Romances and NoveU. 159 



Jones, which, though by no means pure in its mo- 

 ral tendency, is esteemed by the ablest critics, as 

 the first performance of the heroi-comic kind that 

 was ever written/ The same author next pro- 

 duced his Amelia, in which he imitated the epic 

 poets, by beginning his narrative in the middle of 

 the story. This plan was soon followed by Rich- 

 ardson, in his Clarissa Harlowe, and Sir Charles 

 Grandison, in both which the epistolary form of 

 writing is retained, to which he seems to have been 

 particularly attached. 



The earliest productions of Great-Britain in this 

 department of writing may be considered as her 

 best. Fielding and Richardson have never been 

 exceeded, and probably not equalled, by any no- 

 velists since their day, either in their own or any 

 other country. Each of these authors may be said 

 to have invented a new species of fictitious writing, 

 and to have carried it at once to the highest point 

 of improvement which it has ever reached. Their 

 talents were different, and their works display this 

 difference in a very strong light; but each attained 

 a degree of excellence in his way, altogether un- 

 rivalled. Fielding is humorous and comic; Rich- 

 ardson more grave and dignified. They both 

 paint with a masterly hand; but Fielding is per- 

 haps more true to nature than his rival. The 

 former succeeds better in describing manners; the 



p * Since the days of Homer, says Dr. JBeattIe, the world has not 

 seen a more artful epic fable than Tom Jones. The characters and adven- 

 tures are wonderfully diversified ; yet the circumstances are all so natural, 

 and rise so easily from one another, and co-operate with so much regula- 

 rity in bringing on, even while they seem to retard the catastrophe, that 

 the curiosity of the reader is kept always awake, and instead of flagging 

 grows more and more impatient, as the story advances, till at last it be- 

 comes downright anxiety. And when we get to the end, and look back 

 on the whole contrivance, we are amazed to find, that of so many inci- 

 dents there should be so few superfluous ; that in such variety of fiction 

 there should be so great probability ; and that so complex a tale should be 

 30 perspicuously conducted, and with perfect unity of design." See the 

 JDissertatian on Fable and Romantt, 



