford. ”

“ And Secondly, to the young Ladies that whatever Beauties they discover to their Lovers, provided they grant not the last Favour, they only ensure their Admirers the more; and by a Glimpse of Happiness captivate their Suitor the better. ”