Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/293

Rh  be compelled to pursue occupations less fraudulent, and more beneficial to the community.  NOVEL, a fictitious history, written with a view to exhibit the emotions of the human heart; the happiness and misery of private life; the effects of indulging the passions, and especially that of.

The origin of modern novel-writing, together with the requisites essential to an interesting work, we leave to the discussion of the critic. There are, indeed, too many publications of this nature; but the generality of such performances, instead of inspiring the young mind with a love of virtue, and a detestation of vice, are only calculated to excite the most insidious and sensual ideas: hence we think it our duty to caution parents, with respect to the purity of such compositions as may fall into the hands of their unguarded children.

As the design of novels or romances is to interest the human heart, they are too apt to lead it astray, unless written in a chaste and correct style. Numberless are the victims of delusion, especially in the metropolis, whose wretched state commenced with the indiscriminate perusal of seductive novels. Nor is this evil confined to the middle ranks of society, in cities, or to boarding-schools. The farm-house, and the cottage, in many parts of England, furnish subscribers to circulating libraries, at the distance of several miles from the town or village, where the most absurd, and frequently immoral narratives (provided they be handsomely printed), are eagerly read, and dignified with the title of a "Novel."

By these brief strictures, we by no means intend to proscribe the dissemination of knowledge, particularly among the lower classes.—There undoubtedly are novels (though few in number), which deserve to be perused by inexperienced youth, and which reflect credit on their authors. Such "familiar histories," in the opinion of the late Dr., "may perhaps be made of greater use than the solemnities of professed morality, and convey the knowledge of vice and virtue with more efficacy than axioms and definitions. But, if the power of example be so great as to take possession of the memory by a kind of violence, and produce effects almost without the intervention of the will, care ought to be taken, that, when the choice is unrestrained, the best examples only should be exhibited; and that what is likely to operate so strongly, should not be mischievous or uncertain in its etfects."  NOURISHMENT, in animal economy, denotes the reparation of the continual waste which bodies undergo in consequence of exercise, the effects of air, hunger, thirst, sleep, &c.

Nutriment is afforded by proper food containing alimentary juices; and which, after due mastication, is digested in the stomach, converted into chyle, incorporated with the blood, and thus distributed throughout the body for its support. In young persons, the nutritious juices not only contribute to restore the continual waste, but also to increase their size, which is denominated growth. In adults, likewise, the epidermis, or scarf-skin, though continually peeling off, is always renewed; and, if any muscular parts be separated from the body, they are speedily supplied