all others out from the possession of the
historical page; but a chapter of that gentleman's memoirs, as they are
recorded in that exemplary recueil--the "Newgate Calendar;" nay, a canto
of the great comic epic (involving many fables, and containing much
exaggeration, but still having the seeds of truth) which the satirical
poet of those days wrote in celebration of him--we mean Fielding's
"History of Jonathan Wild the Great"--does seem to us to give a more
curious picture of the manners of those times than any recognized
history of them. At the close of his history of George II., Smollett
condescends to give a short chapter on Literature and Manners. He speaks
of Glover's "Leonidas," Cibber's "Careless Husband," the poems of Mason,
Gray, the two Whiteheads, "the nervous style, extensive erudition, and
superior sense of a Corke; the delicate taste, the polished muse, and
tender feeling of a Lyttelton." "King," he says, "shone unrivalled in
Roman eloquence, the female sex distinguished themselves by their taste
and ingenuity. Miss Carter rivalled the celebrated Dacier in learning
and critical knowledge; Mrs. Lennox signalized herself by many
successful efforts of genius both in poetry and prose; and Miss Reid
excelled the celebrated Rosalba in portrait-painting, both in miniature
and at large, in oil as well as in crayons. The genius of Cervantes was
transferred into the novels of Fielding, who painted the characters and
ridiculed the follies of life with equal strength, humor, and propriety.
The field of history and biography was cultivated by many writers
of ability, among whom we distinguish the copious Guthrie, the
circumstantial Ralph, the laborious Carte, the learned and elegant
Robertson, and above all, the ingenious, penetrating, and comprehensive
Hume," &c. &c. We will quote no more of the passage. Could a man in the
best humor sit down to write a graver satire? Who cares for the tender
muse of Lyttelton? Who knows the signal efforts of Mrs. Lennox's genius?
Who has seen the admirable performances, in miniature and at large,
in oil as well as in crayons, of Miss Reid? Laborious Carte, and
circumstantial Ralph, and copious Guthrie, where are they, their works,
and their reputation? Mrs. Lennox's name is just as clean wiped out
of the list of worthies as if she had never been born; and Miss Reid,
though she was once actual flesh and blood, "rival in miniature and at
large" of the celebrated Rosalba, she is as if she