Henry Fielding,
An Enquiry into the Causes of the late Increase of Robbers…
(1751)
“ 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. ”
