Chap. XIX.] Romances and Nwels, 387 



It discovers a prevailing fondness in the author for 

 filthy alkisions, and indecent nauseating descrip- 

 tions. The J\i/age to the Hoiujimfinms, in particu- 

 Li!% is very objectionable. Its satire is that of a 

 misanthrope; its imagery and allusions those of a 

 mind which delighted in fdth; and its tiction alto- 

 gether inconsistent and irrational. 



In 17-59 was puljlished the Rasselas of Dr. 

 Johnson, a philosophical tale, the design of which 

 was to convey, in the oriental manner, useful les- 

 sons respecting the vanity of the worUl, the insuf- 

 ficiency of temporal things to secure human happi- 

 ness, and the consequent importance of having a 

 due regard to things eternal. This work has been 

 translated into almost all the modern lano-uases of 

 Europe, and was one of the first moral effusions of 

 that mind which aftcrwaids laboured so much, 

 and so well, to '' give ardour to virtue, and con- 

 fidence to truth." About the same time appeared 

 the Candkle of M. Voltaire, written to refute the 

 system of optimism, and probably with a wish 

 also, to discredit the belief of a superintending 

 Providence. There is a considerable similarity in 

 the plan and conduct of Rasselas and Candide. 

 But the circumstances under v/hich they were pub- 

 lished precluded the suspicion of either having 

 been indebted to the other *. 



After the publication of tlie foregoing works, 

 ^Ir. Ridley, in his Tales of the Genii, endeavoured 



* '" I have heard Johnson," says Mr. Boswell, " say of these 

 two works, that if they had not been published so closely one 

 after the other, it would have been in vain to deny that the 

 scheme of that which came latest was taken froni the other." 

 Boswell's Life of Johnson, vol. i, p. 282. 



