NOVELS. 
nerofity, and difintereftednefs, are, no doubt, ft 
culcated ; but in novels, the examples which are held out 
have a more powerful and extenfive influence, than the leffons 
which are taught, or the moral maxims which are laid down ; 
and if his hero, in his moft favourite novel, is difinterefted 
and benevolent, it is rather from want of thought, and from 
the overwhelming in influence of ftrong paffions, by no means 
of a virtuous defcription, than from Caacinle and convic- 
tion ; 
I ere to compare the moft popular novels of Smol- 
let with thofe of Fielding, we fhould be difpofed to afcribe 
the higheft degree of excellence in this {pecies of writing to 
the latter. In Roderic Random, and Peregrine Pickle, 
manners rather than character are depicted; and in the dif- 
ay of them, the acutenefs of the author’s obfervation is 
remarkable than i nt and vari 
ely, and. natura ] 
ollet 
; liv 
a Clinker ‘thar Sm 
complete and confifent in all its parts; and there 
fentiment uttered, not a feeling expreffed, nor an ae 
performed by Matthew Bramble, but what is perfectly in 
character. An acute and vigorous intelle&, a warm and 
benevolent heart, are united to odd and eccentric humour, 
a quick irritability of temper, and a retiring fhynefs of dif- 
polition. He is fo afraid of being known for what he really 
is, that he takes as much pains to appear, and be deemed 
morofe and felfifh, as moft men would do to conceal thofe 
qualities. In fice. the charaGter of Matthew Bramble not 
only difplays an intimate acquaintance with the human heart, 
but alfo with thofe peculiar manners, which fo frequently 
mark out, very ditinlly, the Britifh philanthropift. 
Gold{mi th has written only one novel ; but that, in every 
of view, is an exquifite one: while the Vicar of Wake- 
tield dilplays mea unequalled humour, of the pureft and 
higheft nature, it alfo contains paflages that are irrefiftibly 
pathetic. Nothing can be conceived more perfectly drawn 
than his character of Doétor Primrofe ; it is a truly Englifh 
Indeed, the great merit, and the moft powertul 
and attractive intereft of this novel, confifts in its difplay of 
domeftic feelings. ‘The fable of the Vicar of Wakefield 
alfo deferves much commendation ; ; all the perfonages are 
conduéted through their various viciffitudes, in the moft na- 
tural manner; the events are itriking, yet fimple and pro- 
bable and the conclufion is brought about without the leaft 
the ftyle, it may 
merits the praife which 
vi 
e proceeding to the confideration of the fentimentai 
clafs of novels, it may be proper, very briefly and be ae dees to 
haracterife the novels of Cumbe rland, Moore, and Bur 
Cumberland 
to 
XC » in prefentin r 
human life, in pathetic defcription, and in ch 
elegance of ftyle. It isa rem 
lamentable fa&t, that the ‘* Terence of England 
berland has been ftyled, delights, in his aoe i in painting 
{cenes of voluptuous profligacy, equally reprehenfible with 
thofe of Fielding, and much more dangerous, becaufe lefs 
ae and vulgar. In the corte of Dr. Moore, great know- 
ledge of the world, and of national character, are difplayed ; 
and the more difficult tafk of depicting the Ets pafions 
is performed with confiderable fkill and effeé. mour 
experience more effectually, and with lefs danger of difap- 
pointment, or being led aftray, in actual intercourfe with 
the world, than the novels of any other a mi aor! of 
a feular nature anlar sat ca on the 
igh; rina certainly in the firft clafs; Ceci- 
lia (except in the ferious and pathetic parts) below Evelinas 
and Camilla very far below both 
he general character of the Gérman novels has been al- 
ready fketched, and when the fentimental defcription of 
novels is confidered, it will be more particularly defcribed. 
There are, however, fome exceptions to this character 
among the novel writers of Germany ; and cpus une la hg 
taine deferves in an efpecial manner to be excep 
Clara Duplefis, and his Family of Halden, pif oon 
tion, and an intim 
workings of the human heart. 
he feems to have fet before 
Goldfmith, and he has certainly imitated them with no {malt 
degree of fuccefs ; his i — perhaps, i is in fome refpects 
improperly clofe, as the caft of manners is too 
_ Many of his fubfequent novels are of very inferior 
5 
gee the middle of the laft century, a new fpecies of 
Aa2 fictitio 
