Under the pressure of work and grief for the loss of a daughter, Smollett's health broke down. The years 1762-65 were passed with his wife on the Continent, mainly in southern France and Italy. On his return he published a book of 'Travels) (1766), which, despite Sterne's ridicule of it in the 'Sentimental Journey,) displays much common sense. The 'Travels) out of the way, Smollett visited Edinburgh, where his mother was still living, and then went to Glasgow, and the roman tic scenes of his childhood. A brief sojourn at Bath for Christmas (1766) and Smollett was back in London at his desk, writing 'The History and Adventures of an Atom' (1769), a savage satire on English politics since 1754. Completely broken in health after this effort, he hastened to Italy, where he settled in a villa near Leghorn. There he wrote his last novel, 'The Expedition of Humphry Clinker) (1771), based upon his recent tour of England and Scotland and planned, it would seem, while at Bath. He saw it in print but never lived to know of its great reception. He died 17 Sept. 1771 and was buried in the English cemetery at Pisa. Two years after his death appeared his characteristic 'Ode to Independence.' His wife, to whom he was fondly attached, remained at Leghorn, where she died in some distress about 1785.
Smollett was a man of rugged honesty. His irritable temperament, about which so much has been written, showed itself in his books rather than in his intercourse with friends. Visitors at Chelsea were surprised at his "pol ished and agreeable manners and the great urbanity of his conversation.'" His cynicism had the saving grace of humor. When he be gan his 'History of England,' he was a Whig; but he turned Tory during the process of com position, as the Whig ministers, on close exam ination, proved to be "a set of sordid knaves.)) His histories, compendiums and translations, though good narratiVe, have no further value. As a novelist,,he seems, on first sight, to have added nothing to the art of fiction. Instead of beginning with Richardson and Fielding, he went back, as he said himself, to the loose narrative of Le Sage, which admitted of digres sions and episodes, without number. For a
consideration, he incorporated into 'Peregrine Pickle) the memoirs of a notorious lady of quality. He held too closely, it is said further, for the highest art, to his own experiences. His best known novels are not much more than autobiographies. All this may be granted. But there is the other side. In his early years, he cultivated Had he come a genera tion or two earlier, he would have been of the company of Pope and Dryden. Coming after Richardson, he was the founder of the satirical novel. His work has immense scope, for it in cludes men, manners, art and politics at home and abroad. Of his successors, only Disraeli may be compared with him. He wrote our first novel of the sea and is thus a forerunner of Cooper. In 'Count Fathom' may be dis covered the beginnings of the Gothic romance afterward by Horace Walpole and Mrs. Radcliffe. And 'Humphry Clinker,' "the most laughable story,') said Thackeray, "that has ever been written since the goodly art of novel-writing began,)) brought into fiction that spirit of fun which later times have associated with Dickens. See HUMPHRY CLINKER.
Among good recent editions of Smollett's works may be cited Saintshury's (12 vols., London 1895), and Henley's (12 vols., London 1899-1901), both of which have intro ductory essays. The 'Works) with a memoir by the author's friend, Dr. John Moore (8 vols., London 1797) was reissued under the editor ship of J. P. Brown in 1872-73. The most in teresting of recent biographies is the 'Life' by D. Hannay in the 'Great Writers Series' (Lon don 1887). Scott has a notable essay prefixed to Smollett's novels in the 'Novelists' Library' (London 1821), and Thackeray included him among the 'English Humorists.' The 'Cam bridge History pf English Literature' (New York 1913) contains an article by Harold Child, 'Fielding and Smollett) (Vol. X) with a fine bibliography.