[The idea of depicting the manners of one's own country under the disguise of a foreign observer seems to have originated in France. The Turkish Spy' led the way, and acquired extensive popularity all over Europe: this was followed by Peruvian Letters,' 'Persian Letters,' Chinese Letters,' and others, all with greater or less credit, and offering the fairest encouragement to an English writer to pursue the same track. The genius, the humor, the good-nature of Goldsmith, seemed to fit him for the task: he had, moreover, himself been a traveller, and at the time when these Letters were produced, no doubt many circumstances in English life and manners appeared to him with somewhat of the novelty which he ascribes to the impressions of his imaginary oriental. The Chinese Letters' commenced in the Public Ledger newspaper in January 1760, and were collected under their present title, in two volumes 12mo., in May 1762.] |