fictitious history, would be going rather too far, as the true 

 cause must be sought in the excessive refinement and luxury 

 of the times. 



But if it be granted, that fictitious history, — a species 

 of composition which has been occupied by writers of va» 

 rious denominations often ignorant and often depraved ; a 

 species of composition calculated to interest the imagina- 

 tion, engage the sympathy, and stimulate the passions of 

 youth, at that period of life, which generally decides the 

 moral and literary character; if it be granted that it has 

 contributed to the corruption of morals, then, the connec- 

 tion is so close between them, that no farther argument 

 can be required to prove that they equally affect taste and 

 manners. 



I am well aware that it may be deemed illiberal to lay so 

 heaA'y a charge against a species of writing which has em- 

 ployed the pens of many persons of talents and taste, as 

 well as of those that have no pretensions la either; and un- 

 doubtedly it would be so, if the number of the former bore 

 any reasonable proportion to that of the latter : but where a 

 few names may be brought forward, who have expressed the 

 inspirations of nature, in propriety of language, innumerable 

 are they that have done outrage to truth and decorum, or else 



^ have mingled with their talents,, qualities, which have only 

 served to render them more dangerous. How small is the 

 number of those that have been able or willing to descri- 



. minate the exact boundaries, beyond which (however trifling 



