INTRODUCTION. No author has ever exerted a greater influence over novel writing than has Tobias Smollett. It was wider even than that of his great rival, Fielding, although the latter was a few months ahead of him in the field. Smollett created a complete bouleversement, not only in the style and moulding of romances, but in public taste as well. His breezy humor, his brilliancy and richness of coloring, his vivid character drawing and his truth to nature put an end to the sentimental school which had been so long in favor, with its sickly affectation of tender feeling, its tiresome diffuseness and its turgidity. Smollett's effect upon the public was like the issuing into the fresh, exhilarating open air after being long cooped up in a close room. To no one do his successors owe so much as they do to him. Dickens undoubtedly made a close study of him, and although Dickens was no servile imitator the sway of Smollett can be distinctly traced in the works of the later novelist. The same thing can be said of numerous others. Sheridan has been accused of plagiarism in borrowing from Smollett for the characters and incidents of "The Rivals." But the charge does not seem well substantiated. The allegation that Sir An |