sparks both of pathos and of humour, even in the dullest parts, which
could be elicited from none but the Author of 'Waverley.' . . . If,
indeed, we have spoken in a manner derogatory to this, his later effort,
our censure arises only from its comparison with the former. . .

"We cannot, however, conclude this article without remarking the absurd
influence which our Author unquestionably attributes to the calculations
of judicial astrology. No power of chance alone could have fulfilled the
joint predictions both of Guy Mannering and Meg Merrilies; we cannot
suppose that the Author can be endowed with sufficient folly to believe
in the influence of planetary conjunctions himself, nor to have so
miserable an idea of the understanding of his readers as to suppose them
capable of a similar belief. We must also remember that the time of this
novel is not in the dark ages, but scarcely forty years since; no aid,
therefore, can be derived from the general tendency of popular
superstition. What the clew may be to this apparent absurdity, we cannot
imagine; whether the Author be in jest or earnest we do not know, and we
are willing to suppose in this dilemma that he does not know himself."

The "Monthly Review" sorrowed, like the "British," over the encouragement
given to the follies of astrology. The "Critical Review" "must lament
that 'Guy Mannering' is too often written in language unintelligible to
all except the Scotch." The "Critical Monthly" also had scruples about
morality. The novel "advocates duelling, encourages a taste for peeping
into the future,--a taste by far too prevalent,--and it is not over nice
on religious subjects!"

The "Quarterly Review" distinguished itself by stupidity, if not by
spite. "The language of 'Guy Mannering,' though characteristic, is mean;
the state of society, though peculiar, is vulgar. Meg Merrilies is
swelled into a very unnatural importance." The speech of Meg Merrilies to
Ellangowan is "one of the few which affords an intelligible extract." The
Author "does not even scruple to overturn the laws of Nature"--because
Colonel Mannering resides in the neighbourhood of Ellangowan! "The Author
either gravely believes what no other man alive believes, or he has, of
malice prepense, committed so great an offence against good taste as to
build his story on what he must know to be a contemptible absurdity. . . .
The greater part of the characters, their manners and dialect, are at
once barbarous