and for the same reasons, as in Pamela, of the hacknied incident of a discovery of noble birth and consequent removal into a different station. Had the two lovers been settled respectably and comfortably in their original station, the effect would, in my opinion, have been better, and even more agreeable to a reader of correct taste.

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It is in Tom Jones that both the strength of Fielding's genius and his moral defects most strikingly conspicuous. The character of the hero abounds with generosity and other amiable qualities, but tends at the same time to represent these as connected with thoughtlessness and irregularity of conduct; an idea already too common, and which has been the ruin of thousands. That such a character does not unfrequently occur in real life, can be no sufficient reason for introducing it here, and for embellishing it in a manner which must captivate every youthful reader. The species of reformation which takes place at the end, a common tribute to virtue on these occasions, cannot compensate for the course of

conduct which has been uniformly perse-vered in through the rest of the story; nor will any one acquainted with the power of habit be very sanguine as to its continuance. The character of Blifil, too, is no less exceptionable than that of his opponent. Its evident tendency to represent regularity and prudence as intimately connected with deceit and malignity.

Booth seems to be formed nearly after the model of his predecessor Tom Jones, though he does not act so distinguished a part. The most interesting object in this pleasing novel· is Amelia herself.

In the representation of manners, particnlarly in the dramatic part, I believe the writer will always be found to excel most in regard to those classes of men with whom he has been most in the habit of conversing. This will not give us any very high idea of Fielding's companions. Innkeepers, rogues, and female demireps, are the characters with whom he seems most completely at home. A just picture of fashionable life was reserved for the pens of our female novelists.

SMOLLET.

Smollet is still coarser than Fielding, and does not possess the same intimate knowledge of the human heart. As a painter of manners, however, he is little, if at all, inferior. He excels particularly in those of seamen, chiefly, no doubt, from having been once engaged in that profession himself. But his most striking talent seems to be humour, the exhibition of odd and eccentric characters. Of these he has assembled, in Humphrey Clinker, the most ludicrous and amusing collection that is anywhere to be found.

In a moral view, Smollet is inferior to Fielding. The vices of his heroes are at least as great, without the same good qualities to counterbalance them. We meet nothing of that refined generosity, and those just sentiments, at least, of moral conduct, which Fielding's heroes discover. Indeed, Smollet, in regard to his, seems to make hardly any distinction between their best

and their worst actions; both are related in the same animated and approving manner.

Roderick Random is generally supposed to contain only an embellished narrative of his own adventures. The character of the hero, therefore, is naturally supposed to resemble his own; high spirited, irritable, and vindictive; not devoid of a certain rough generosity and good humour, but destitute of any fixed principles, and readily yielding to every temptation which chance throws in his way. There is more real life and business in this novel than are commonly to be met,... with. It does not, indeed, always present these under the most favourable aspect, but is deeply tinged with those irritable and satirical habits which appear to have strongly predominated in the mind of the writer.

Peregrine Pickle presents us with nearly the same features, only that the humour is broader, and the manners still coarser and more licentious.

Humphrey Clinker contains less incident, and is therefore not quite so attractive to the bulk of readers. But it possesses, perhaps,

more genuine merit, as being that in which Smollet has most completely displayed his talent for the ludicrous delineation of charac ter. Bramble is supposed to be a picture of himself in more advanced life, after his spirit was lowered, and his temper soured by age and infirmity. He discovers, however, a view of worth and benevolence, which did not appear in his youthful predecessors. In Tabitha malignity and ill-temper are very properly represented under a ridiculous and disgusting aspect. The tendency of the whole is nearly unexceptionable..

BURNEY..

Proceeding in the order of time, we come now to the purer and more elegant perform-ances of Miss Burney. The distinguishing excellence of this lady is, as might be expected, a perfect acquaintance with whatever relates to the character and peculiar circumstances of her own sex. She excels particularly in describing the feelings of a young lady at her first entrance into the