172 Romances and Novels. 



ally of licentious opinions, has thought this a conve- 

 nient mode of disguising and serving up his errors. 

 The thirst for this species of composition is incon- 

 ceivably ardent and extensive. All classes of per- 

 sons in society, from the dignified professional cha- 

 racter to the lowest grades of labouring indigence, 

 seek and devour novels. These ephemeral produc- 

 tions are daily composed, translated, revamped, 

 and reprinted, to indulge the growing demand. 

 What will be the effect and the end of this morbid 

 appetite; whether, like many other diseases, it will 

 work its own cure, or whether it will go on to in^ 

 crease as long as human society shall exist, are 

 questions to the solution of which the friend of hu- 

 man happiness looks forward with deep solicitude. 



It has often been made a question, whether ro-r 

 mances and novels form an useful kind of reading, 

 or the contrary? This question, fifty years ago, was 

 of little moment compared with the importance 

 which it has lately assumed. At that period the 

 number of novels was small, and the popular clas- 

 ses of them sustained, in general, a tolerably pure 

 moral character. Since that time, the case is, un^ 

 happily, altered; their number has increased, their 

 character is so changed, and the task of discrimi^ 

 nating among them has become so delicate and ar- 

 duous, that the question above stated must now be 

 regarded as one of the most interesting that can be 

 asked, concerning the literary objects of the day, 

 by the wise and affectionate parent, the faithful 

 guardian, or the mind of general benevolence. It 

 may not be improper, therefore, before taking leave 

 of this singular feature in the history of the eigh- 

 teenth century, to offer two or three brief remarks 

 on the general tendency of the class of writings un- 

 der consideration. 



That fictitious history, when constructed on 

 proper principles, and executed in a proper manner, 



