as a writer infinitely more ingenious and entertaining than any other of the present race of novelists; adding, his characters were striking and singular, his observations shrewd and pertinent, and, making a few exceptions, that his humour was easy and genuine.

The publication of these two volumes brought Sterne into great repute. He was considered as the genius of the age. His company was equally courted by the great, the literati, the witty and the gay; and it was considered as a kind of honour to have passed an evening with the author of Tristram Shandy. Though some of the overrigid clergy condemned this ludicrous performance, and judged it incompatible with that purity and morality, which should ever accompany the writings of the gentlemen of the gown; these censures were far from being universal, even among the clergy; and the acquaintance he made by this publication, were, in many respects, advantageous to him. Among others, the earl Faulconberg so particularly patronized the author of this work, that, to testify his approbation, he presented Sterne with the rectory of Coxwould, which was an agreeable and convenient addition to his other livings, being all in the neighbourhood of York.

His next publication consisted of two volumes of Sermons *, which the severest critics could not

The first two volumes of Sermons were printed in 1760, the third and fourth volumes in 1766.

help applauding, for the purity and elegance of their style, and the excellence of their moral. The manner in which they were ushered to public notice, was, by some, severely condemned, whilst others lamented, that such excellent discourses should stand in need of such an introduction; and many were of opinion, that he had wrote Tristram Shandy purely to introduce them; as, in his preface to the sermons, he acquaints the reader, that << the sermon which gave rise to the publi<< cation of these, having been offered to the public « as a sermon of Yorick's, he hoped the most se<«<rious reader would find nothing to offend him, << in his continuing those two volumes under the « same title. Lest it should be otherwise, I have << added a second title page, with the real name « of the author: - the first will serve the book« seller's purpose, as Yorick's name is possibly << of the two the more known; and the second

<<< will ease the minds of those who see a jest, and << the danger which lurks under it, where no jest <<< was meant. >>

When the third and fourth volumes of Tristram Shandy * made their appearance, the public was not quite so eager in purchasing and applauding them, as they had been with respect to the first two volumes. The novelty of the style and manner no longer remained; his digressions were by many considered as tedious, and his asterisks * In 1761.

too obscure; nay, some invidious critics, who pretended to be able to point them out, insinuated, that they were too indelicate for the eye of chastity.

He had nevertheless a great number of admirers; and he was encouraged to publish a fifth and sixth volume*. Their satire was still poignant, spirited, and, in general, extremely just. The characters, though somewhat overcharged, were lively, and in nature. He constantly caught the ridiculous, wherever he found it; and he never failed to present it to his readers in the most agreeable point of light. His story of Le Fevre ** was highly finished, and truly pathetic; and would alone rescue his name from oblivion, if his sermons were not considered as some of the best moral discourses extant.

The seventh, eighth and ninth volumes *** have not yet completed that work; so that what was said upon the publication of his first volumes, has been verified: «Shandy seems so extre<<< mely fond of digressions, and of giving his « historical readers the slip upon all occasions, « that we are not a little apprehensive, he may, << some time or other, give them the slip in good

* In 1762.

** The reader will also meet with it at the end of the present book.

*** The seventh and eighth volumes appeared in 1765 the ninth in 1767.

<< earnest, and leave the work before the story

<< be finished. >>

In the above mentioned volumes, Sterne carries his readers through France, and introduces some scenes and characters, which are afterwards taken up in the Sentimental Journey, particularly that of Maria; so that this may, in some be considered as a continuation of the Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy.

measure,

It is almost needless to observe, of a book so universally read as Shandy, that the story of the hero's life is the least part of the author's concern. It is, in reality, nothing more than a vehicle for satire on a great variety of subjects. Most of these satirical strokes are introduced with little regard to any connexion, either with the principal story or with each other. The author having no determined end in view, runs from object to object, as they happen to strike a very lively and very irregular imagination. In fact, the book is a perpetual series of disappointments: yet with this and other blemishes, the Life of Tristram Shandy has uncommon merit; and the freedom and sincerity of its author, perhaps, cannot be equalled by any other writer beside the incomparable Montaigne. The faults of an original work are always pardoned; and it is not surprising, that, at a time when a tame imitation makes almost the whole merit of so many books, so happy an attempt at novelty should have been so well received. His

last work, however, may be considered as his greatest, since it contains a variety of agreeable pathetic descriptions, in an easy simple style, cleared from much of the obscurity and levity which degrade the former volumes.

As Sterne advanced in literary fame, he left his livings to the care of his curates, and, though he acquired some thousands by his productions, being a character very distant from an œconomist, his savings were no greater at the end of the year, than when he had no other support but the single vicarage of Sutton. Indeed, his travelling expences abroad, and the luxurious manner in which he lived with the gay and polite at home, greatly promoted the dissipation of a very considerable sum, which his writings had produced, and which might have been a future assistance to his family. This being the case, at his death, his widow and daughter, an agreeable young lady about sixteen, who had both resided for some years in a convent in France, having separated from Sterne through some pique, which was differently accounted for by the parties, finding that their pensions must discontinue, returned to England, in order to publish his posthumous works. Being at York during the last races, some humane gentlemen, friends and admirers of the late prebendary, took into consideration their disagreeable situation, and made them a present of a purse containing a thousand pounds. This unexpected and generous