of the steam engine into its James Watt, present form by 1765. Dawn of ro- literary taste. circles. This was followed in 1748 by "Clarissa | Development "The prose Homer of human nature." Byron Elizabethan poets, Chaucer, and early English writers were read with re newed interest; Percy's "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry" ap peared in 1765; Shakespeare Johnson in 16 ande vived on the stage by Garrick; and Thomas Warton wrote his "History of English Poe Tobias Smollett began his career as a novelist try" during the with "Roderick Random" (1748). This work made him universally popular, and its success led to the production of a series of novels: "Peregrine Pickle" (1751); "The Adventures of Ferdinand, Count Fathom," a counterpart to Fielding's satirical tale of "Jonathan Wild;" "Sir Launcelot Greaves;" and "Humphrey Clinker." As a novelist, Smollett ranked next to Fielding. The success of these novels aroused the interest of other writers, and a new lucrative field was opened to them in fiction. A great demand for literary entertainment arose, which was an evidence of the quickening of intelligence among all classes. Length did not impede the popularity of a novel, and years 1774-78 Visit of Rous- land, as the friend of Construction of the first pianoforte in 1 Royal Academy of Art Laurence Sterne's celebrated "Tristram Shan founded, 1768. dy," in nine volumes (1759-1767), attained the Though Hogarth was the first English painter of merit, the honor of having elevated English art was attributed to Sir Joshua Reynolds (17231792), the great portrait-painter. He was original, imitating neither Kneller nor any other for eign artist, and the finest col orist that Eng land has ever seen. He was the first President of the height of public favor and made its author a social hero in London circles. Sterne excelled in the delineation of character-in psychological observation, which had something of the Shakespearian spirit in it. Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield" (1766) is best known at the present day of the novels of the Johnsonian Age, and will always be read for its simplicity and delicate humor. The first of the so-called Society novels was Frances Burney's "Evelina" (1778), and it was followed in 1782 by "Cecilia." Her novels were exceedingly moral, and afford interesting pictures of life and manners in that age. REMARKABLE OUTBURST OF HISTORICAL LITERATURE. Royal Academy, before which he was accustomed to deliver annual or biennial lectures, which, to gether with his personal popularity, exerted a powerful influence in the formation of an art-school. Three other distinguished members of the academy were: Thomas Gains HUME, ROBERTSON, GIBBON. Simultaneously with the first school of novelists arose a trio of remarkable writers, who made History literary, philosophical, interesting, elaborate, and eloquent. They narrated with ease, analyzed character with subtlety, comprehended the philosophy of events and epochs, described scenery and manners vividly and clearly, cultivated the Latinic style, and attained the highest form of classical eloquence. But at the same time their conceptions of hu borough (1727- manity were weak and sceptical, materialism was given the ascendency over morality in their works, while they passed over in silence 1788), the first painter of home English scenery and rustic life; Richard Wilson (1713 the daily life of the lower classes for the more 1782), a painter imposing accounts of wars and revolutions, of classic scapes; and the younger American artist, Benjamin West (17381820), who spent most of his life in England. pageants and processions, of royal splendor and imperial grandeur. Two of these writers-David Hume (1711-1776) and William Robertson (1721-1793)-were Scotchmen, and the oldest of that brilliant group of scholars which made Edinburgh famous as a seat of learning in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Hume's great work was the "History of England from the Accession of the Stuarts to the Revolution of 1688" (1754), to which he subsequently added, in 1761, the earlier history from the Roman invasion to the reign of James I. This was the first extensive and scholarly history of England, and is of great value to students at the present day for its philosophical argument. Dr. Robertson's writings comprised "A History of Scotland during the Reigns of Queen Mary and James the Sixth" (1759); "History of the Emperor Charles V. of Germany" (1769); and "History of America" (1777). But a serious fault of both Hume and Robertson is inaccuracy. Lack of research has caused them to commit errors which greatly impair the value of their works. The star of this historical group, however, was Edward Gibbon (1737-1794), a profound scholar and thinker, and in strong sympathy with French taste and thought. He travelled extensively on the Continent, and it was during his visit to Rome, in 1763, that the idea of his chef-d'œuvre came to him. "As I sat musing amidst the ruins of the capitol," he said, "the idea of writing the decline and fall of the city first started to my mind." The volumes of his "Roman History" appeared successively during the years 1776-1788, and of its completion he said, "A sober melancholy was spread over my mind by the idea that I had taken an everlasting leave of an old and agreeable companion." Gibbon is the most popular of philosophical historians, and no other proof of the trustworthiness of his work is needed than the fact that, in spite of the great advances made in historical research and criticism since his time, he still Foundation of ing in waterSandby. the art of paint colors by Paul The first great Shakespeare Jubilee at Stratford-onAvon projected and carried into effect by Garrick, 1769. Increase of Methodism. The intense religious awaken ing among the ularly the lower reaction from the previous people-partic classes-was a indifference and ungodli ness. Garrick Period, 1741-1776. holds his place as the authority for the period of which he treated. PRONOUNCED SCEPTICISM IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL WRIT The time between the death of Booth, in 1733, and the appearance of Garrick was the period of the lowest decline of the English stage. Garrick reformed the stage, revived enthusiasm for Shakespeare, and introduced a natural and impassioned style of acting. He is probably brated of Eng American War, 1776-1783. Declaration of INGS OF DAVID HUME. Hume may be said to have been the pioneer of that philosophical movement in Great Britain which began with the brilliant school of Scotch metaphysicians in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and has been carried on in the present age by John Stuart Mill, Alexander Bain, and Herbert Spencer. His philosophical views were first published in a "Treatise of Human Nature" (1738), in which he developed with great clearness the sceptical conclusions derived from his construction of Locke's philosophy. The work, however, received little attention. His "Moral and Philosophical Essays" (1742) met with more favor, but, like the former production, excited no intense interest, friendly or the reverse. It was not till after the appearance of his third philosophical work, "The Natural History of Religion," that his doctrines aroused opposition among thinkers. Hume declared that nothing was known concerning the mind beyond the ideas actually experienced, and thus resolved all existences into mere col lections of ideas. The first writer who attacked this bold scepticism was Dr. Thomas Reid (1709-1796), founder of the so-called Scottish philosophy, who carefully reviewed the philosophy of Locke and promulgated a system founded on what he called Common-sense. Hume was the most logical and uncompromising sceptic of ancient or modern times. His scepticism was, beyond adopted by the all doubt, the most thorough and comprehensive that philosophy has ever witnessed, and it American Congress, 1776. influenced philosophical thought not only in his own country, but also on the Continent, particularly in the cases of Jouffroy and Cousin, of France, and of Kant, Fichte, Hegel, and Schelling, of Germany. CREATION OF THE SCIENCE OF POLITICAL Economy BY ADAM SMITH. Establishment of great EngMorning Post, lish journals: 1772; Morning Herald, 1781 two important London daily newspapers at the present Another illustrious Scotch writer of this age was Adam Smith (1723-1790), the political economist and devoted friend of David Hume. For eleven years he filled the professorship of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow, resigning his chair in 1763 to travel in France with the Duke of Buccleuch. At Paris he became acquainted with the most eminent philosophers and economists, and on his return to Scotland, in 1766, devoted day. ten years to the composition of his great work, the "Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" (1776). The fundamental principle of the book was that labor, not money or land, was the true source of wealth; and by its treatment of the labor question and its maintenance of the necessity of freedom of trade, it may be regarded as the foundation of the science of Political Economy, and as having exerted a powerful influence towards the subsequent establishment of Free-trade. Henceforth the questions of labor and capital began to occupy men's thoughts, and a literature of a more practical and democratic nature arose, which had for its object the interest and welfare of all classes-the poor as well as the rich. Discovery of RISE OF ORATORICAL ELOQUENCE.-Edmund BuRKE. The field of political controversy was greatly extended in the latter part of the eighteenth century by the moral, constitutional, and social ques Foundation of English sculpt 1735-1805. ure by Banks, |