This latter consideration makes the reading of novels a more pernicious employment than many others.

For though there may be amusements, which may sometimes produce injurious effects to those, who partake of them, yet these may be counteracted by the perusal of works of a moral tendency.
The effects, on the other hand, which are produced by the reading of novels, seem to admit of no corrective or cure; for how, for instance, shall a perverted morality, which is considered to be one of them, be rectified, if the book which is to contain the advice for this purpose, be so uninteresting, or insipid, that the persons in question have no disposition to peruse it?
CHAP.

VII-SECT.

I.
_Diversions of the field--diversions of the field forbidden--general thoughtlessness on this subject--sentiments of Thomson--sentiments of George Fox--of Edward Burroughs--similar sentiments of Cowper--law of the society on the subject._ The diversions of the field are usually followed by people, without any consideration, whether they are justifiable, either in the eye of morality or of reason.

Men receive them as the customs of their ancestors, and they are therefore not likely to entertain doubts concerning their propriety.