478 Canons 6f Criticism. [Nov. 



more especially, is built the allusive title-page : such as, " The Grand 

 Vizier," on a change of ministry ; " The Divorce," in an era of crim.-con. ; 

 " The Usurper," on a great political revolution. The merit of this title 

 is precisely opposite to that of the promissory ; for the less the work has to 

 do with the inuendo of its title, the cleverer is the adaptation. Thus 

 Moore's " Epicurean" would have much disappointed me, had it con* 

 tained any allusion to Sir W. C. and turtle-soup. On this principle, 

 " The Corn Question discussed" would make a pretty title for a chirope- 

 dist's manual ; and " the whole Art of Love" would sell many editions of 

 a Methodist sermon. The plagiary title is sufficiently intelligible. The 

 use of this species was first borrowed from the quack doctors. The sim- 

 ply taking title is as various as the modes of imposture. Lord Byron's 

 portrait peeping from behind a mask was a bright thought. This 

 vignette was worth the whole book. In general, however, fashion is the 

 principal merit of a taking title. At one time, contrasts, or rather conflict- 

 ing impossibilities, were all the mode. Such were " The Innocent Adul- 

 terers," " The Humane Cut-Throat," or, " The Sympathetic Jailer." 

 Such a title now would not sell five copies. Double titles are also now 

 completely obsolete; and an " or" (once of the strictest etiquette) would, 

 in the present day, damn a Milton or a Pope. The last run was upon two 

 substantives and a conjunction copulative : such as, " Sense and Sensi- 

 bility," " Sayings and Doings," " Gaieties and Gravities." The same 

 sort of title, voyes vous bien, will not do for any length of time ; and it is 

 safer to try something new at a venture, provided it is at all likely to catch 

 the ear or the imagination, than to hazard a title upon the decline. Sir 

 Richard Phillips was, in his day, the best judge of a title-page going; 

 but, at present, it would not be safe to depend on him. Of this great truth 

 we have many pregnant examples. " Bernard's Isle of Man ; or, Pro 

 ceedings in Manshire against Sin," was excellent in 1668 ; but, in 1827> 

 " ne vaut pas le diable." " Hayward's Hell's everlasting Flames, with 

 a Frontispiece." is too strong for the " ears polite" of these degenerate 

 times : it is no more to " Conduct is Fate," than a turnip is to a pine-apple. 

 " A Pair of Stilts for the Low in Christ," would be justly deemed blas- 

 phemous and indecent; but " Sinful Sally," and " New Milk for Babes/' 

 might pass muster. 



Let no one imagine that bulk is a matter of indifference. All books 

 have their legitimate size : " sunt certi denique fines" or, rather, " est 

 certa denique FINIS" a man should know when to stop. In the beginning, 

 no books under a folio was esteemed worth reading : books were then rare ; 

 and " cut and come again" was a great recommendation. Now-of-days, 

 we have too much to write ourselves to be able to read long books. Few 

 readers really go deeper than indexes and tables of contents ; and these 

 are read a page at a glance. With respect to the limits of books, we may 

 give rules, but not reasons. Why has a tragedy five acts, " and no more;" 

 or an opera, three ? All that can be said is, sic vult usus. There is a 

 general tendency to narrow the limits of authorship, Epics are shrinking 

 into epigrams, acrostics into petites pieces, novels into tales, and tales 

 into anecdotes. For the time present, one quarto, two octavos, and three 

 " neat volumes in duodecimo," are the ne plus ultra of productive publi- 

 cation. A series of essays are better than a continuous treatise : only don't 

 call them essays ; it is too serious and alarming to weak nerves. So also a 

 set of tales sell better than one novel. Alas ! poor Richardson ! His long- 

 winded heroines would have no chance. On the same principle, a magazine 



