of character presented, the profound knowledge of life and insight into human nature, the genial humour, the wide humanity, the wisdom, and the noble and masculine English of the book.  His only other novel, Amelia, which some, but these a small minority, have regarded as his best, was pub. in 1751.  His health was now thoroughly broken, and in 1753, as a forlorn hope, he went in search of restoration to Lisbon, where he d. on October 8, and was buried in the English cemetery.  His last work was a Journal of his voyage.  Though with many weaknesses and serious faults, F. was fundamentally a man of honest and masculine character, and though improvident and reckless in his habits, especially in earlier life, he was affectionate in his domestic relations, and faithful and efficient in the performance of such public duties as he was called to discharge.  Thackeray thus describes his appearance, “His figure was tall and stalwart, his face handsome, manly, and noble-looking; to the last days of his life he retained a grandeur of air and, though worn down by disease, his aspect and presence imposed respect upon people round about him.”

SUMMARY.—­B. 1707, ed. Eton, studied law at Leyden, came to London and wrote dramas, called to Bar 1740, pub. Joseph Andrews 1742, became journalist, appointed a magistrate for Middlesex, etc., and pub. Inquiry into Increase of Robbers 1751, pub. Tom Jones 1749, Amelia 1751, d. at Lisbon 1754.

His works are included in Ballantyne’s Novelists’ Library with a biography by Scott (1821).  An ed. in 10 vols. with a study by L. Stephen was pub. by Smith, Elder and Co. (1882); another in 12 vols. by Prof.  Saintsbury, Dent and Co. (1893), and various others.  There are various Lives by Watson (1807).  Lawrence (1855), and A. Dobson (Men of Letters, 1883).

FIELDING, SARAH (1710-1768).—­Novelist, was the sister of the above, who had a high opinion of her talents.  She wrote several novels, including David Simple (1744), The Governess, and The Countess of Dellwyn.  She also translated Xenophon’s Memorabilia and Apologia (1762).

FILMER, SIR ROBERT (d. 1653?).—­Political writer, s. of Sir Edward F., of East Sutton, Kent, was ed. at Camb.  He was an enthusiastic Royalist, was knighted by Charles I. and, in 1671, was imprisoned in Leeds Castle, Kent.  He is notable as the defender, in its most extreme form, of the doctrine of the divine right of kings, which he expounded in a succession of works, of which the latest and best known, Patriarcha, appeared in 1679.  His theory is founded on the idea that the government of a family by the father is the original and method of all government.  His doctrines were afterwards attacked by Locke in his Treatise on Government.  He was opposed to the persecution of old women for supposed witchcraft.