CONTENTS. LETTER I. Introduction-General reasons for believing the novels to have been written by the author of Marmion LETTER II. · Page 1 Resemblance between the novelist and poet in their tastes, studies, and habits of life, as illustrated by their works. Both Scotchmen-Habitual residents in Edinburgh-Poets-Antiquaries-German and Spanish scholars-Equal in classical attainments-Deeply read in British history-Lawyers-Fond of field sportsOf Dogs-Acquainted with most manly exercises-Lovers of military subjects-The novelist apparently not a soldier LETTER III. 9 Subject of Letter II. continued-The novelist is, like the poet, a man of good society-His stories never betray forgetfulness of honourable principles, or ignorance of good mannersSpirited pictures of gentlemanly character-Colonel Mannering-Judicious treatment of elevated historical per sonages. The novelist quotes and praises most contemporary poets, except the author of Marmion-Instances in which the poet has appeared to slight his own unacknowledged, but afterwards avowed productions 33 LETTER IV. Comparison of the works themselves-All distinguished by good morals and good sense-The latter particularly shewn in the management of character.-Prose Style-Its general features Plainness and facility-Grave banter-Instances— Manner of telling a short story-Negligence-Scoticisms- Dialogue in the novels and poems-Neat colloquial turns in the former, such as cannot be expected in romantic poetry- Happy adaptation of dialogue to character, whether merely natural, or artificially modified, as by profession, local habits, &c.-Instances--Faults of dialogue, as connected with charac- ter of speakers-Quaintness of language and thought-Book- ish air in conversation-Historical personages alluding to their own celebrated acts and sayings-Unsuccessful attempts at broad vulgarity-Beauties of composition peculiar to the dialogue-Terseness and spirit-Instances-These qualities well displayed in quarrels ; but not in scenes of polished rail- The Poetry of the author of Marmion generally characterized dress, &c.-Descriptions sometimes too obviously pic- turesque Subjects for painters-Effects of light frequently noticed and finely described-Both writers excel in grand and complicated scenes-Among detached and sional ornaments, the Similes particularly noticed—Their Stories of the two writers compared-These are generally con- nected with true history, and have their scene laid in a real place-Local peculiarities diligently attended to-Instances in which the novelist and poet have celebrated the same places-They frequently describe these as seen by a tra- veller, (the hero, or some other principal personage) for the first time-Dramatic mode of relating story-Soliloquies -Some scenes degenerate into melodrame-Lyrical pieces introduced sometimes too theatrically. Comparative unimportance of heroes-Various causes of this fault-Heroes rejected by ladies, and marrying others whom they had before slighted-Personal struggle between a ci- vilized and a barbarous hero-Characters resembling each other-Female portraits in general-Fathers and daughters- Characters in Paul's Letters-Wycliffe and Risingham-Glos- sin and Hatteraick-Other characters compared. Long periods of time abruptly passed over-Surprises, unex- pected discoveries, &c.-These sometimes too forced and ar- tificial-Frequent recourse to the marvellous-Dreams well Comparison of particular passages-Descriptions-Miscella- same incidents, &c.Same authors quoted by both-The Page 195 ERRATA. |