Gordon，again，wasanexcellentman，appreciatedbySmolletthimselfinafterdays，andtheodiousPotionof\"RoderickRandom\"
must，likehisrival，Crab，havebeenmerelyafancysketchofmeanness，hypocrisy，andprofligacy。Perhapsthegoodsurgeonbecamethevictimofthat\"onecontinuedstringofepigrammaticsarcasms，\"suchasMr。ColquhountoldRamsayofOchtertyre，Smollettusedtoplayoffonhiscompanions，\"forwhichnotalentscouldcompensate。\"JudgingbyDr。Carlyle\'sMemoirsthisintolerablekindofdisplaywasnotunusualinCaledonianconversation:butitwasnotlikelytomakeTobiaspopularinEngland。
Thitherhewentin1739，withverylittlemoney，\"andaverylargeassortmentoflettersofrecommendation:whetherhisrelativesintendedtocompensateforthescantinessoftheonebytheirprofusionintheotherisuncertain；buthehasoftenbeenheardtodeclarethattheirliberalityinthelastarticlewasprodigious。\"
TheSmollettswerenot\"kinlessloons\"；theyhadconnections:butwho，inScotland，hadmoney？Tobiashadpassedhismedicalexaminations，butherathertrustedinhisMS。tragedy，\"TheRegicide。\"Tragicalwereitsresultsfortheauthor。InspiredbyGeorgeBuchanan\'sLatinhistoryofScotland，Smolletthadproducedaplay，inblankverse，onthemurderofJamesI。Thataboy，evenaScottishboy，shouldhaveanoverweeningpassionforthisunluckypiece，thatheshouldexpectbysuchaworktoclimbasteponfortune\'sladder，isnowadaysamazing。Fortenyearsheclungtoit，modifiedit，polished，improvedit，andthenpublisheditin1749，afterthesuccessof\"RoderickRandom。\"Twicehetoldthestoryofhistheatricalmishapsanddisappointments，whichweresuchasoccurtoeverywriterforthestage。Hewailedoverthemin\"RoderickRandom，\"inthestoryofMr。Melopoyn；heprolongedhiscry，intheprefaceto\"TheRegicide，\"andprobablythenoblewhomhe\"lashed\"veryindecentlyinhistwosatires\"Advice，\"
1746，\"Reproof，\"1747，andin\"RoderickRandom\"wasthepatronwhocouldnotgetthetragedyacted。First，in1739，hehadapatronwhomhe\"discarded。\"ThenhewenttotheWestIndies，and，returningin1744，heluggedouthistragedyagain，andfellfoulagainofpatrons，actors，andmanagers。Whatbefellhimwasthecommonfate。Peopledidnot，probably，hastentoreadhisplay:
managersand\"superciliouspeers\"postponedthatentertainment，or，atleast，thenoblemencouldnotmakethemanagersacceptitiftheydidnotwantit。OurtastedifferssomuchfromthatofthetimewhichadmiredHome\'s\"Douglas，\"and\"TheRegicide\"wassooftenalteredtomeetobjections，thatwecanscarcelycriticiseit。Ofcourseitisabsolutelyunhistorical；ofcourseitisemptyofcharacter，andrepletewithfustian，andineffablytedious；butperhapsitisnotmuchworsethanotherluckiertragediesoftheage。Naturallyalovercallshiswoundedlady\"thebleedingfair。\"
Naturallysheexclaims-
\"CelestialpowersProtectmyfather，showeruponhis——oh!\"Dies。
Naturallyheradoreranswerswith-
\"SomayourminglingsoulsToblisssupernalwingourhappy——oh!\"Dies。
Weareremindedof-
\"Alas，myBom!\"Dies。
\"\'Bastes\'hewouldhavesaid!\"
Thepiece，ifpresented，musthavebeendamned。ButSmollettwassoangrywithonepatron，LordLyttelton，thatheburlesquedthepoorman\'sdirgeonthedeathofhiswife。HewassoangrywithGarrickthathedraggedhiminto\"RoderickRandom\"asMarmozet。
Later，obligedbyGarrick，andforgivingLyttelton，hewroterespectfullyaboutboth。But，in1746in\"Advice\"，hehadassailedthe\"proudlord，whosmilesagraciouslie，\"and\"thevarnishedruffiansoftheState。\"BecauseTobias\'splaywasunacted，peoplewhotriedtoaidhimwereliarsandruffians，andagreatdealworse，forinhissatire，asinhisfirstnovel，Smollettchargesmenofhighrankwiththeworstofunnamablecrimes。PollioandLordStrutwell，whoevertheymayhavebeen，wereprobablyrecognisablethen，andwereundeniablylibelled，thoughtheydidnotappealtoajury。ItisimprobablethatSirJohnCopehadevertriedtoobligeSmollett。HisignobleattackonCope，afterthatunfortunateGeneralhadbeenfairlyandhonourablyacquittedofincompetenceandcowardice，was，then，whollydisinterested。Copeis\"acourtierApe，appointedGeneral。\"
\"ThenPug，aghast，fledfasterthanthewind，Nordeign\'d，inthree-scoremiles，tolookbehind；
Whileeverybandforordersbleatinvain，Andfallinslaughteredheapsupontheplain，\"-
ofPrestonPans。
Nothingcouldbemoreremotefromthetruth，ormoreunjustlycruel。Smolletthadnothereeventheexcuseofpatriotism。SirJohnCopewasnoButcherCumberland。Infactthepoet\'sfriendisnotwrong，when，in\"Reproof，\"hecallsSmollett\"aflagrantmisanthrope。\"TheworldwasoutofjointforthecadetofBonhill:
bothbeforeandafterhisverytryingexperiencesasashipsurgeonthemanagerswouldnotaccept\"TheRegicide。\"ThiswasreasongoodwhySmollettshouldtrytomakealittlemoneyandnotorietybypenningsatires。Theyarefierce，foul-mouthed，andpointless。
ButSmollettwaspoor，andhewasangry；hehadtheexamplesofPopeandSwiftbeforehim；which，asfarastruculencewent，hecouldimitate。Aboveall，itwasthenthefixedbeliefofmenoflettersthatsomepeerorotheroughttoaidandsupportthem；and，asnopeerdidsupportSmollett，obviouslytheywere\"varnishedruffians。\"Heerredashewouldnoterrnow，fortimes，andwaysofgoingwrong，arechanged。But，atbest，howdifferentarehisangrycoupletsfromtheloftymelancholyofJohnson\'ssatires!
Smollett\'s\"smallsumofmoney\"didnotpermithimlongtopushthefortunesofhistragedy，in1739；andasforhis\"verylargeassortmentoflettersofrecommendation，\"theyonlyprocuredforhimthepostofsurgeon\'smateintheCumberlandoftheline。Herehesawenoughofthehorrorsofnavallife，enoughofmisery，brutality，andmismanagement，atCarthagena1741，tosupplymaterialsforthesalutaryandsickeningpagesonthatthemein\"RoderickRandom。\"Healsosawandappreciatedthesterlingqualitiesofcourage，simplicity，andgenerosity，whichhehasmadeimmortalinhisBowlingsandTrunnions。
Itispartofanovelist\'sbusinesstomakeonehalfoftheworldknowhowtheotherhalflives；andinthisprovinceSmollettanticipatedDickens。Helefttheserviceassoonashecould，whenthebeatenfleetwasrefittingatJamaica。Inthatisleheseemstohavepractisedasadoctor；andhemarried，orwasbetrothedto，aMissLascelles，whohadasmallandfarfromvaluableproperty。
Therealdateofhismarriageisobscure:moreobscureareSmollett\'sresourcesonhisreturntoLondon，in1744。HousesinDowningStreetcanneverhavebeencheap，butwefind\"Mr。
Smollett，surgeoninDowningStreet，Westminster，\"and，in1746，hewaslivinginMayFair，notaregionforslenderpurses。Histragedywasnowbringinginnothingbuttrouble，tohimselfandothers。Hissatirescannothavebeenlucrative。AsadwellerinMayFairhecouldnotsupporthimself，likehisMr。Melopoyn，bywritingballadsforstreetsingers。Probablyhepractisedinhisprofession。In\"CountFathom\"hemakeshisadventurer\"purchaseanoldchariot，whichwasnewpaintedfortheoccasion，andlikewisehireafootman……Thisequipage，thoughmuchmoreexpensivethanhisfinancescouldbear，hefoundabsolutelynecessarytogivehimachanceofemployment……Awalkingphysicianwasconsideredasanobscurepedlar。\"Achariot，Smollettinsists，wasnecessaryto\"everyrawsurgeon\"；whileBobSawyer\'sexpedientof\"beingcalledfromchurch\"wasalreadyvieuxjeu，inthewayofadvertisement。
Suchthingshadbeen\"injudiciouslyhackneyed。\"InthispassageofFathom\'sadventures，Smollettproclaimshisinsightintomethodsofgettingpractice。Aphysicianmustingratiatehimselfwithapothecariesandladies\'maids，or\"acquireinterestenough\"tohaveaninfirmaryerected\"bythevoluntarysubscriptionsofhisfriends。\"HereSmollettdenounceshospitals，which\"encouragethevulgartobeidleanddissolute，byopeninganasylumtothemandtheirfamilies，fromthediseasesofpovertyandintemperance。\"
Thisisoddmoralityforonewhosufferedfrom\"thebaseindifferenceofmankind。\"Heoughttohaveknownthatpovertyisnotaviceforwhichthepooraretobeblamed；andthatintemperanceisnottheonlyothercauseoftheirdiseases。
PerhapstheunfeelingpassageisamereparadoxinthestyleofhisownLismahago。
Withorwithoutachariot，itisprobablethatTobiashadnotaninsinuatingstyle，or\"agoodbedsidemanner\"；friendstosupportahospitalforhisrenownhehadnone；but，somehow，hecouldliveinMayFair，and，in1746，couldmeetDr。CarlyleandStewart，sonoftheProvostofEdinburgh，andotherScots，attheGoldenBallinCockspurStreet。Theretheywereenjoying\"afrugalsupperandalittlepunch，\"whenthenewsofCullodenarrived。CarlylehadbeenaWhigvolunteer:he，probably，washappyenough；butStewart，whosefatherwasinprison，grewpale，andlefttheroom。SmollettandCarlylethenwalkedhomethroughsecludedstreets，andweresilent，lesttheirspeechshouldbewraythemforScots。\"JohnBull，\"quothSmollett，\"isashaughtyandvaliantto-day，ashewasabjectandcowardlyontheBlackWednesdaywhentheHighlanderswereatDerby。\"
\"Weep，Caledonia，weep!\"hehadwritteninhistragedy。Nowhewrote\"Mourn，haplessCaledonia，mourn。\"Scotthasquoted，fromGrahamofGartmore，thestoryofSmollett\'swritingverses，whileGartmoreandotherswereplayingcards。Hereadthemwhathehadwritten，\"TheTearsofScotland，\"andaddedthelastverseonthespot，whenwarnedthathisopinionsmightgiveoffence。
\"Yes，spiteofthineinsultingfoe，Mysympathisingverseshallflow。\"
The\"Tears\"arebetterthanthe\"OdetoBlue-EyedAnn，\"probablyMrs。Smollett。Butthecourageousauthorof\"TheTearsofScotland，\"hadmanifestlybrokenwithpatrons。HealsobrokewithRich，themanageratCoventGarden，forwhomhehadwrittenanoperalibretto。Hehadfailedasdoctor，andasdramatist；nor，assatirist，hadhesucceeded。Yethemanagedtowearwigandsword，andtobeseeningoodmen\'scompany。Perhapshiswife\'slittlefortunesupportedhim，till，in1748，heproduced\"RoderickRandom。\"ItiscertainthatweneverfindSmollettinthedeepdistressesofDr。JohnsonandGoldsmith。Novelswerenowinvogue；
\"Pamela\"wasrecent，\"JosephAndrews\"wasyetmorerecent，\"ClarissaHarlowe\"hadjustappeared，andFieldingwaspublishing\"TomJones。\"Smollett，too，triedhishand，and，atlast，hesucceeded。
Hisideasofthenovelareofferedinhispreface。TheNovel，forhim，isadepartmentofSatire；\"themostentertaininganduniversallyimproving。\"ToSmollett，\"RoderickRandom\"seemedan\"improving\"work!Ouledidacticismevat\'ilsenicher？Romance，hedeclares，\"aroseinignorance，vanity，andsuperstition，\"anddeclinedinto\"theludicrousandunnatural。\"ThenCervantes\"convertedromancetopurposesfarmoreusefulandentertaining，bymakingitassumethesock，andpointoutthefolliesofordinarylife。\"Romancewastoreviveagainsometwentyyearsafteritsfuneralorationwasthusdelivered。AsforSmolletthimself，heprofessedly\"followstheplan\"ofLeSage，in\"GilBlas\"aplanasoldasPetroniusArbiter，andthe\"GoldenAss\"ofApuleius；buthegivesmoreplaceto\"compassion，\"soasnottointerferewith\"generousindignation，whichoughttoanimatethereaderagainstthesordidandviciousdispositionoftheworld。\"Asacontrasttosordidvice，wearetoadmire\"modestmerit\"inthatexemplaryorphan，Mr。Random。ThisgentlemanisaNorthBriton，becauseonlyinNorthBritaincanapoororphangetsuchaneducationasRoderick\'s\"birthandcharacterrequire，\"andforotherreasons。
Now，asforRoderick，theschoolmaster\"gavehimselfnoconcernabouttheprogressImade，\"but，\"shouldendeavour，withGod\'shelp，topreventmyfutureimprovement。\"ItmusthavebeenatGlasgowUniversity，then，thatRodericklearned\"Greekverywell，andwasprettyfaradvancedinthemathematics，\"andherehemusthaveusedhisgeniusforthebelleslettres，intheinterestofhis\"amorouscomplexion，\"by\"lampooningtherivals\"oftheyoungladieswhoadmiredhim。
Sucharethehappybeginnings，accompaniedbypracticaljokes，ofthisinterestingmodel。Smollett\'sheroes，oneconceives，wereintendedtobefine，thoughnotfaultlessyoungfellows；men，notplasterimages；brave，generous，free-living，but，asRoderickfindsonce，whenexamininghisconscience，purefromseriousstainsonthatimportantfaculty。Toustheseheroesoftenappearnobetterthanruffians；PeregrinePickle，forexample，ratherexcelstheinfamyofFerdinand，CountFathom，incertainrespects；thoughFerdinandisprofessedly\"oftentheobjectofourdetestationandabhorrence，\"andisleftinaverybad，but，as\"HumphreyClinker\"
shows，inbynomeansahopelessway。Yet，throughout，Smollettregardedhimselfasamoralist，awriterofimprovingtendencies；
onewho\"lashedthevicesoftheage。\"Hewasbynomeanswhollymistaken，butweshouldprobablywrongtheeighteenthcenturyifweacceptedallSmollett\'scensuresasentirelydeserved。Theviceswhichhelashedarethosewhichhedetected，orfanciedthathedetected，inpeoplewhoregardedamodestandmeritoriousScottishorphanwithbaseindifference。Unluckilythegreaterpartofmankindwasguiltyofthiscrime，andconsequentlywascapableofeverything。
EnoughhasprobablybeensaidabouttheutterlydistastefulfigureofSmollett\'shero。InChapterLX。wefindhimlivingontheresourcesofStrap，thenlosingallStrap\'smoneyatplay，andthen\"Ibilkmytaylor。\"Thatis，Roderickordersseveralsuitsofnewclothes，andsellsthemforwhattheywillfetch。MeanwhileStrapcanlivehonestlyanywhere，whilehehashistenfingers。Roderickrescueshimselffrompovertybyengaging，withhisuncle，intheslavetrade。Weareapttoconsiderthiscommerceinfamous。But，in1763，theEvangelicaldirectorwhohelpedtomakeCowper\"acastaway，\"wrote，astotheslaver\'sprofession:\"Itis，indeed，accountedagenteelemployment，andisusuallyveryprofitable，thoughtomeitdidnotproveso，theLordseeingthatalargeincreaseofwealthcouldnotbegoodforme。\"Thereverendgentlemanhad，doubtless，oftensung-
\"Timeforustogo，Timeforustogo，Andwhenwe\'dgotthehatchesdown，\'Twastimeforustogo!\"
Roderick，apartfrom\"blackivory，\"isaidedbyhisuncleandhislonglostfather。Thebaseworld，inthepersonsofStrap，Thompson，theuncle，Mr。Sagely，andotherpeople，treatshiminfinitelybetterthanhedeserves。HisveryloveasalwaysinSmollettisonlyananimalappetite，vigorouslyinsisteduponbytheauthor。Byanaturalreaction，Scott，muchasheadmiredSmollett，introducedhisownblamelessheroes，andevenThackeraycouldonlyhintatthedefectsofyouth，in\"Esmond。\"Thackerayisaccusedofmakinghisgoodpeoplestupid，ortoosimple，oreccentric，andotherwisecontemptible。Smollettwentfurther:
Strap，amodelofbenevolence，isludicrousandacoward；evenBowlinghasthestageeccentricitiesofthesailor。Mankindwascertain，inthelongrun，todemandheroesmoreamiableandworthyofrespect。Ourinclinations，asScottsays，arewith\"theopen-
hearted，good-humoured，andnoble-mindedTomJones，whoselibertinismoneparticularomittedisperhapsrenderedbuttooamiablebyhisgoodqualities。\"TobesureRoderickdoesbefriend\"areclaimedstreet-walker\"inherworstneed，butwhymakehertheconfidanteofthevirginalNarcissa？WhyrewardStrapwithherhand？Fieldingdecidedly，asScottinsists，\"placesbeforeusheroes，andespeciallyheroines，ofamuchhigheraswellasmorepleasingcharacter，thanSmollettwasabletopresent。\"
\"ButthedeepandfertilegeniusofSmollettaffordedresourcessufficienttomakeupforthesedeficiencies……IfFieldinghadsuperiortaste，thepalmofmorebrilliancyofgenius，moreinexhaustiblerichnessofinvention，mustinjusticebeawardedtoSmollett。Incomparisonwithhissphere，thatinwhichFieldingwalkedwaslimited……\"ThesecondpartofScott\'sparallelbetweenthemenwhomheconsideredthegreatestofournovelists，qualifiesthefirst。Smollett\'sinventionwasnotricherthanFielding\'s，butthesphereinwhichhewalked，thecircleofhisexperience，wasmuchwider。Onedivisionoflifetheyknewaboutequallywell，thecategoryofrakes，adventurers，card-sharpers，unhappyauthors，peopleofthestage，andladieswithoutreputations，ineverydegree。Therewereconditionsofhighersociety，ofEnglishruralsociety，andofclericalsociety，whichFielding，bybirthandeducation，knewmuchbetterthanSmollett。
ButSmolletthadtheadvantageofhisearlyyearsinScotland，thenaslittleknownasJapan；withthe\"nauticalmultitude，\"fromcaptaintoloblollyboy，hewasintimatelyfamiliar；withtheWestIndieshewasacquainted；andhelaterresidedinParis，andtravelledinFlanders，sothathehadmoreexperience，certainly，ifnotmoreinvention，thanFielding。
In\"RoderickRandom\"heusedScottish\"localcolour\"verylittle，buthislifehadfurnishedhimwithasurprisingwealthof\"strangeexperiences。\"Innswere，wemustbelieve，thefavouritehomeofadventures，andSmollettcouldringendlesschangesonmistakesaboutbedrooms。NoneofthemissoinnocentlydivertingastheaffairofMr。Pickwickandtheladyinyellowcurl-papers；buttheabsenceofthatinnocencewhichheightensMr。Pickwick\'sdistresseswaswelcometoadmirersofwhatLadyMaryWortleyMontagucalls\"gayreading。\"
Shewrotefromabroad，in1752，\"ThereissomethinghumorousinR。
Random，thatmakesmebelievethattheauthorisH。Fielding\"——herkinsman。Herladyshipdidhercousinlittlejustice。Shedidnotcomplainofthemoralsof\"R。Random，\"butthought\"Pamela\"and\"Clarissa\"\"likelytodomoregeneralmischiefthantheworksofLordRochester。\"Probably\"R。Random\"didlittleharm。Hiscareeristooobviouslyideal。Toomanyupsanddownsoccurtohim，andfeworphansofmeritcouldsetbeforethemselvestheidealofbilkingtheirtailors，gamblingbywayofaprofession，dealingintheslavetrade，andwheedlingheiresses。
Thevarietyofcharacterinthebookisvast；inMorganwehaveanexcellent，fiery，Welshman，ofthestagetype；thedifferentminormiscreantsareallvividlydesigned；theeccentricladyauthormayhavehadarealoriginal；MissSnapperhasmuchvivacityasawit；
theFrenchadventuresinthearmyare，intheirrudebarbaricway，aforecastofBarryLyndon\'s；and，generally，bothScottandThackerayoweagooddealtoSmollettinthewayofsuggestions。
Smollett\'sextraordinaryloveofdilatingonnoisomesmellsandnoisomesights，thatintenseaffectionforthephysicallynauseous，whichhesharedwithSwift，isratherlessmarkedin\"Roderick\"
thanin\"HumphreyClinker，\"and\"TheAdventuresofanAtom。\"ThescenesintheMarshalseamusthavebeenfamiliartoDickens。TheterriblehistoryofMissWilliamsisHogarth\'sHarlot\'sProgressdoneintounsparingprose。Smollettguidesusatabriskpacethroughtheshadyandbrutalsideoftheeighteenthcentury；hisvivacityisasunflaggingasthatofhisdisagreeablerattleofahero。Thepassionusuallyunderstoodasloveis，tobesure，oneofwhichheseemstohavenoconception；heregardsawomanmuchasagreedypersonmightregardasirloinofbeef，or，atleast，aplateofortolans。Athermarriageabrideis\"dishedup；\"thatisall。
Thusthis\"gaywriting\"nolongermakesusgay。Inreading\"PeregrinePickle\"and\"HumphreyClinker，\"amanmayfindhimselflaughingaloud，buthardlyinreading\"RoderickRandom。\"Thefunisofthecruelprimitivesort，arisingmerelyfromthecontemplationofsomebody\'spainfuldiscomfiture。BowlingandRattlinmayberegardedwithaffectionaterespect；butRoderickhasonlyphysicalcourageandvivacitytorecommendhim。WhetherSmollett，inFlaubert\'sdeliberateway，purposelyabstainedfrommoralisingonthemanyscenesofphysicaldistresswhichhepainted；orwhetherhemerelyregardedthemwithoutemotion，hasbeendebated。Itseemsmoreprobablethathethoughttheycarriedtheirownmoral。ItisthemostsympathetictouchinRoderick\'scharacter，thathewritesthusofhismiserablecrewofslaves:
\"Ourshipbeingfreedfromthedisagreeableladingofnegroes，TO
WHOMINDEEDIHADBEENAMISERABLESLAVESINCEOURLEAVINGTHE
COASTOFGUINEA，Ibegantoenjoymyself。\"Smollettwasaphysician，andhadthepitifulnessofhisprofession；thoughweseehowcasuallyhemakesRandomtouchonhisownunwontedbenevolence。
Peoplehadnotbeguntoknowtheextentoftheirownbrutalityintheslavetrade，butSmollettprobablydidknowit。Ifacuriouspropheticletterattributedtohim，andpublishedmorethantwentyyearsafterhisdeath，begenuine；hehadthestrongestopinionsaboutthisformofcommercialenterprise。Buthedidnotwearhisheartonhissleeve，whereheworehisirritablenervoussystem。
Itisprobableenoughthathefeltforthevictimsofpoverty，neglect，andoppressiondespitehisremarksonhospitalsaskeenlyasDickens。WemightregardhisoffensivelyungratefulRoderickasapurelydramaticexhibitionofayoungman，ifhisotherheroeswerenotasbad，orworse；iftheirfewredeemingqualitieswerenotstuckoninpatches；andifhehadomittedhisremarkaboutRoderick\'s\"modestmerit。\"Ontheotherhand，thegoodsideofMatthewBrambleseemstobedrawnfromSmollett\'sowncharacter，and，ifthatbethecase，hecanhavehadlittlesympathywithhisownhumorousBarryLyndons。ScottandThackerayleanedtothefavourableview:Smollett，hisnervoussystemapart，wasmanlyandkindly。
Asregardsplot，\"RoderickRandom\"isamerestringofpicturesqueadventures。Itisattheoppositepolefrom\"TomJones\"inthematterofconstruction。Thereisnoreasonwhyitshouldeverstopexcepttheconvenienceofprintersandbinders。Perhapswelaytoomuchstressonthesomewhatmechanicalartofplot-building。
FieldingwasthensettingthefirstandbestEnglishexampleofacraftinwhichtheverygreatestauthorshavebeenweak，orofwhichtheywerecareless。Smollettwasalwaysrathermoreincapable，orrathermoreindifferent，inplot-weaving，thangreatermen。
Inourdayofroyalties，andgossipaboutthegainsofauthors，itwouldbeinterestingtoknowwhatmannerandsizeofachequeSmollettreceivedfromhispublisher，thecelebratedMr。Osborne。
Wedonotknow，butSmollettpublishedhisnextnovel\"oncommission，\"\"printedfortheAuthor\"；soprobablyhewasnotwellsatisfiedwiththepecuniaryresultof\"RoderickRandom。\"Thereby，saysDr。Moore，he\"acquiredmuchmorereputationthanmoney。\"Sohenowpublished\"TheRegicide\"\"bysubscription，thatmethodofpublicationbeingthenmorereputablethanithasbeenthoughtsince\"1797。Of\"TheRegicide，\"anditsunluckypreface，enough，ormore，hasbeensaid。Thepublicsidedwiththemanagers，notwiththemeritoriousorphan。
Forthesakeofpleasure，orofnewexperiences，orofeconomy，SmollettwenttoParisin1750，wherehemetDr。Moore，laterhisbiographer，thepoeticalDr。Akenside，andanaffectedpainter。Heintroducedthepoetandpainterinto\"PeregrinePickle\"；andmakesslightuseofagroupofexiledJacobites，includingMr。HunterofBurnside。In1750，therewereJacobitesenoughintheFrenchcapital，allwonderingverymuchwherePrinceCharlesmightbe，andquiteunconsciousthathewastheirneighbourinaconventintheRueSt。Dominique。ThoughMooredoesnotsaysoheisprovokinglyeconomicalofdetail，wemaypresumethatSmollettwentwanderinginFlanders，asdoesPeregrinePickle。ItiscuriousthatheshouldintroduceaCapucin，aJew，andablack-eyeddamsel，allintheGhentdiligence，whenweknowthatPrinceCharlesdidliveinGhent，withtheblack-eyedMissWalkenshaw，didgoaboutdisguisedasaCapucin，andwastrackedbyaJewishspy，whiletheotherspy，YoungGlengarry，styledhimself\"Pickle。\"Butallthoseeventsoccurredaboutayearafterthenovelwaspublishedin1751。
BeforethatdateSmolletthadgotanM。D。degreefromAberdeenUniversity，and，afterreturningfromFrance，hepractisedforayearortwoatBath。Buthecouldnotexpecttobesuccessfulamongfashionableinvalids，and，in\"HumphreyClinker，\"hemakeMatthewBramblegivesuchanaccountoftheBathwatersasM。Zolamightenvy。Hewasstilltryingtogaingroundinhisprofession，when，inMarch1751，Mr。D。Wilsonpublishedthefirsteditionof\"PeregrinePickle\"\"fortheAuthor，\"unnamed。Ihaveneverseenthisfirstedition，whichwas\"verycuriousanddisgusting。\"
Smollett，inhisprefacetothesecondedition，talksof\"theartandindustrythatwereusedtostiflehiminthebirth，bycertainbooksellersandothers。\"Henow\"reformedthemanners，andcorrectedtheexpressions，\"removedormodifiedsomepassagesofpersonalsatire，andheldhimselfexemptfrom\"thenumerousshaftsofenvy，rancour，andrevenge，thathavelately，bothinprivateandpublic，beenlevelledathisreputation。\"Whowerethesebaseandpitilessdastards？Probablyeveryonewhodidnotwritefavourablyaboutthebook。PerhapsSmollettsuspectedFielding，whomheattacksinseveralpartsofhisworks，treatinghimasakindofJonathanWild，athief-taker，andanassociatewiththieves。WhySmollettthusmisconductedhimselfisaproblem，unlesshewaseither\"meanlyjealous，\"orhadtakenoffenceatsomeremarksinFielding\'snewspaper。Smollettcertainlybeganthewar，inthefirsteditionof\"PeregrinePickle。\"Hemadeakindofpalinodetothe\"tradingjustice\"later，asotherpeopleofhiskindhavedone。
Apointin\"PeregrinePickle\"easilyassailedwasthelongepisodeaboutaLadyofQuality:thebeautifulLadyVane，whosememoirsSmollettintroducedintohistale。HoraceWalpolefoundthatshehadomittedtheonlyfeatureinhercareerofwhichshehadjustreasontobeproud:thenumberofherlovers。NobodydoubtedthatSmollettwaspaidforcastinghismantleoverLadyVane:moreover，hemightexpectasuccessofscandal。Theromanaclefisalwayspopularwithscandal-mongers，butitsauthorscanhardlyhopetoescaperebuke。
Itwasnottill1752thatLadyMaryWortleyMontagu，inItaly，received\"Peregrine，\"withotherfashionableromances——\"PompeytheLittle，\"\"TheParishGirl，\"\"Eleanora\'sAdventures，\"\"TheLifeofMrs。TheresaConstantiaPhipps，\"\"TheAdventuresofMrs。Loveil，\"
andsoon。Mostofthemcontainedportraitsofrealpeople，and，nodoubt，mostofthemwerethereforesuccessful。Butwherearetheynow？LadyMarythoughtLadyVane\'spartof\"Peregrine\"\"moreinstructivetoyoungwomenthananysermonthatIknow。\"SheregardedFieldingaswithCongreve，theonly\"original\"ofherage，butFieldinghadtowriteforbread，andthatis\"themostcontemptiblewayofgettingbread。\"Shedidnot，atthistime，evenknowSmollett\'sname，butsheadmiredhim，and，later，callshim\"mydearSmollett。\"ThisladythoughtthatFieldingdidnotknowwhatsorryfellowshisTomJonesandCaptainBoothwere。NotnearsosorryasPereginePicklewerethey，forthisgentlemanisafarmoreatrociousruffianthanRoderickRandom。
Nonetheless\"Peregrine\"isSmollett\'sgreatestwork。Nothingissorichinvarietyofcharacter，scene，andadventure。Wearecarriedalongbytheswiftandcopiousvolumeofthecurrent，carriedintoveryqueerplaces，andintotheoddestmiscellaneouscompany，butwecannotescapefromSmollett\'svigorousgrasp。SirWalterthoughtthat\"Roderick\"excelleditssuccessorin\"easeandsimplicity，\"andthatSmollett\'ssailors，in\"Pickle，\"\"borderoncaricature。\"Nodoubttheydo:theeccentricitiesofHawserTrunnion，Esq。，areexaggerated，andPipesislesssubduedthanRattlin，thoughalwaysdelightful。ButTrunnionabsolutelymakesonelaughoutaloud:whetherheiscriticisingthesisterofMr。
GamalielPickleinthatgentleman\'spresence，atapot-house；orridingtothealtarwithhissquadronofsailors，tackinginanunfavourablegale；orbeingrunawayintoapackofhounds，andclearingahollowroadoverawaggoner，whoviewshimwith\"unspeakableterrorandamazement。\"Mr。WinkleasanequestrianisnotmoreentirelyacceptabletothemindthanTrunnion。Wemayspeakof\"caricature，\"butifanauthorcanmakeussobwithlaughter，tocriticisehimsolemnlyisungrateful。
ExceptFieldingoccasionally，andSmollett，andSwift，andSheridan，andtheauthorsof\"TheRovers，\"onedoesnotrememberanywritersoftheeighteenthcenturywhoquiteupsetthegravityofthereader。Thesceneofthepedant\'sdinnerafterthemanneroftheancients，doesnotseemtomyselfsocomicastheadventuresofTrunnion，whilethebrideisatthealtar，andthebridegroomistackingandveeringwithhisconvoyaboutthefields。Oneseeshowthedinnerisdone:withaknowledgeofAthenaeus，Juvenal，Petronius，andHorace，manymencouldhavewrittenthissetpiece。
ButTrunnionisquiteinimitable:heisachildofhumourandofthehighestspirits，likeMr。Wellertheelder。TillScottcreatedMauseHeadrig，noCaledonianhadeverproducedanythingexcept\"Tamo\'Shanter，\"thatcouldbeapendanttoTrunnion。Hispathosispossiblyjustatrifleoverdone，thoughthatisnotmyownopinion。
DearTrunnion!hemakesmeoverlookthegambolsofhisdetestableprotege，thehero。
Thatscoundrelisnotanimpossiblecaricatureofanobstinate，vain，cruellibertine。PeregrinewaspreciselythemantofallinlovewithEmiliapourlebonmotif，andthenattempttoruinher，thoughshewasthesisterofhisfriend，bydevicesworthyofLovelaceathislastandloweststage。Peregrine\'soverwhelmingvanity，swollenbyfacileconquests，wouldinevitablyhavedegradedhimtothisabyss。Theintriguewasonlytheworstofthoseinfamouspracticaljokesofhis，inwhichSmolletttakesacruelandunholydelight。Peregrine，infact，isaheroofnaturalisme，exceptthathisfitsofgenerosityaremerepatchesdaubedon，andthathisreformationisafarce，inwhichamodernnaturalistewouldhavedisdainedtoindulge。Emilia，inherscenewithPeregrineinthebougetowhichhehascarriedher，risesmuchaboveSmollett\'sheroines，andwecouldlikeher，ifshehadneverforgivenbehaviourwhichwasbeneathpardon。
Peregrine\'seducationatWinchesterbearsoutLordElcho\'sdescriptionofthatacademyinhislatelypublishedMemoirs。ItwasapttodevelopPeregrines；andLordElchohimselfmighthavefurnishedSmollettwithsuitableadventures。TherecanbenodoubtthatCadwalladerCrabtreesuggestedSirMalachiMalagrowthertoScott，andthatHatchwayandPipes，takinguptheirabodewithPeregrineintheFleet，gaveahinttoDickensforSamWellerandMr。Pickwickinthesameabode。That\"Peregrine\"\"doesfarexcel\'JosephAndrews\'and\'Amelia\'，\"asScottdeclares，fewmodernreaderswilladmit。Theworldcoulddomuchbetterwithout\"Peregrine\"thanwithout\"Joseph\"；whileAmeliaherselfaloneisastudygreatlypreferabletothewholeworksofSmollett:such，atleast，istheopinionofadeclaredworshipperofthatpeerlesslady。Yet\"Peregrine\"isakindofOdysseyoftheeighteenthcentury:anepicofhumourandofadventure。
InFebruary1753，Smollett\"obligedthetown\"withhis\"AdventuresofFerdinand，CountFathom，\"acosmopolitanswindlerandadventurer。ThebookisSmollett\'s\"BarryLyndon，\"yetashisherodoesnottellhisownstory，butisperpetuallyheldupasa\"dreadfulexample，\"thereisnoneofThackeray\'sirony，noneofhissubtlety。\"Hereisareallybadman，aforeignertoo，\"Smollettseemstosay，\"donotbemisled，ohmaidens，bythewilesofsuchaCount!Impetuousyouth，playnotwithhimatbilliards，basset，orgleek。Fathers，onsucharogueshutyourdoors:collectors，handlenothisnefariousantiques。LetallavoidthepathandshuntheexampleofFerdinand，CountFathom!\"
SuchisSmollett\'ssermon，but，afterall，FerdinandishardlyworsethanRoderickorPeregrine。Thesonofaterribleoldsutlerandcamp-follower，arobberandslayerofwoundedmen，Ferdinandhadtolivebyhiswits，andhewashardlylessscrupulous，afterall，thanPeregrineandRoderick。Thedaubsofcasualgenerositywerenotlaidon，andthatisallthedifference。AsSophiaWesternwasmistakenforMissJennyCameron，soFerdinandwasarrestedasPrinceCharles，who，infact，causedmuchinconveniencetoharmlesstravellers。Peoplewereoftenarrestedas\"ThePretender\'sson\"abroadaswellasinEngland。
ThelifeanddeathofFerdinand\'smother，shotbyawoundedhussarinhermomentofvictory，makeperhapsthemostoriginalandinterestingpartofthishero\'sadventures。Therestismuchakintohisearliernovels，butthehistoryofRinaldoandMonimiahasapassagenotquitealientotheveinofMrs。Radcliffe。SomeremarksinthefirstchaptershowthatSmollettfeltthecensuresonhisbrutalityand\"lowness，\"andhepromisestoseek\"thatgoalofperfectionwherenatureiscastigatedalmosteventostilllife……wheredecency，divestedofallsubstance，hoversaboutlikeafantasticshadow。\"
Smollettneverreachedthatgoal，andeventheshadowofdecencyneverhauntedhimsoastomakehimafraidwithanyamazement。
Smollettaversthathe\"hashadthecouragetocallinquestionthetalentsofapseudo-patron，\"andsoischargedwith\"insolence，rancour，andscurrility。\"Ofallthesethings，andofworse，hehadbeenguilty；hisoffencehadneverbeenlimitedto\"callinginquestionthetalents\"ofpersonswhohadbeenunsuccessfulingettinghisplayrepresented。RemonstrancemerelyirritatedTobias。Hisnewnovelwasbutafainterechoofhisoldnovels，apanoramaofscoundrelism，withthemelodramaticfortunesofthevirtuousMonimiaforafoil。Ifreadto-day，itisreadasasketchofmanners，orwantofmanners。ThesceneinwhichthebumpkinsquirerookstheaccomplishedFathomathazard，inParis，isprettilyconceived，andSmollett\'sindignationattheBritishsystemofpewsinchurchisedifying。ButwhenMonimiaappearstoherloverasheweepsathertomb，andprovestobenophantom，buta\"warmandsubstantial\"Monimia，capableofbeing\"dishedup，\"
likeanyotherSmollettianheroine，thereaderissensiblyannoyed。
Tobiasasunromantiqueisabsolutelytooabsurd；\"nothere，ohTobias，arehauntsmeetforthee。\"
Smollett\'snextnovel，\"SirLauncelotGreaves，\"wasnotpublishedtill1761，afterithadappearedinnumbers，inTheBritishMagazine。Thiswasasixpennyserial，publishedbyNewbery。Theyearsbetween1753and1760hadbeenoccupiedbySmollettinquarrelling，gettingimprisonedforlibel，editingtheCriticalReview，writinghis\"HistoryofEngland，\"translatingoradaptingoldtranslationsof\"DonQuixote，\"anddrivingateamofliteraryhacks，whoselabourshesuperintended，andtowhomhegaveaweeklydinner。TheseexploitsaredescribedbyDr。Carlyle，andbySmolletthimself，in\"HumphreyClinker。\"Hedidnottreathisvassalswithmuchcourtesyorconsideration；butthentheyexpectednosuchtreatment。Wehavenorighttotalkofhisdoingsas\"ablood-suckingmethod，literarysweating，\"likearecentbiographerofSmollett。Nottospeakoftheoddlymixedmetaphor，wedonotknowwhatSmollett\'srelationstohisretainersreallywere。Asaneditorhehadtoseehiscontributors。Theworkofothershemayhaverecommended，as\"reader\"topublishers。Othersmayhavemadetranscriptsforhim，ortranslations。ThatSmollett\"sweated\"men，orsuckedtheirblood，orboth，seemsacrudewayofsayingthathefoundthememployment。NobodysaysthatJohnson\"sweated\"thepersonswhohelpedhimincompilinghisDictionary；orthatMr。
Jowett\"sweated\"thefriendsandpupilswhoaidedhiminhistranslationofPlato。Authorshaveaperfectrighttoprocureliteraryassistance，especiallyinlearnedbooks，iftheypayforit，andacknowledgetheirdebttotheirallies。Onthesecondpoint，Smollettwasprobablynotinadvanceofhisage。
\"SirLauncelotGreaves\"is，accordingtoChambers，\"asorryspecimenofthegeniusoftheauthor，\"andMr。OliphantSmeatoncallsit\"decidedlytheleastpopular\"ofhisnovels，whileScottastonishesusbypreferringitto\"JonathanWild。\"Certainlyitisinferiorto\"RoderickRandom\"andto\"PeregrinePickle，\"butitcannotbesoutterlyunrealas\"TheAdventuresofanAtom。\"I，forone，venturetoprefer\"SirLauncelot\"to\"Ferdinand，CountFathom。\"Smollettwasreallytryinganexperimentinthefantastic。JustasMr。AnsteyGuthrietransfersthemediaevalmythofVenusandtheRing，ortheArabiantaleofthebottled-upgeniordjinnintomodernlife，soSmolletttransferredDonQuixote。
Hishero，ayoungbaronetofwealth，andofabenevolentandgeneroustemper，iscrossedinlove。Thoughnotmad，heiseccentric，andcommencesknight-errant。Scott，andothers，objecttohisarmour，andsaythat，inhisordinaryclothes，andwithhiswell-filledpurse，hewouldhavebeenmoresuccessfulinrightingwrongs。Certainly，butthenthecomicfantasyofthearmedknightarrivingattheale-house，andjanglingabouttherose-hunglanesamongtheastonishedfolkoftownandcountry，wouldhavebeenlost。Smollettiscertainlylessunsuccessfulinwildfantasy，thanintheridiculousromanticsceneswherethesubstantialphantomofMonimiadisportsitself。TheimitationoftheknightbythenauticalCaptainCroweanexcellentSmollettianmarinerisentertaining，andSirLauncelot\'scrustySanchoisapleasantvarietyinsquires。Thevariousformsofoppressionwhichtheknightresistsareofhistoricalinterest，asalsoisthecontestedelectionbetweenarusticToryandasmoothMinisterialist:
\"sincerelyattachedtotheProtestantsuccession，indetestationofapopish，anabjured，andanoutlawedPretender。\"Theheroine，AureliaDarrel，ismoreofalady，andlessofaluxury，thanperhapsanyotherofSmollett\'swomen。ButhowSmollettmakeslove!\"Teawascalled。Theloverswereseated；helookedandlanguished；sheflushedandfaltered；allwasdoubtanddelirium，fondnessandflutter。\"
\"Allwasgasandgaiters，\"saidtheinsaneloverofMrs。Nickleby，withequaldelicacyandpoint。
ScottsaysthatSmollett，whenonavisittoScotland，usedtowritehischapterof\"copy\"inthehalf-hourbeforethepostwentout。Scottwasverycapableofhavingthesamethinghappentohimself。\"SirLauncelot\"ishurriedly，butvigorouslywritten:
thefantasywasnotunderstoodasSmollettintendedittobe，andthebookisblotted，asusual，withloathsomemedicaldetails。ButpeopleinMadameduDeffand\'scircleusedopenlytodiscussthesametopics，totheconfusionofHoraceWalpole。Astheheroofthisbookisagenerousgentleman，asthemostofitiskindandmanly，andthehumourprovocativeofanhonestlaugh，itisbynomeanstobedespised，whilethemanners，ifcaricatured，arebasedonfact。
Itiscurioustonotethatin\"SirLauncelotGreaves，\"wefindacharacter，Ferret，whofranklyposesasastrugforlifeur。M。
Daudet\'sstrugforlifeurhadheardofDarwin。Mr。FerrethadreadHobbes，learnedthatmanwasinastateofnature，andinferredthatweoughttopreyuponeachother，asapikeeatstrout。MissBurney，too，atBath，about1780，metaperfectlyemancipatedyoung\"NewWoman。\"ShehadreadBolingbrokeandHume，believedinnothing，andwasreadytobea\"WomanwhoDid。\"Ourancestorscouldbejustasadvancedasweare。
Smollettwentoncompiling，andsupportinghimselfbyhiscompilations，andthoseofhisvassals。In1762heunluckilyeditedapapercalledTheBritonintheinterestsofLordBute。
TheBritonwassilencedbyWilkes\'sNorthBriton。Smollettlosthislastpatron；hefellill；hisdaughterdied；hetravelledangrilyinFranceandItaly。His\"Travels\"showthecholericnatureoftheman，andhewasespeciallyblamedfornotadmiringtheVenusdeMedici。Moderntaste，enlightenedbytheworksofabetterperiodofGreekart，hascomeroundtoSmollett\'sopinions。
But，inhisownday，hewasregardedasaVandalandaheretic。
In1764，hevisitedScotland，andwaswarmlywelcomedbyhiskinsman，thelairdofBonhill。In1769，hepublished\"TheAdventuresofanAtom，\"astupid，foul，andscurrilouspoliticalsatire，inwhichLordBute，havingbeenhispatron，was\"lashed\"inSmollett\'susualstyle。In1768，SmollettleftEnglandforever。
Hedesiredaconsulship，butnoconsulshipwasfoundforhim，whichisnotsurprising。HediedatMonteNova，nearLeghorn，inSeptemberotherssayOctober1771。Hehadfinished\"HumphreyClinker，\"whichappearedadayortwobeforehisdeath。
Thackeraythought\"HumphreyClinker\"themostlaughablebookthateverwaswritten。CertainlynobodyistobeenviedwhodoesnotlaughovertheepistlesofWinifredJenkins。Thebookistoowellknownforanalysis。ThefamilyofMatthewBramble，Esq。，areontheirtravels，withhisnephewandniece，youngMelfordandLydiaMelford，withMissJenkins，andthesquire\'start，greedy，andamorousoldmaidofasister，TabithaBramble。Thislady\'spersistentamoursandmeanavaricescarcelystrikemodernreadersasamusing。Smollettgaveaspectsofhisowncharacterinthecholeric，kind，benevolentMatthewBramble，andinthepatrioticandparadoxicalLieutenantLismahago。Bramble，agoutyinvalid，isasfullofmedicalabominationsasSmolletthimself，asreadytofight，andasgenerousandopen-handed。ProbablytheauthorsharedLismahago\'scontemptoftrade，hisdislikeoftheUnion1707，hisfieryindependenceyetheDOESmarryTabitha!，andthoseopinionsinwhichLismahagoheraldssomeofthesocialnotionsofMr。
Ruskin。
Melfordisanhonourablekindof\"walkinggentleman\"；Lydia，thoughenamoured，ismodestanddignified；ClinkerisaworthysonofBramble，withabundantgoodhumour，andapleasingveinofWesleyanMethodism。Butthegrotesquespelling，ruralvanity，andnaiveteofWinifredJenkins，withheraffectionforherkitten，makeherthemostdelightfulofthiswanderingcompany。AfterbeholdingthehumoursandpartakingofthewatersofBath，theyfollowSmollett\'sownScottishtour，andeachcharactergiveshispictureofthecountrywhichSmolletthadleftatitslowestebbofindustryandcomfort，andfoundsomuchmoreprosperous。Thebookisamineforthehistorianofmannersandcustoms:thenovel-readerfindsCountFathommetamorphosedintoMr。Grieve，anexemplaryapothecary，\"asincereconverttovirtue，\"and\"unaffectedlypious。\"
Apparentlyawaveofgood-naturecameoverSmollett:heforgaveeverybody，hisownrelationseven，andhereclaimedhisvillain。A
patronmighthaveplayedwithhim。HemellowedinScotland:
Matthewtherebecamelesstart，andmoretolerant；anactualEnglishMatthewwouldhavebehavedquiteotherwise。\"HumphreyClinker\"isanastonishingbook，astheworkofanexiled，poor，anddyingman。NoneofhisworksleavessoadmirableanimpressionofSmollett\'svirtues:nonehassofewofhislessamiablequalities。
WiththecadetofBonhill，outwornwithliving，andwithlabour，diedtheburly，brawling，picturesqueoldEnglishnovelofhumourandoftheroad。Wehavenothingnotableinthismanner，beforethearrivalofMr。Pickwick。AnexceptionwillscarcelybemadeintheinterestofRichardCumberland，who，asScottsays，\"hasoccasionally……becomedisgusting，whenhemeanttobehumorous。\"AlreadyWalpolehadbegunthenew\"Gothicromance，\"andthe\"CastleofOtranto，\"withMissBurney\'snovels，wastoleaduptoMrs。RadcliffeandScott，toMissEdgeworthandMissAusten。
CHAPTERX:NATHANIELHAWTHORNE
Sainte-Beuvesayssomewherethatitisimpossibletospeakof\"TheGermanClassics。\"PerhapshewouldnothaveallowedustotalkoftheAmericanclassics。Americanliteratureistoonearlycontemporary。Timehasnottriedit。But，ifAmericapossessesaclassicauthorandIamnotdenyingthatshemayhaveseveral，thatauthorisdecidedlyHawthorne。Hisrenownisunimpeached:
hisgreatnessisprobablypermanent，becauseheisatoncesuchanoriginalandpersonalgenius，andsuchajudiciousanddeterminedartist。
Hawthornedidnotsethimselfto\"competewithlife。\"Hedidnotmaketheeffort——theproverbiallytediouseffort——tosayeverything。Tohismind，fictionwasnotamirrorofcommonplacepersons，andhewasnottheanalystoftheminutestamongtheirordinaryemotions。Nordidhemakeamoral，orsocial，orpoliticalpurposetheendandaimofhisart。Moralasmanyofhispiecesnaturallyare，wecannotcallthemdidactic。Hedidnotexpect，norintend，tobetterpeoplebythem。HedrewtheRev。
ArthurDimmesdalewithouthopingthathisAwfulExamplewouldpersuadereadersto\"makeacleanbreast\"oftheiriniquitiesandtheirsecrets。Itwasthemoralsituationthatinterestedhim，nottheedifyingeffectofhispictureofthatsituationuponthemindsofnovel-readers。
HesethimselftowriteRomance，withadefiniteideaofwhatRomance-writingshouldbe；\"todreamstrangethings，andmakethemlookliketruth。\"Nothingcanbemoreremotefromthemodernsystemofreportingcommonplacethings，inthehopethattheywillreadliketruth。Asallpaintersmustdo，accordingtogoodtraditions，heselectedasubject，andthenplaceditinadeliberatelyarrangedlight——notinthefullglareofthenoondaysun，andinthedisturbancesofwind，andweather，andcloud。
Moonshinefillingafamiliarchamber，andmakingitunfamiliar，moonshinemixedwiththe\"faintruddinessonwallsandceiling\"offire，wasthelight，oraclearbrowntwilightwasthelightbywhichhechosetowork。Sohetellsusintheprefaceto\"TheScarletLetter。\"Theroomcouldbefilledwiththeghostsofolddwellersinit；faint，yetdistinct，allthelifethathadpassedthroughitcameback，andspokewithhim，andinspiredhim。Hekepthiseyesonthesefigures，tangledinsomerareknotofFate，andofDesire:thesehepainted，notattendingmuchtothebustleofexistencethatsurroundedthem，notpermittingsuperfluouselementstominglewiththem，andtodistracthim。
ThemethodofHawthornecanbemoreeasilytracedthanthatofmostartistsasgreatashimself。Pope\'sbrilliantpassagesanddisconnectedtrainsofthoughtareexplainedwhenwerememberthat\"paper-sparing，\"ashesays，hewrotetwo，orfour，orsixcoupletsonodd，straybitsofcasualwritingmaterial。Thesehehadtojointogether，somehow，andbetweenhis\"OrientPearlsatRandomStrung\"thereisoccasionally\"toomuchstring，\"asDickensoncesaidonanotheropportunity。Hawthorne\'smethodisrevealedinhispublishednote-books。Inthesehejottedthegermofanidea，thefirstnotionofasingular，perhapssupernaturalmoralsituation。
Manyoftheseheneverusedatall，onothershewoulddream，anddream，tillthepersonsinthesituationsbecamecharacters，andthethingwasevolvedintoastory。Thushemayhaveinventedsuchaproblemasthis:\"Theeffectofagreat，suddensinonasimpleandjoyousnature，\"andthencecameallthesubstanceof\"TheMarbleFaun\"\"Transformation\"。Theoriginalandgerminalideawouldnaturallydivideitselfintoanother，astheprotozoareproducethemselves。Anotherideawastheeffectofnearnesstothegreatcrimeonapureandspotlessnature:hencethecharacterofHilda。Intheprefaceto\"TheScarletLetter，\"Hawthorneshowsushowhetried，byreflectionanddream，towarmthevaguepersonsofthefirstmerenotionorhintintosuchlifeascharactersinromanceinherit。WhilehewasintheCivilServiceofhiscountry，intheCustomHouseatSalem，hecouldnotdothis；heneededfreedom。Hewasdismissedbypoliticalopponentsfromoffice，andinstantlyhewashimselfagain，andwrotehismostpopularand，perhaps，hisbestbook。Theevolutionofhisworkwasfromtheprimenotionwhichheconfessedthathelovedbestwhen\"strange\"
totheshortstory，andthencetothefullandroundednovel。Allhisworkwasleisurely。Allhislanguagewaspicked，thoughnotwithaffectation。Hedidnotstrivetomakeastyleoutoftheuseofoddwords，oroffamiliarwordsinoddplaces。Almostalwayshelookedfor\"akindofspiritualmedium，seenthroughwhich\"hisromances，liketheOldManseinwhichhedwelt，\"hadnotquitetheaspectofbelongingtothematerialworld。\"
Thespiritualmediumwhichheliked，hewaspartlyborninto，andpartlyhecreatedit。ThechildofaracewhichcamefromEngland，robustandPuritanic，hehadinhisveinsthebloodofjudges——ofthosejudgeswhoburnedwitchesandpersecutedQuakers。HisfancyisasmuchinfluencedbytheoldfancifultraditionsofProvidence，ofWitchcraft，ofhauntingIndianmagic，asScott\'sisinfluencedbylegendsofforayandfeud，byballad，andsong，andoldwives\'
tales，andrecordsofconspiracies，fire-raisings，tragiclove-
adventures，andborderwars。LikeScott，Hawthornelivedinphantasy——inphantasywhichreturnedtotheromanticpast，whereinhisancestorshadbeennotablemen。Itisacommonplace，butaninevitablecommonplace，toaddthathewasfilledwiththeideaofHeredity，withthebeliefthatweareallonlynewcombinationsofourfathersthatwerebeforeus。Thishasbeenmadeintoakindofpseudo-scientificdoctrinebyM。Zola，inthelongseriesofhisRougon-Macquartnovels。Hawthornetreateditwithamoredelicateandaserenerartin\"TheHouseoftheSevenGables。\"
ItiscurioustomarkHawthorne\'sattemptstobreakawayfromhimself——fromthemanthatheredity，andcircumstance，andthedivinegiftofgeniushadmadehim。Henaturally\"hauntsthemoulderinglodgesofthepast\"；butwhenhecametoEnglandwheresuchlodgesareabundant，hewasill-pleasedandcross-grained。
Heknewthatalongpast，withmysteries，darkplaces，malisons，curses，historicwrongs，wastheproperatmosphereofhisart。Butakindofconscientiousdesiretobesomethingotherthanhimself——
somethingmoreordinaryandpopular——makehimthankHeaventhathischosenatmospherewasrareinhisnativeland。Hegrumbledatit，whenhewasinthemidstofit；hegrumbledinEngland；andhowhegrumbledinRome!HepermittedtheAmericanEagletomakehernestinhisbosom，\"withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterisesthisunhappyfowl，\"ashesaysinhisessay\"TheCustomHouse。\"\"Thegeneraltruculencyofherattitude\"seemsto\"threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity\"ofEurope，andespeciallyofEnglandandItaly。
PerhapsHawthornetravelledtoolate，whenhishabitsweretoomuchfixed。ItdoesnotbecomeEnglishmentobeangrybecauseavoyagerisannoyedatnotfindingeverythingfamiliarandcustomaryinlandswhichheonlyvisitsbecausetheyarestrange。ThisisaninconsistencytowhichEnglishtravellersareparticularlyprone。
Butitis，inHawthorne\'scase，perhaps，anotherinstanceofhisconscientiousattemptstobe，whathewasnot，verymuchlikeotherpeople。HisunexpectedexplosionsofPuritanism，perhaps，arecausedbythesenseofbeingtoomuchhimself。Hespeaksof\"theSqueamishloveoftheBeautiful\"asiftheloveoftheBeautifulweresomethingunworthyofanable-bodiedcitizen。Insomearts，asinpaintingandsculpture，histastewasveryfarfrombeingathome，ashisItalianjournalsespeciallyprove。Inshort，hewasanartistinacommunityforlongmostinartistic。Hecouldnotdowhatmanyofusfindverydifficult——hecouldnottakeBeautywithgladnessasitcomes，neithershrinkingfromitasimmoral，norgettinggirlishlydrunkuponit，intheaestheticfashion，andscreamingoveritinanintoxicationofsurprise。HistendencywastoberathershyandafraidofBeauty，asapleasantbutnotimmaculatelyrespectableacquaintance。Or，perhaps，hewasmerelydeferringtoAnglo-Saxonpublicopinion。
Possiblyhewastryingtoweanhimselffromhimself，andfromhisowngenius，whenheconsortedwithoddamateursocialistsinfarm-
work，andwhenhemixed，atConcord，withthe\"queer，strangely-
dressed，oddly-behavedmortals，mostofwhomtookuponthemselvestobeimportantagentsoftheworld\'sdestiny，yetweresimpleboresofaveryintensewater。\"TheyhauntedMr。EmersonastheyhauntedShelley，andHawthornehadtoseemuchofthem。Buttheyneithermadeaconvertofhim，norirritatedhimintoresentment。
Hislong-enduringkindnesstotheunfortunateMissDeliaBacon，anearlybelieverinthenonsenseaboutBaconandShakespeare，wasamodelofmanlyandgenerousconduct。Hewas，indeed，anadmirablecharacter，andhisgoodnesshadthebloomonitofacourteousandkindlynaturethatlovedtheMuses。But，asonehasventuredtohint，thedevelopmentofhisgeniusandtastewashamperednowandthen，apparently，byadesiretoputhimselfonthelevelofthegeneralpublic，andoftheirideas。This，atleast，ishowoneexplainstooneselfvariousremarksinhisprefaces，journals，andnote-books。Thismayaccountforthemoralallegorieswhichtooweirdlyhauntsomeofhisshort，earlypieces。EdgarPoe，inapassagefullofveryhonestandwell-chosenpraise，foundfaultwiththeallegoricalbusiness。
Mr。Hutton，fromwhose\"LiteraryEssays\"IborrowPoe\'sopinion，says:\"PoeboldlyassertedthattheconspicuouslyidealscaffoldingsofHawthorne\'sstorieswerebutthemonstrousfruitsofthebadtranscendentalatmospherewhichhebreathedsolong。\"
ButIhopethiswayofputtingitisnotPoe\'s。\"Idealscaffoldings，\"areoddenough，butwhenscaffoldingsturnouttobe\"fruits\"ofan\"atmosphere，\"andmonstrousfruitsofa\"badtranscendentalatmosphere，\"thebrainreelsinthefumesofmixedmetaphors。\"Lethimmendhispen，\"criedPoe，\"getabottleofvisibleink，comeoutfromtheOldManse，cutMr。Alcott，\"and，infact，writeaboutthingslessimpalpable，asMr。Mallock\'sheroinepreferredtobeloved，\"inamorehumansortofway。\"
Hawthorne\'swaywasnevertooruddilyandrobustlyhuman。Perhaps，evenin\"TheScarletLetter，\"wefeeltoodistinctlythatcertaincharactersaremoralconceptions，notwarmedandwakenedoutoftheallegoricalintothereal。Thepersonsinanallegorymayberealenough，asBunyanhasprovedbyexamples。Butthatculpableclergyman，Mr。ArthurDimmesdale，withhislarge，whitebrow，hismelancholyeyes，hishandonhisheart，andhisgeneralresemblancetotheHighChurchCurateinThackeray\'s\"OurStreet，\"ishereal？