University of Virginia Library

Having been with my aunt Burchel
for a fortnight past, I have indulged myself in
reading novels; with which her library is well
supplied.

Richardson's works have occupied a large portion
of the time. What a surprising command
has this great master of the passions over our
feelings! It is happy for his own and succeeding
ages, that he embarked in the cause of virtue.
For his influence on the affections of his readers
is so great, that it must have proved very pernicious,
had he enlisted on the side of vice. Though
I am not much of a novel reader, yet his pen
has operated like magic on my fancy; and so extremely
was I interested, that I could have dispensed
with sleep or food for the pleasure I
found in reading him.

By this circumstance I am more than ever
convinced of the great caution which ought to
be used in perusing writings of the kind. How
secretly, and how insidiously may they undermine
the fabric of virtue, by painting vice and folly in
the alluring colours, and with the lively style of

this ingenious author. The mind should be well
informed, and the judgment properly matured,
before young people indulge themselves in the
unrestrained perusal of them.

The examples of virtue and noble qualities,
exhibited by the author I have mentioned, are
truly useful; but every writer of novels is not a
Richardson: and what dreadful effects might the
specious manners of a Lovelace have on the inexperienced
mind, were they not detected by a
just exhibition of his vices!

The noble conduct of Clementina and Miss
Byron are worthy of imitation; while the indifcretion
of Clarissa, in putting herself under the
protection of a libertine, is a warning to every
fair. But both examples are often overlooked.
While the ear is charmed with the style, and
the fancy riots on the luxuriance of description,
which so intimately blend the charms of virtue
and the fascinations of vice; they are not readily
distinguished by all.

I am not equally pleased with all Richardson's
writings; yet so multifarious are his excellencies,
that his faults appear but specks, which serve as
soils to display his beauties to better advantage.

Before I went from home I was engaged in
reading a course of history; but I fear I shall

not return from this flowery field to the dry and
less pleasing path of more laborious studies.
This is one disadvantage of novel reading. It
dissipates the ideas, relaxes the mind, and renders
it inattentive to the more solid and useful branches
of literature. Adieu.