Romances and Novels. 16? 



down, and the mind so much relieved by beauti- 

 ful description, and pathetic incident, that the 

 impression of the whole seldom becomes too strong, 

 and never degenerates into horror; bnt pleasurable 

 emotion is the predominating result. It ought, 

 likewise, to be mentioned to her honour, that the 

 general tendency of her writings is favourable to 

 virtue/ 



To this mixed class also belongs the Monk of 

 Mr. Lewis. While this production evinces talents^ 

 it must be considered as highly mischievous in its 

 tendency, and as disgraceful to the character of 

 the writer. In this department of fiction several 

 German writers have made a conspicuous figure, 

 especially the authors of the Ghost Seer, The 

 Victim of Magical Delusion, and many others of 

 a similar cast. The herd of low and impotent 

 imitators of these works, with which Great-Britain, 

 and other parts of Europe, have abounded for several 

 years past, while they dishonour literature, and 

 corrupt good morals, present a very curious pic- 

 ture of the taste and character of the age which 

 gave them birth. 



Among the peculiarities of the century under 

 consideration may be mentioned the practice of 

 conveying certain principles on the subjects of mo- 

 rals, religion, and politics, through the medium 

 of fictitious narrative. Though many works of 

 fiction had been formed, prior to this age, with 

 the view to convey, to a certain extent, moral 

 principles and impressions; yet the plan of attack- 

 ing particular classes of men, or of doctrines through 

 this medium, and of interweaving systems of mo- 

 rality, theology, or philosophy, through the pages 

 of romances or novels, was seldom, if ever at- 

 tempted before the eighteenth century. 



x The Mysteries of Udolpho, the Romance of the Forest^ and The Italia-, 

 are considered as the best performances of this lady. 



