Chap. XIX.] Romances and Novels. 391 



crease as long as human society shall exist, are 

 questions to the solution of which the friend of hu- 

 man happiness looks forward with deep solicitude. 



It has often been made a question, whether ro- 

 mances and novels form a useful kind of readini^, 

 or the contrar}^ This question, fifty years ago, was 

 of little moment compared with the importance 

 which it has lately assumed. At that period the 

 number of novels was small, and the popular classes 

 of them sustained, in general, a tolerably pure 

 moral character. Since that time, the case is, un- 

 happily, altered; their number has increased, their 

 character is so changed, and the task of discrimi- 

 nating among them has become so delicate and ar- 

 duous, that the question above stated must now be 

 regarded as one of the most interesting that can be 

 asked, concerning the literary objects of the day, 

 by the wise and affectionate parent, the faithful 

 guardian, or the mind of general benevolence. It 

 may not be improper, therefore, before taking 

 leave of this singular feature in the history of the 

 eighteenth century, to offer two or three brief re- 

 marks on the general tendency of the class of writ- 

 in2:s under consideration. 



That fictitious history, when constructed on pro- 

 per principles, and executed in a proper manner, 

 may be productive of utility, is a position too plain 

 to be doubted. It is one of the most powerful 

 means of exciting curiosity, of awakening sympa- 

 thy, and of impressing the understanding and the 

 heart. Such fiction '* may do more good to many 

 minds than the solemnities of professed morality, 

 and convey the knowledge of vice and virtue with 

 A^iore efficacy than axioms and definitions." Oa 



