The active and busy life of Fielding was now drawing towards a period. In constitution had become so entirely shattered, in consequence of continual and severe attacks of gout and other disorders, that all remedies proved ineffectual ; and, by the advice of his physicians, he at length determined to try the restorative effects of a warm er climate. In the following year, he accordingly set out for Lisbon; but in two months after his arrival at that place, death terminated his sufferings, in the forty-eighth year of his age. He wrote a journal of the occurrences which happened to him during the voyage from England to Lisbon, which was published after his death. This work proves, that even in the last stage of bodily infirmity, his strong natural powers of intellect and observation had not deserted him.
Henry Fielding was tall in stature, and of a large and ro bust frame of body, until the vigour of his constitution had been broken by disease. He had an ardent temperament, and lively passions. His affections were warm, sincere, and constant ; and his conduct and deportment were open and manly. He possessed a vigorous understanding, a quick discernment, an inventive genius, and lively wit ; and to considerable learning, he added acute powers of obser vation, and an extensive knowledge of men and mannersr But the turbulence of his passions occasionally hurried hint beyond the bounds of moderation ; and in the article or worldly prudence he appears to have been remarkably deficient. Although at one time possessed of a moderate
estate, he suffered it to be devoured by an extravagant hos pitality ; and the whole course of his life exhibits a con stant struggle of genius with poverty and disease.
As an author, Fielding must be allowed to hold a very eminent rank. His dramatic pieces, indeed, although the production of no ordinary pen, are not considered as of first rate excellence ; but in the province of nove•wi Bing, he has no superior, and few equals. .loscjih Andrews and Toni Jones are esteemed among the most finished perfor mances of this kind in any language ; and are too univer sally known to require any more particular notice in this work.
An edition of the works of Fielding, with an essay on his life and genius, by Mr Murphy, was published in London, in 1762, 4to. See also The Life of Henry Fielding, Esq. by William Watson, Edinburgh, 1807. (z)