Chap. XIX.] Romances and Novels, 373 



natural to please a just taste ; and thcreiore gave 

 way to a further improvement, which was the in- 

 troduction of the modern Novel. 



The word Novel is intended to express that kind 

 of fictitious history, which presents natural and 

 prohable exhibitions of inodeni manners and cha- 

 racters *. In this species of writing the extrava- 

 gance, the heroic exploits, the complicated and 

 -endless intrigues, and the mock elevation before 

 thought necessary, were abandoned : heroes, in- 

 stead of being taken from the throne, were sought 

 for in common life : in place of the enchanted 

 castles, the conflicts of giants, and the absurdities 

 of chivalry, the incidents which daily happen in the 

 world, the ordinary scenes of social and domestic 

 intercourse, weve introduced : instead of the pom- 

 pous inflated style formerly admired, and which 

 alone was congenial with the romantic spirit, a 

 more simple and familiar manner was adopted ; 

 and, from ten or twelve tedious volumes, the nar- 

 rative was reduced to two or three, and seldom 

 much exceeded the latter number. 



Of modern Novels a few appeared in tlie seven- 



* Most writers on this subject employ the word Kumancc to 

 express both those performances which pourtrayed anciait man- 

 ners, with all the extravagance and folly of chivalry j and those 

 which depict modern manners tme to nature and life. But since 

 the word Romance is considered as invariably expressive of some- 

 thing wild, unreal, and far removed from common practice, ought 

 not some other word to be adopted to designate those fictitious 

 works which profess to instruct or entertain by describing com- 

 mon life and real characters ? And is not the word ^onl \\A\ 

 suited to this purpose of discrimination ? This word has long been 

 used; but, if I do not mistake, in many instances without that 

 accuracy of application which is desirable. 



