Chap. XIX.] Romances and N(yccls. 381 



ing the Epic form of novels has been more in 

 vogue than before. Plot has become more fashion- 

 able, and is considered more essential to the ex- 

 cellence of their structure. During the last thirty 

 years of Xht century under consideration, the 

 countries most productive of respectable works 

 in this species of composition were Great-Britain, 

 France, and Germany. 



Among the later Britisli novelists, Dr. Gold- 

 smith*, Miss Burney (now Madame d'Arblay), 

 Mrs. Radcliffe, Mr. Mackenzie, Mrs. C. Smith, 

 and Dr. Moore, undoubtedly rank highest. The 

 Vicar of JVakeJield \vill ever be read Avith new plea- 

 sure, as one of the finest, most natural, and most 

 happily imagined moral pictures that was ever 

 drawn. The author of Evelina^ .Cecilia, and Ca- 

 milla, has marked out for herself a manner of writ- 

 ing in some respects new. If the reader do not find 

 in her pages those bold and daring strokes which 

 indicate the hand of a great and original genius; 

 yet, in giving pictures of characters and manners, 

 simple, natural, just, lively, and perfectly moral 

 in their tendency, she has no equal among Iier con- 

 temporaries. The performances of Mrs. Kad- 

 cliffe will be presently mentioned as belonging 

 to a new and sino'ular class of fictitious writinurs. 



o o 



The publications of I\Ir. Mackenzie, which be- 

 long to this department of literature, have been 

 much read, and have received high praise. Mrs. 

 Charlotte Smith holds an honourable place among 

 the ingenious and moral novelists of the age. 



* Oliver Goldsmith was born at lloscommon in liL-land, m 

 1729. He was bred a physician. .His works arc univciiall/ 

 known. He died in J77^» 



