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--Hond af field sports_Of dogs—Well

acquainted with manly exercises-Lovers of military sub-

jects—The novelist appårently not a soldier

12

poet has appeared to slight his own unacknowledged, but

afterwards avowed productions

Page 41

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-Scoti-

cisms-Great propriety and correctness occasionally, and

sometimes unusual sweetness - Instances

60

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 con-

nected with character of speakers-Quaintness of language

and thought-Bookish air in conversation-Historical per-

sonages alluding to their own celebrated acts and sayings

-Unsucessful attempts at broaut vulgarity-Beauties of

composition peculiar to the dialogue-Terseness and spi-

rit-Instances. These qualities well displayed in serious

quarrels; but not in scenes of polished raillery-Elo-

quence- Instances

86

LETTER VI.

The Poetry of the author of Marmion generally characterized

-His habits of composition and turn of mind, as a poet,
compared with those of the novelist- Their descriptions
simply conceived and composed, without abstruse and far-
fetched circumstances or refined comments-Great advan.
tage derived by both writers from accidental combinations

of images, and from the association of objects in the mind

with persons, events, &c.--Distinctness and liveliness of

effect in narrative and description-Narrative usually pic-

turesque 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 picturesque - Subjects for painters

-Effects of light frequently noticed, and finely described

--Both writers excel in grand and complicated scenes -

Among detached and occasional ornaments, the Similes

particularly noticed - Their frequency and beauty-In-

stances—Similes and metaphors sometimes quaint, and

pursued too far- Instances

Page 127

LETTER VII,

Stories of the two writers compared–These are generally

connected 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 traveller, (the hero, or some other principal personage)
for the first time--- Dramatic mode of relating story-Soli-
loquies-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 civilized and a barbarous hero-Characters resembling

each other-Female portraits in general- Fathers and

daughters-Characters in Paul's Letters - Wycliffe and

Risingham, Glossin and Hatteraick - Other characters

compared.

Long periods of time abruptly passed over-Surprises, unex-

pected discoveries, &c.—These sometimes too forced and

artificial- Frequent recourse to the marvellous-Dreams

well described-Living persons mistaken for spectres-

Deaths of Burley, Risingham, and Rashleigh Page 180

LETTER VIII.

Comparison of particular passages-Descriptions-Miscella-

neous thoughts

Instances, in which the two writers have

resorted to the same sources of information, and borrowed

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

The poet, like the novelist, fond of mentioning his con-

temporaries, whether as private friends, or as men publicly

distinguished — Author of Marmion never notices the au-

thor of Waverley, (see Letter III.)-Both delight in fre-

quently introducing an antiquated or fantastic dialect-

Peculiarities of expression common to both writers-Con-

clusion

242