FIELDING HENRY: (1707-1754) English novelist of the comic novel The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749). Alongside Samuel Richardson, Fielding is considered the founder of the traditional English novel. In his capacity as a magistrate Fielding founded the Bow Street Runners, London's first intermittently funded, full-time police force. An extremely rare D.S., H Fielding, in his capacity as a judge, one page, small oblong 8vo, n.p. (London?), 27^th June 1750. The manuscript document is in the hand of William Monck and states, in full, 'William Monck late of Northend in the parish of Fulham & County of Middlesex Esq., maketh Oath that his son John Monck & his daughters Anna-Marie & Dorothy, nominees in three Annuity Orders 1745 & also nominees in three Annuity Orders 1746 were all living at Westminster since midsummer day last'. Signed ('Willm. Monck') by Monck at the foot and countersigned by Fielding to the lower left corner. Some light overall age wear and a neat split to the lower edge of the vertical central fold, otherwise about VG