From the examination of Fielding we proceed to that of Smollet.

The efforts of the first of these writers, in the novel of Tom Jones, in the character of Parfon Adams, and a few other inftances, are exquifitely meritorious. But, when Fielding delights us, he appears to go out of himself. The general character of his genius, will probably be found to be jejune and puerile. For the truth of this remark, we may appeal, in particular, to his comedies.

Every thing that is the reverse of this may be affirmed of Smollet. He has published more volumes, upon more subjects, than perhaps any other author of modern date; and, in all, he has left marks of his genius. The greater part of his novels are peculiarly excellent. He is nevertheless a hafty writer; when he affects us most, we are aware that he might have done more. In all his works of invention, we find the stamp of a mighty mind. In his lightest sketches, there is nothing frivolous, trifling and effeminate. In his moft glowing portraits, we acknowledge a mind at ease, rather effaying its powers, than tasking them. We applaud his works; but it is with a profounder fentiment that we meditate. his capacity.

The style of Smollet has never been greatly admired,

Hh2

admired, and it is brought forward here merely to show in what manner men of the highest talents, and of great eminence in the belles lettres, could write forty or fifty years ago.

His moft confiderable production is Roderick Random. Let the reader take as a fpecimen of his ftyle, the ftory of Mrs. Sagely, in the beginning of the fecond volume, as related by herfelf.

"It is of little confequence to tell the names of my parents, who are dead many years ago: let it fuffice to affure you, they were wealthy, and had no other child than me, * fo that I was looked upon as heiress to a confiderable eftate, and tiezed with addreffes on that account. Among the number of my admirers, there was a young gentleman of no fortune, * whofe fole dependence was on his promotion in the army, *in which at that time he bore a lieutenant's commiffion.-I conceived an affection for this * amiable officer, which in a fhort time increafed to a violent paffion, and, without entering into minute circumftances, married him privately. We had not enjoyed one another long, in ftolen interviews, when he was ordered with his regiment to Flanders; but before he fet out, it was agreed between us, that he should declare our marriage to my father by letter, and implore

*

*

implore his pardon for the ftep we had taken without his approbation.-* This was done while I was abroad visiting; and just as I was about to return home, I received a letter from my father, * importing, that fince I had acted fo undutifully and meanly, as to marry a beggar, without his privity or confent, to the difgrace of his family, as well as the difappointment of his hopes, he renounced me to the miferable fate I had entailed upon myfelf, and charged me never to *fet foot within his doors again. This rigid fentence was confirmed by my mo ther, who, in a postscript, * gave me to underftand that her fentiments were exactly conformable to thofe of my father, and that I might *fave myself the trouble of making any applications, for her refolutions were unalterable. -Thunder-ftruck with my evil fortune, * I called a coach, and drove to my husband's lodgings, where I found him waiting the event of his letter.".

*

It is unneceffary to tranfcribe the remainder of the paffage. Suffice it to fay that it is in vain that, in any part of it, we should search for the fcholar, the man of education, or the man of tafte. The compofer of fictitious writings indeed, fometimes lowers his ftyle to fuit the meannefs or abfurdity of his perfonages. But this ought

Hh3

ought never to be done, except where it is attended with comic effect. It is the office of the poet and the novelift to adorn the ftyle of their characters, and to give to real life the most impreffive form. We do not fuppofe the real Hamlet always to have spoken with that felicity or that energy of diction, which Shakespear has bestowed on him. Mrs. Sagely's narrative might have been written with fimplicity; but it should have been written with elegance. On the contrary we find little in it above the style of a fervant-maid over her winter fire.

Refpect for the great name of Smollet, will not fuffer me to pass over in filence his History of England, the most important of his compilations. It is not to the purpose of the prefent enquiry to obferve that the general concoction of the work, reminds us rather of the promptings of the bookfeller, than of the talents of its author. It is not however to be wondered at, that the style of a work, thus crudely composed, should not be fuch as to put contemporary authors to the blush.

In the volume in which the war of 1739 is narrated, Smollet talks of the "inequality of the * match" between fir Robert Walpole's pamphleteers and their antagonists; and adds, that "he refolved to feize the firft opportunity to * choak

*

*choak thofe canals through which the torrent of cenfure had flowed upon his character." He fays that, to avoid a rupture with Spain, the minifter" endeavoured to obtain fome fort of fatiffaction by dint of memorials and negociations." Walpole, he observes, objected to certain refolutions propofed by the oppofition, that they would cramp the minifters in their endeavours to compromise these differences." He describes the earl of Ilay, as "* ftaunch to the minister, and invariably true to his own intereft." Having brought the pretender in his narrative as far as Fort William, he tells us that he "* forthwith marched to Perth." In undertaking to account for the miscarriage of the invader, he has the following remark: "He was at the fame time* regaled with the promise of powerful fuccours from France, though the miniftry of that kingdom were never hearty in his caufe: * nevertheless they forefaw, that his appearance in England would embarrass the government, and make a confiderable diverfion in their favour." Upon the war of 1739 he generally obferves: “England, from being the umpire, was now become a party in all continental quarrels; and instead of * trimming the balance of Europe, lavished away her blood and treasure, in fupporting the intereft and allies of a puny electorate in the North of Germany." SECT.

H h 4