Chap. XIX. ] Romances and Novels. 379 



and possessed different degrees of literary merit ; 

 but chiefly designed, like most of the other writ- 

 ings of those far-famed infidels, to discredit reli- 

 gion, both natural and revealed, and lo destroy the 

 influence of those institutions which have proved 

 so conducive to human happiness. The novels of 

 Diderot, in particular, abound with every species 

 of licentiousness, and have the most pernicious ten- 

 dency. 



M. Crebillon, the younger, distinguished him- 

 self by several works of fiction, executed in a new 

 taste, which, though rendered highly interesting 

 to many readers by their levity, humour, and 

 whimsical digressions, are yet dangerous iu their 

 tendency, from a continual display of libertine sen- 

 timent. Madame Riccoboni is another distin- 

 guished novelist of France, belonging to the period 

 under review. Her Fanny Butler, and several 

 other works, have been much read and admired ; 

 but have been also severely criticised as containing 

 much indelicacy, and even obscenity, iu their nar- 

 ratives. M Marmontel, of the same country, also 

 presented the public, during the period under con- 

 sideration, with a nevf species of fiction, in his 

 Moral Tales, which, being less prolix than the 

 common novel, combine instruction and amuse- 

 ment in a very pleasing degree. * Many of them, 

 however, it must be owned, are indelicate and cor- 

 rupting in their tendency, and ought to be con- 

 sidered as especially unfit to be put, as they fre- 

 quently are, into the hands of children and young 

 persons. 



But, among all the French novelists, J.J. Rous- 

 iseau unquestionably holds the first place as a man 



