Romances and Novels. 173 ' 



may be productive of utility, is a position too plain 

 to be doubted. It is one of the most powerful 

 means of exciting curiosity, of awakening sympa- 

 thy, and of impressing the understanding and the 

 heart. Such fiction " may do more good to many 

 minds than the solemnities of professed morality, 

 and convey the knowledge of vice and virtue with 

 more efficacy than axioms and definitions. " On 

 this ground it was, no doubt, that the infinitely 

 wise Author of our religion frequently adopted the 

 form of parable for communicating the most im- 

 portant truths to his hearers. And, on the same 

 principle, some of the wisest human teachers have 

 used the vehicle of lively and interesting fiction, 

 known to be such at the time, for insinuating into 

 the mind moral and religious lessons, which, in a 

 different form, might not so readily have gained" ad- 

 mittance. It is obvious, then, that to this kind of 

 writing, as such, there can be no solid objection. 

 Novels may be so written as to promote the cause 

 both of knowledge and virtue. They may be 

 constructed in such a manner as will tend to lead 

 the mind insensibly from what is sordid and mean 

 to more worthy pursuits, and to fill it with pure, 

 elevated and liberal sentiments. Nay, it may be 

 further conceded, that, out of the myriads of no- 

 vels which have been composed, a few are, in fact, 

 entitled to this character, and have a tendency to 

 produce these effects. 



But it is evident, that a kind of writing which, 

 when wisely and ingeniously executed, may be 

 conducive to the best purposes, may also, in the 

 hands of the unskilful or the wicked, produce the 

 worst effects. If an artfully conducted fiction be 

 so well fitted to interest the curiosity, to awaken 

 sympathy, and to impress the mind, then it follows 

 that if this fiction be enlisted on the side of cor- 

 rupt principle, or licentious practice, it must do 



