Chap. XIX.] Romances and Novels* 385 



To this mixed class also belongs the Monk of 

 Mr. Lew is. While this production evinces talents. 

 It must be considered as higldy mischievous in its 

 tendency, and as disgraceful to the character of 

 the writer. In this department of fiction several 

 German writers have made a conspicuous ligure> 

 especially the authors of the Ghost Seer, The 

 Victim of Magical Delusion, and many others uf 

 a similar cast. The herd of low and impotent 

 ipiitators of these works, with which Great-Britain, 

 and other parts of Europe, have abounded for se- 

 veral years past, while they dishonour literature, 

 and corrupt good morals, present a very curious 

 picture of the taste and character of the age which 

 gave them birth. 



Among the peculiarities of the century under 

 consideration may be mentioned the practice of 

 conveying certain principles on the subjects of mo- 

 rals, religion, and politics, through the medium 

 of fictitious narrative. Though many works of 

 fiction had been formed, prior to this age, with 

 the view to convey, to a certain extent, moral 

 principles and impressions; yet the plan of attack- 

 ing particular classes of men or of doctrines 

 through this medium, and of interweaving systems 

 of morality, theology, or philosophy, into the 

 pages of romances or novels, was seldom, if ever, 

 attempted before the eighteenth century. 



One of the earliest productions of this kind was 

 the Adventures of Telemachus, by archbishop Fe- 

 nelon*, which appeared at the beginning of the 



* This most amiable and excellent of men was born in l651, 

 and died in 1 7 15. It is generally known that, beside the //(/- 

 ventures of Tdanachus, he published several valuable works. 



Vol. II. 2C 



