CONTENTS.

LETTER I. Introduction General reasons for believing the novels to have been written by the author of Marmion

Page 1

LETTER II.

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 sports Of Dogs-Acquainted with most manly exercises-Lovers of military subjects. The novelist apparently not a soldier

9

LETTER III. 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 manners Spirited 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.

Great propriety and correctness occasionally, and sometimes

unusual sweetness-Instances

Page 48

LETTER V.

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-

lery-Eloquence Instances

68

LETTER VI.

The Poetry of the author of Marmion generally characterized

-His habits of composition and turn of mind, as a poet, com-
pared with those of the novelist Their descriptions simply
conceived and composed, without abstruse and far-fetched
circumstances or refined comments_Great advantage de-
rived by both from accidental combinations of images, and
the association of objects in the mind with persons, events,
&c.Distinctness and liveliness of effect in narrative and
description-Narrative usually picturesque or dramatic, or
both-Distinctness, &c. of effect, produced in various ways
Instances--Striking pictures of individuals. Their persons,'

dress, &c.--Descriptions sometimes too obviously pic-

turesque Subjects for painters-Effects of light frequently

noticed and firely described-Both writers excel in grand

and complicated scenes- Among detached and

sional ornaments, the Similes particularly noticed Their

frequency and beauty Instances-Similes and metaphors

sometimes quaint and pursued too far Instances Page 102

occa-

LETTER VII.

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

described-Living persons mistaken for spectres-Deaths of

Burley, Risingham, and Rashleig

146

LETTER VIII.

Comparison of particular passages_Descriptions--Miscella-

same incidents, &c. Same authors quoted by both-The

poet, like the novelist, fond of mentioning his contemporaries,
whether as private friends or as men publicly distinguished
Author of Marmion never notices the author of Waverley,
(see Letter III.)-Both delight in frequently introducing an
antiquated or fantastic dialect Peculiarities of expression
common to both writersConclusion

Page 195

ERRATA.

Page

36, l. 14, before matchless, omit a.

42, 1. 16, read proofs already adduced.

151, 1. 6, for Westburn flat, read Westburnflat.

156, 1. 12, for ah! read bah!

160, 1. 25, a comma after interference.

165, l. 26, after for, omit the sake of.

169, 1. 26, for feminine, read unfeminine.

195, l. 11, for hitherto not, read not hitherto.

213, I, 16, for tre, read true.

213, 1. 20, between the words, Do Veniam, omit the comma.

231, k. 16, for closing-scene, read closing scene.