The Press.
London, England, 1855-02-03 00:00:00

THE PRESS•

114

congratulate her on her success in producing this
pleasing and natural tale.
It has been the object of Mrs. Hubback, in " May
and December,"* to depict the unpleasant conse-
quences whicti may be anticipated from an ill assorted
union between wealth and age on one side, with
youth and vivacity on the other. The story is related
in a sensible, straightforward manner. The general
soberness of English life pervades the whole narra-
tive. There are hundreds of such steady merchants
as Mr. Cameron, just but rather obstinate, amiable
but somewhat suspicious, to be found in London at
this present time ; plenty of such girls as Mary
Luttrell, eager for riches and excitement, but deterred
by honest principle from yielding to the seductions of
vice; and very many clever, unscrupulous adventurers
like James Wildey, maintaining an aspect of com-
mercial trustworthiness to the world, but intent on
mending his fortunes by any desperate scheme which
presents itself. The Mr. Arnolds are rarer in the world,
as in the dense pressure and fierce conflict of life
generous good nature is soon taught its limit. The
fault of the book we think is, that it is somewhat too
commonplace—a great fault in fiction, as nothing is
more really depressing to the mind than to observe
the smallness of the aims and the narrowness of the
motives of great part of the busy world. The rascal
James Wildey escapes too easily, and Mary Luttrell,
as a wealthy widow, adopts a too conventional style of
goodness with her ahurch endowment and parochial
schools.
" Mary Ellis "+ is another fiction in the sensible
style, but tinged with romance. The only daughter
of a great London merchant, she is suddenly
reduced to poverty by the failure of her father, and
at the same time is deserted by her dashing lover.
Thenceforth the scene passes in the country ; but the
attempted caricature of village character and manners
is not very successful. She is most perfectly amiable,
and fortunately the village is blessed with a handsome,
excellent, young rector. Most fictions conclude
with a realisation of the highest idea of bliss the
writer can frame. The beau ideal of human felicity
presented to us here is the celebration of service in
a village church regularly each morning at half-past
seven. The novel is perfectly harmless, and if it should
be found rather drowsy the reader will only have
himself to blame, as he could not, on the whole, be
in the company of more amiable, or, as Lord Carlisle
would waite, of " better-conditioned " people.
These three-volumed novels, though very different
in style, are all noticeable for the general probability
of their narrative, and for the great part which what
Mrs. Gore calls plainly " Mammon " plays in them.
IMoney, in one shape or other, is the secret of the
Iplot, the motive for the action of the characters.
This one great agent seems to swallow up all other
.springs of conduct, all other affections, passions, and
instincts. Is this a faithful picture of what ekes
place in life, and if it be, is it wise to reproduce it
in fiction? We doubt whether the most sensible,
probable, and provident narratives are really the
best, unless, indeed, we concede that man's happiest
state is as a money-grub, and that the collection of
wealth is the one great object of life. Our own taste
leads us in fiction to desire more of the poetry of life,
for assuredly all the happiness or even the goods of
this world do not depend on the externals of fortune,
though we admit that for solid comfort there is
nothing like a fair position in society and a respect-
able balance at one's bankers.
In the other fictions, those in two volumes, better
suited for private purchase, we detect a different
tone. There is• more in them to interest the feelings.
Greater prominence is given to social affections, and
to the incidents arising from their exercise. It is to
_ _ .
trials, the enjoy as,

against her, wins back the truant heart of her
husband, and becomes to the high Lord and Lady
Martindale a loving and much-loved daughter. The
chief character in the book, however, is Theodora
Martindale, a capricious, high-bred, intellectual girl,
whose career is followed from first to last with deep
attention from the skilful development of her nature
and the uncertainty of her will. The book is crowded
with personages, and we think would have been
more pleasing had the interest been concentrated on
fewer names. In one respect the author often dis-
appoints us. Circumstances are related with the
minute pains which the old Dutch painters lavished
on their little bits of canvas, and when our expecta-
tions have been highly raised there is no result to
satisfy us but the elaborate description. Much ado
is perpetually made about nothing. We do not say
that we miss a purpose in the book, but we certainly
miss a purpose in much of its action. In painting,
the fidelity of representation is sufficient to content
us with objects perfectly insignificant in themselves,
but in fiction, the description of an interior, or of a
morning walk, or of a dinner party, fails to satisfy us
unless it advances in some perceptible manner the
action of the story. Attempts are, besides, made in
this tale of " Heartsease" to move the feelings by
what comes little short of false pretences. Alarms
are sounded which events do not justify. Everyone
knows what a blunder Scott made in recalling
Athelstane to life, and the blunder would have been
still greater had the character possessed more hold
on the seeder. With all our love for the " Vicar of
Wakefield," we think it half spoiled by the return of
Olivia after she had been mourned as dead. The
pathos of such affliction should never be trifled with.
It is to cheat the reader of his tears to show, after a
time, that they ought never to have been shed.
There are limits to that pleasure which it is the aim
of fiction to impart. The mind may be kept sus-
pended on an event; but an author exceeds his privy
lege when he leads us to a dying-bed, and paints all
its terrors and agonies, only that he may comfort us
by the restoration of the patient. Early in the first
volume Arthur abruptly leaves Violet while she is
unwell. The narrative proceeds:—
Arthur came home late in the afternoon of the following
day. The door was opened to him by his brother, who
abruptly said, " She is dying. You must lose not a moment
if you would see her alive."
Arthur turnel pale, and gave an inarticulate exclamation
of horror-stricken inquiry —" Confined?"
" Half an hour ago. She was taken ill yesterday morn-
immediately atter s• left her. She is insensible, but

tug . you .
you may find her still living."
• • •

As Arthur pushed open the door there was a whisper
that he was too late, and room was made for him. All
he knew was, that those around watched as if it was not
yet death, but what else did he see on those ashy, senseless
features ?
With a cry of despair he threw himself almost over her,
and implored her but once to speak or look at him. No
one thought her capable even of hearing, but at his voice
the eyes and lips slightly moved, and a look of relief came
over the face.
A hand pressed his shoulder, and a spoon containing a
drop of liquid was placed in his fingers, while some one
said, " Try to get her to take this."
Scarcely conscious, he obeyed, and, calling her by every
endearing name, beyond hope succeeded in putting it be.
tween her lips. Her eyes opened and were turned on him,
her hand closed in his, and her features assumed a look of
peace. The spark of life was for a moment detained by the
power of affection, but in a short space the breath must
cease, the clasp of the hand relax.
The whole scene is described with great pathos, hut
when Violet recovers we cannot forgive the author for
having so trifled with our feelings as to expressly in-
dicate a fatal result. Generally, however, the tale is
of high ety ;.-

SATURDAY,

It combines the morality of Miss Edgeworth's tales
with a sentiment of a higher character.
-

---------
The author of " The Step-son"• is a zealous Pro-
testant, and, under the guise of fiction, shows the
crimes which may be committed by really amiable
persons, who, guided by the advice—or rather by the
commands—of their spiritual instructors, conceive it
to be their duty to yield implicitly to their directions.
A wealthy and amiable man, of ancient family, after
remaining many years a widower, marries, during
the absence of his confessor, a young and lovely
woman. This lady, although as good as she is
beautiful, is hated by the confessor when he returns
to England. She is a Protestant, and that is a crime
never to be forgiven by the bigotted Roman Catholic.
Under his directions her step-son contrives, by
various well-devised falsehoods, to make his father
believe his wife is unfaithful. She is driven from
the house of her husband, who is, by the artifice of
the priest, afterwards shut up in a lunanic asylum,
by an order of his son, aided by the certificates of a
couple of unprincipled medical men. The story,
however, has a happy conclusion, owing to the sud-
den and violent death of the confessor. The tale is
extremely well written, and the interest of the reader
is sustained till the conclusion of the narrative.
" General Buunce,"+ a story which appeared in
Fraser's Magazine, has a title that so far agrees with
the rule laid down in the preface to " Ivanhoe " as to
give no idea whatever of the nature of the tale, but
it so far violates also the " wizard's" rule as to raise
ideas of a very different narrative than the able and
graphic series of descriptions and adventures it con-
tains. The style of Mr. Melville is rapid and clear,
making one acquainted with his character with a few
strokes which remind one of Thackeray —per-
haps, indeed, a little too often; for though Mr.
Thackeray uses such phrases as " his poor, old, gouty,
" shiny boots," ai.d adopts Smollees relative of " that
"young lady," and " this young gentleman," instead
of she or he, there may be different opinions of the
propriety of taste. The story of " The Lady and
the Locusts" is a various reading of the old tale of the
heiress desperately sought, and then at a rumour
of a newly-found will as quickly abandoned. It
affords the author, however, opportunity for various
paintings of character, and for some playfully and
painfully accurate description. Those who have not
read" General Bounce" in its serial form have still
a source of great amusement to come. Mr. Melville
is, we believe, a gentleman of position and fortune,
and has evidently extensive knowledge of society
and a keen perception of the ridiculous in conduct
and character.

OUR notice of the last Quarterly has " stood over "so
often, that we fear it now comes a day after the fair.
This number is of more than usual importance,
as it contains an article by Mr. Layard on the
campaign in the Crimea. Mr. Layard was pre-
sent at the seat of war during the principal
events of the campaign, and can, therefore, discuss
them with the authority of personal observation.
His article has been widely read, and much criti-
cised ; but it is unnecessary to notice it in this place,
as we have already referred to it in our leading co-
lumns. The Review opens with an elaborate paper on
" Fires and Fire Insurance," from which we learn that
the provision of theßuilding Act, declaring that "no
warehouse shall exceed 200,000 cubic feet in con-
"tents," has been set at defiance by the Manchester
warehousemen, Cook's huge warehouse in St. Paul's
Churchyard, containing 1,100,000 cubic feet of space,
open from end to end, or 900,000 feet more than it is
entitled to possess. The proprietors of these

nothing like a fair position in society and a respect- peace. The spark of life was for a moment detained by the tuiu r Ire I.l.lnui ntiur, 5.•_,.. ” ........ ..,.. .-- ____
able balance at one's bankers. - x ires
power of affection, but in a short space the breath must the rovision of the Building Act, declaring that "no
" waprehouse shall exceed 200,000 cubic feet in con-
In the other fictions, those in two volumes, better cease, the clasp of the hand relax.
suited for private purchase, we detect a different The whole scene is described with great pathos, hut "tents," has been set at defiance by the Manchester
warehousemen, Cook's huge warehouse in St. Paul's
tone. There is' more in them to interest the feelings.
when Violet recovers we cannot forgive the author for
Greater prominence is given to social affections, and having so trifled with our feelings as to expressly in-
Churchyard, containing 1,100,000 cubic feet of space,
to the incidents arising from their exercise. It is to dicate a fatal result. Generally, however, the tale is open from end to end, or 900,000 feet more than it is
his faculty of depicting the trials, the enjoyments, admirably conducted ; the tone of high society is well entitled to possess. The proprietors of these
immense buildings pretend that they escape tl e
and sufferings of home life, and the play and con- preserved, and though there is a little too much provisions of the Building Act, as by reason of their
trast of character, that the author of the " Heir of decorative description of parks, mansions, furniture,
Redclyffe" owes his popularity. We do not know carriages, dress, and the like, and charity schools breaking bulk their places of business are not mere
what the sale of his books may be, but we meet with and mediteval fashions are somewhat too prominent, warehouses. The reviewer supposes that this pre-
them everywhere. He has struck out a new vein of yet the book is well calculated for general reading, tense would not save them if the case came before a
court of law ; and certainly it is Lime that a decision
fiction by representing in the simplest forms the and we doubt not has already found its way into many
domestic ideas of the higher classes of English life a manse and manor, and is destined to enjoy an should be taken to ascertain whether an express pro
vision intended for the safety of the public can be set
at the present day. " Heartsease" presents the enduring popularity.
" at nought by this quibble, more especially as it is
strongest contrast imaginable to the "Mammon of
Mrs. Gore. In the latter we meet with a duchess, a The story of " Gwen"' is well written, and the affirmed here, "on high authority, that London has
baronet, an heiress, and so on ;in the former with a sympathies of the reader are enlisted in favour of
‘‘ never since the Great Fire been in such danger of an
mother, a father, a daughter, husbands, brothers, " The Cousins" from the moment of their introduc- s overwhelming conflagration as it is now by the pre-
and wives. In he one case social rank is paraded Lion. But the writer has evidently a far higher aim in s sence and rapid spreading of these huge ware-
before our eyes as we see it abroad, in the other view than that of merely amusing her readers. She s houses." Among the statistics given here we do
domestic feeling as it flourishes at home. shows, all through the work, how the want of proper not observe any account of the lives yearly lost
discipline in early youth contributes to vitiate the
The story of "Heartsease ": is almost exactly that by fires, though we see it stated that in 1853 forty-six,
happinessh. of a whole life. Without being anything and in 185.1 twenty eight,
of Lady Scott's "]'ride of Life." In both cases the like
mind
of
tis usually called a "religious novel," the lives were saved by means
son a a noble house marries a gentle, beautiful girl of fire escapes. In the immense houses erecting in
theo the most careless reader must be impressed
below him in birth and fortune; and in both the different parts of the metropolis, and especially in
with.. earnest, yet unobtrusive, manner in which
gentleman repents the sacrifice of himself, and treatsthose now building in Victoria street, it would, as an
it is Shown how a constant and firm reliance on Pro-his wife with neglect. But in "Heartsease" theeffectual precaution against personal danger from
vi ence for aid throughout all the trials of life miti-story is conducted with infinitely greater skill, par- fire, be very advisable, we imagine, to have balconies
gates. their severity, and contributes far more to our
titularly in the closing passages, which are perfectly running parallel with the windows of each "flat," as
aptness even in this life than the highest point of
natural, and written with great beauty. Violet, by escape might then be easy and instantaneous. These
mere worldly prosperity can possibly do. Few works papers on social subjects give a distinctive character to
her gentle goodness, overcomes all the prejudices
we have recently met with can be placed with so the Review under the present editorship. In a
• May and Decensher By Mrs. Hubbaok. 8 vole. much advantage in the hands of the youthful reader.
+ Mary ELUL By A. r,.. irer. !tope and Co. * The Step son. By F. N. Dyer. Bentley.
t Heartsease ; or, the Brather's WOre. By the Author of "The • Gwen; or, the Coneinc. By A. M. Goodrich. J. W. Parker + General Bounce; or, the Larlyand the Locusts. By G..T. Whyte
Heir of Beddyffe." J. W. Parker and Sons. and Sons. Melville. J. W. Parker and Son.
1•. N.,