that bear a near resemblance to each other, and it was with difficulty I could get through the second volume.

"To dwell on the improbabilities of the story, would be a waste of criticism; and the hair-comb-. ing scene is so ridiculously French, that I wonder Mrs Smith did not omit it. So much love and improbability cannot, however, fail to give it many admirers. I am, dear madam, &c. &c.

GEORGE STEEVENS."

I have before observed, that it was accident, rather than choice, which directed Mrs Smith to this little work, which (exclusive of the severe though just criticism of Mr Steevens) was the cause of great vexation; however, had she had the power of selecting from among the most celebrated of the French Novelists, and even from those more recently published-however admired and extolled, it may be questioned if she had not incurred the same censure; and those who insist on strict morality must seek it from a purer source.

Soon after the publication of Manon L'Escaut, Mrs Smith received from her publisher at Chichester the following letter, which had appeared in the Public Advertiser.

"SIR,

Literary frauds should be made known as soon as discovered; please to acquaint the public that the novel called Manon L'Escaut, just published in two volumes octavo, has been twice before printed in English, once annexed to the Marquis de Bretagne, and once by itself, under the title of the Chevalier de Grieux-it was written by the Abbé Prevost about 40 or 50 years ago. I am, sir, your old correspondent,

"SCOURGE.".

The Publisher added, "I have seen Mr Cadell, who was apprehensive that the reviewers would lay hold of this letter, and that such an assertion would be of ill consequence, not only in regard to the sale of the book, but to himself, as the public would consider him as endeavouring to impose on it, and his reputation might be injured. I take the liberty of repeating this to you, because, as I assured Mr Cadell, the circumstance was as unknown to you as to himself. The sale is at present at a stand. I am, madam, &c."

Thus were Mrs Smith's laudable exertions embittered by the attacks, either of wanton and unprovoked malice, or the artifice of a concealed ene

my; and, in aggravation of her private misfortunes, she was taught to feel all the penalties and discouragement attached to the profession of an author. She was not without her suspicions of the quarter from whence this blow was aimed, though it would be difficult to discover the motive; and the following letter will show which way her conjectures 'pointed.

TO MISS

"When I found, from your first communication of Mr's critique, that he greatly disapproved this humble story, which I hardly imagined he would think it worth his while to read, I hoped that what he could not praise, he would at least forbear to blame; but it seems even if I had been under the circumstances which he says could alone justify, or rather palliate, the dispensation of such literary poison, it is evident such a plea would not have softened the asperity of his criticism, or slacken his invincible zeal for public justice, in detecting what he terms a literary fraud: which seems to me a term rather harsh, for I really see no fraud in a person endeavouring to make a better translation of a work already translated. A fraud means a thing which

VOL. IV.

the imposer hopes to make pass for what it is not. This, surely, could not be the case with the book in question. I never pretended it was otherwise than a translation; and whether it was the first or the second, I was as perfectly ignorant as I believe most of my readers were; and had I been as well-informed as Mons' Scourge himself, I should have thought it very immaterial, for I am persuaded the former translations are very little known, and have probably been out of print for years. I will venture to say, they are not to be found in any catalogue of the circulating libraries; and perhaps are only known to those who would take the pains to seek after such trumpery; and I leave to your suggestion whether any one is so likely to take the trouble as your friend, or so likely to succeed if he did. Do not imagine, however, I mean to bounce and fly in the *** style, about this said letter; I only wish it had not happened, and that he had given the book a more gentle damnation, and at least have suffered it to have lived its day, which is all I expected. As it is, I shall withdraw the book rather than let Cadell suffer.

"I have the pleasure to add, that the last edition of the Sonnets is, as Jacques informs me, so nearly all sold, that it is high time to consider of an

other edition, which, however, I shall not do hastily, as I intend they shall appear in a very different form as to size and correctness, and I think I shall be able to add considerably to the bulk of the volume."

In comparing this instance of wanton malignity with traits of the same description, related by Miss Hawkins, in her "Anecdotes," of which Garrick was the object, and one mentioned by Mr Hayley, in his Memoirs, there can be no doubt but this arrow came from the same quiver. Those gentlemen lived in habits of intimacy with the celebrated editor of Shakspeare; Mrs Smith had no personal acquaintance with him, and could never have excited his spleen or his envy!

Mrs Smith was at this time employed in translating some of the most remarkable trials, from Les Causes Célébres, which were published under the title of " The Romance of Real Life," which, from the great difficulty attending it, helped to complete her disgust, and determined her to rely in future on her own resources, and to employ herself in original composition.

In the spring of 1786, her eldest son was appointed to a writership in Bengal, and though he