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tion of a Johnson, in an author of their own age and habits; they are fufficiently aware how few, and fhort are the moments, which I can poffibly devote to the production, and correction of my lucubrations, without encroaching on more neceffary employments :

"Illudo chartis."

66

"Ubi quid datur otî

Trifle with the mufe an idle hour."-FRANCIS.

If the sphere of their circulation be enlarged by means of that curiofity which the boldness of the attempt will naturally excite, if by any accidental current they are hurried into the wide ocean of the world, may I, without making an unjust or unreasonable requeft, intreat, that the fame par tial indulgence, the fame lenient cenfure may be extended to them, which has constantly been granted to the first effays of literary recruits.

No ferious objection can, I think, be urged against their intent or tendency; fince no fentiment which could most remotely conduce to injure the caufe of religion, or morality fhall ever gain admiffion into thefe papers;-to produce the contrary effect, to point out the more ferious confequences of fome errors in the conduct of

my fellow citizens, which habit, and a constant indulgence have reprefented as trifling or venial, fhall be my occafional object.

Relying as I do with confidence on the impartiality of their decifion, the fears which I entertain concerning the fuccefs of my future endeavours would be confiderably diminifhed, were they commenced under the patronage, and continued with the approbation of the GUARDIAN, and INSTCRUCTOR of our community. If he fhould be unable to applaud the execution, may he allow fome portion of merit to the defign. He may reft affured that they shall not be in the least degree injurious to the manners, or conrary to the inftitutions of the republick over which he prefides; that they may prove in some respects bene. ficial, is the fummit of my ambition, and the only compenfation to which I look forward, for the anxiety and apprehenfion I feel, in thus intruding myself upon public notice, and in awaiting the reception which this introductory paper will encounter. It cannot perhaps boast of novelty in thought or expreffion, it aspires to no other merit but fincerity.

THE

MINIATURE.

NUMB. II.

MONDAY, April 30, 1804.

Inopes rerum, nuga que canora.

"a lifeless pomp appears,

And with sonorous trifles charms our ears.”

FRANCIS.

It might naturally be conceived from the perpetual overflow of trash under the title of Novels. and Romances, from the innumerable disputes and arguments for and against them; that the world would soon be tired of the subject, and willingly resort to some more sensible amusement. But daily experience evinces the concontrary. Universally carped at, universally sought after, they seem to grow by abuse; and the more fault is found, the more attention is bestowed. Every tutor condemns them, every pupil reads them. From the drawing-room to

the nursery, from the palace to the shop, from Grosvenor-square to Billingsgate, their reign extends: nor age, nor sex, nor learning, nor ignorance is proof against their charms. The bushy cauliflower is not able to resist the attack; and they have in more cases than one successfully insinuated themselves into the folds of a gown and cassock. The great Mr. Deputy Dumpling retiring from the fatigues of figs and raisins, recreates himself and his spouse in the back parlour with the interesting adventures of Marianne, or the Maid of the Haystack. Every mercer and manmilliner's shopman hastens from his lace and lutestring to those pages; nor do I believe that there is an apothecary's apprentice in the kingdom, who is not better acquainted with the inside of a Romance, than the composition of a bolus.

But that no race of mortals may be excluded from the enjoyment of this marvellous nonsense; a fresh inundation of adventures, horrors, cropt romances, and novels pruned down, daily issue from the prolific press of SHOE-LANE, aided by a wonderful copper-plate at the low price of sixpence. These will no doubt find their way high and low, from the garret to the cellar; on these every footman, scullion or shoe-black may regale themselves amidst their evening potations.

But it may be asked, is this any thing new? any thing extraordinary? It has drawn the attention of the world in every age; and has induced the greatest scholars by employing their talents in this method, to add to the amusement of their own days, and to the instruction of those to come. For exclusive of the poets who have an undoubted right to fable and invention; the elegant simplicity of a Xenophon; the majestic flow of an Herodotus; the nervous pathos of a Livy have been exerted for this purpose. The first of whom, we know, has written a complete novel; the other two by incorporating so largely the fabulous with their history, did not think these means unworthy to finish and adorn, what would otherwise have been naked and incomplete.

My answer is short-In what single circumstance either with regard to themselves, or their productions do these, and our present scribblers agree. Not by the greatest chance is there the slightest resemblance. Should they be introduced to Xenophon in the shades below, he would certainly turn his back upon them, and according to our present phraseology" cut them dead."

But let us enquire, who these litterary locusts may be. One set aloft in the Parnassus of Grub