MORALITY OF FICTION.

PART I

THE kinds of instruction which fiction has been supposed capable of affording seem reducible to three: to communicate a knowledge of human life and manners,-to prove the truth of some philosophical opinion, or the obligation of some moral principle,—and, lastly, to exhibit examples of conduct, superior to those which are to be met with in or dinary life.

To begin then with the first, or with those . which aim at giving a faithful representation

of human life and manners. It is no doubt extremely desirable, that an individual should acquire a more extensive acquaintance with mankind than his own personal observation can furnish. This must always be, in a great degree, both limited and precarious. The objects, too, which it presents, will be often viewed through such a mist of passion and prejudice, as to prevent his forming a correct judgment respecting them. Admitting, then, the necessity of some additional information, the question is, in what manner this information may best be communicated? Now, the proper and natural mode seems to be, by a narration of such events as have actually taken place. It is by these alone that the deficiences of personal observation can be completely supplied; and that the philosopher can be enabled to trace those general laws which regulate the course of human affairs. Such being the case, we are naturally led to inquire into the circumstances which have induced men rather, in this view, to have recourse to fiction.

Among narratives founded upon truth,

that which has hitherto attracted by far the greatest share of the attention of mankind, is the history of nations. It is a study, doubtless, of the highest importance. To the practical statesman, as well as to the votary of political science, it opens ample sources of instruction. But there may be room to doubt, whether it be equally adapted to the use of man, considered as a private individual. Even in that view, he may derive from it, no doubt, a knowledge of the elementary principles of human nature. Still the aspect in which it presents men and things, must be very different from that in which he is ever likely to view them. There may even be a danger, lest very great familiarity with these splendid occurrences should withdraw his attention too much from the ordinary concerns of life, and should render him dissatisfied with that more humble station which Providence has assigned him.

There is a material difference, indeed, between the affairs of public and of private life. The former can be known only through the medium of history, while every man, by

means of his own experience, must obtain a considerable acquaintaince with the latter. It were to be wished, however, that he could obtain some portion of it, previous to his entrance upon active life. Experience comes late, and is often too dearly bought. Before acquiring it, he may have committed those errors, and suffered those evils, from which the possession of it would have secured him. Written narratives would form also the best foundation for what may be termed the philosophy of domestic life; a science, which, though yet in its infancy, seems likely to be at least as useful as political philosophy.

But, in stating these defects of historical composition, it is by no means my intention to represent fiction as a very eligible substi-. tute. For the resemblance which it bears to truth can hardly ever be so exact, as that truth itself must not still be preferable. However well executed, it can never be referred to by the moralist, as an authority, on which to establish maxims for the conduct of life. The chief fictitious performances, that have pretensions of this kind, are those which

go by the name of comic romances. Here, the great aim of the writers being to present their characters in a ludicrous and amusing point of view, they are naturally led, instead of a faithful representation of nature, to give very strong caricatures. With the same view of entertaining their readers, they have filled the story with surprising and improbable incidents, such as seldom or never take place in real life.. Nor have they scrupled to use other methods still more unwarrantable, which render many of these works by no means serviceable to the cause of morality.

The best method, then, of supplying the deficiencies of history, seems, instead of these works, to be the biography of private life. Here a man may view others acting in the very same circumstances in which he himself, either is, or may be placed. This species of composition is generally objected to, as not capable of exciting a sufficient de-. gree of interest. For this objection, there has hitherto, no doubt, been some ground. So long as this is the case, fiction may, in some degree, though very imperfectly, supply its