Book contents
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- CHAP. I Is dedicated entirely to the Ladies, as it relates an adventure which nearly concerns them to take notice of
- CHAP. II Contains the conclusion of a narrative, which I am certain there is one person in the world who cannot read without being fill'd with the most poignant remorse, unless he is as dead to all sense of humanity as of honour
- CHAP. III Consists of some farther particulars relative to the preceding adventure, which came to the Author's knowledge after the departure of Matilda from London; with two letters wrote by that unfortunate lady to her husband in her exile, which it is hoped will not be an unwelcome present to the Public, especially to those who have hearts not utterly incapable of being affected with the woes of others
- CHAP. IV The Author having found something in his rambles, which he supposes may be of some value to the right owner, to shew his readiness to restore it, condescends to take upon himself the office of a Town-Cryer; – but waves the ceremony of the great O-Yes three times repeated.
- CHAP. V Turns chiefly upon the subject of Education, and contains some things which the Author is apprehensive will not be very agreeable to the Female part of his readers, whether of the elderly or the more youthful class, yet may serve as a useful admonition to both
- CHAP. VI The Author expects will make a full attonement to the ladies for the too much plain dealing, as some of them may think, of the preceding chapter
- CHAP. VII Contains the recital of an adventure, which, perhaps, will not be found the less, but the more interesting, for its being not altogether of so singular a nature as some others in this work may have appear'd
- CHAP. VIII Contains a brief account of the effects that were produced by the good intentions of the Invisible Spy, with some other subsequent particulars
- Volume 4
- Contents to the Fourth Volume
- BOOK VII
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
CHAP. I - Is dedicated entirely to the Ladies, as it relates an adventure which nearly concerns them to take notice of
from BOOK VI
- Frontmatter
- CONTENTS
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Note on the Text
- The Invisible Spy
- BOOK I
- BOOK II
- VOL. II
- BOOK III
- BOOK IV
- VOL. III
- BOOK V
- BOOK VI
- CHAP. I Is dedicated entirely to the Ladies, as it relates an adventure which nearly concerns them to take notice of
- CHAP. II Contains the conclusion of a narrative, which I am certain there is one person in the world who cannot read without being fill'd with the most poignant remorse, unless he is as dead to all sense of humanity as of honour
- CHAP. III Consists of some farther particulars relative to the preceding adventure, which came to the Author's knowledge after the departure of Matilda from London; with two letters wrote by that unfortunate lady to her husband in her exile, which it is hoped will not be an unwelcome present to the Public, especially to those who have hearts not utterly incapable of being affected with the woes of others
- CHAP. IV The Author having found something in his rambles, which he supposes may be of some value to the right owner, to shew his readiness to restore it, condescends to take upon himself the office of a Town-Cryer; – but waves the ceremony of the great O-Yes three times repeated.
- CHAP. V Turns chiefly upon the subject of Education, and contains some things which the Author is apprehensive will not be very agreeable to the Female part of his readers, whether of the elderly or the more youthful class, yet may serve as a useful admonition to both
- CHAP. VI The Author expects will make a full attonement to the ladies for the too much plain dealing, as some of them may think, of the preceding chapter
- CHAP. VII Contains the recital of an adventure, which, perhaps, will not be found the less, but the more interesting, for its being not altogether of so singular a nature as some others in this work may have appear'd
- CHAP. VIII Contains a brief account of the effects that were produced by the good intentions of the Invisible Spy, with some other subsequent particulars
- Volume 4
- Contents to the Fourth Volume
- BOOK VII
- BOOK VIII
- Editorial Notes
- Silent Corrections
Summary
Among all the numerous Modes which the wantonness of luxury has of late years introduced into this kingdom for the destroying of time, I know of none more fatal to the virtue and reputation of the female sex than Masquerades; – I mean, as that amusement is at present conducted.
Indeed when a select company of ladies and gentlemen agree among themselves, or are invited by some person of condition, to divert each other in such disguises as their several fancies shall make choice of, as practised in France and some other polite places, the case is widely different; for there, after passing a few hours in music, dancing, and pleasant raillery, according to the characters they assume, the masks are all thrown aside, and every one appears such as he is; – so that none will venture to talk or act beneath a vizard in such a manner, as when he stands reveal'd, will either reflect shame on himself, or give offence to those he has been entertaining; – Masquerades, thus managed, I cannot but allow to be not only innocent but laudable amusements, as they serve to whet the wit and exhilerate the mind.
But here, – sorry am I to say it, – the Masquerade houses may with propriety enough be call'd shops, where opportunities for immorality, prophaneness, obscenity, and almost every kind of vice, are retailed to any one who will become a customer; and at the low rate of seven and twenty shillings, the most abandon'd Courtezan, the most profligate Rake, or common Sharper, purchases the privilege of mingling with the first Peers and Peeresses of the realm, and not seldom affronts both modesty and greatness with impunity.
I perceive, to my very great satisfaction, that there are some Ladies, who, touch'd with a just sense of what is owing to their dignity, are determined not to expose themselves any more in a place where, if no worse ensues, the most licentious freedoms of speech, at least, are often offer'd to the chastest ears, and I am not without hope that the influence of their example will prevail on many others to do the same, so that next season the assemblies at the Masquerade-house will be composed of such only as are fit to herd together.
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- The Invisible Spyby Eliza Haywood, pp. 303 - 311Publisher: Pickering & ChattoFirst published in: 2014