The Press.
London, England, 1856-05-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

book abounds with clever passages and descriptions.
But against these merits has to be set a story not
pleasing, and a somewhat rambling narrative. In
parts of the book we recognise a capacity for pictu-
resque portraiture and dramatic pathos, which, if cul-
tivated, might lead to excellent results. Take, for
example, the chapter oonimencing at page 56, vol. iii.,
in which the generous innocence of Dolly is so finely
contrasted with the high pride of her uncle Jervcdse
Widdrington. It is that vein which we strongly
advise the writer to follow, both as indicating her
strength and pointing to success.
Elsie Seymour (2) is a social tale of the present
time, partly occupied with scenes of travel (quite
natural in our day) and depicting in a quiet manner
such scenes and personages as are ordinarily met
with in the gatherings of well-to-do social life. The
romance of the story is the least effective part of it.
The heroine Elsie has probably bten drawn from
life. When first introduced to us " her religion was
" a philanthropical eclecticism, and she fancied she
" saw God in all that was beautiful and good." Her
character grows in the course of the story, and her
creed advances from a negative to a positive point.
We doubt whether the motive of her character is well
sustained ; a girt with such high impulses would
scarcely have sunk from an attachment like that to
which she falls a victim. Montague seems scarcely
to have deserved the flutter be caused in female
hearts, and his Italian villa in the Surrey hills strikes
us as defective in keeping. The lively, wilful Em-
meline will probably please most readers best. Her
character is naturally drawn, and agreeably sustained
by her lively sallies.
Beyminstre (3) is a really admirable novel,
abounding in character, and with plot enough to
carry forward the narrative with effect. The earlier
portions of the tale, however, descriptive of village
life, are the best. The High-Church rector, the in-
quisitive old maid, the dull county family, and the
gossip of the market town, are slt forth with the
fidelity of Crabbe's sketches. Regina is a charming
heroine, with sentiment, wit, love, high spirits, inno-
cence, and generosity so mingled in her composition,
that she appears less a creation of fiction than one
of Nature's own children. The gentleman who
is so happy as to win her affections is not deserv-
ing of his good-fortune. Bertram is not more un-
worthy of Helena, than this stiff, proud gentleman
of the constant, inventive, self-denying Regina. The

book may be
novel-readArs.

with- confidence to all

The Adventures of a Gentleman out of Suits with
Fortune (4) tailed to arrest our attention. There is
power in parts of the book, but it is very deficient in
constructive art. It seems to have no other purpose
than to relate a series of mishaps, no other way con-
nected in natural sequence than that they happened
to the same individual.

A most touching, tender, human story is that of
Henry Lyle. (5) The incidents are very simple.
A boy of line impulsive nature is left by his father
on his deathbed to the care of an only sister. The
lady is harsh, surrounded with servile dependants, and
treats the boy badly. He escapes from her domina-
tion, becomes an artist, and marries for love. What
more natural than his subsequent troubles, what
more in the course of events than that his aunt should
leave her money to a stranger ? We will not follow
the narrative further ; and indeed an outline would
give no adequate idea of the book, as its merit con-
sists in its pathos, its graceful style, and its highly
intelligent reflections. How just is this :

Miss Lyle had no knowledge of human nature ; not
particle. It is strange how many there are living, with
the great book hourly open before their eyes, and every
experience of life calling to the study, who never to their
lest day learn the universally necessary lesson ; who seem
to close their eyes wilfully, and atop their ears, lest obser•
vation should make them wise, as if fearing to be made
more human, and fitter to live in a natural world.
To he really human is to advance far on the road to
wisdom and piety; and it is the warm, sympathising,
feeling spirit of this book which chiefly distinguishes
it. The observant mind is visible throughout. " The
" poor always express their sympathy and interest by
" making presents." Has this been noticed before ?
We think it is rightly said, that an impulsive nature
contains within it " the materials of a noble charac-
ter." The only fault we find with this tale is, that it
is too short, and that its texture is scarcely compact
enough for fiction.
A novel by Mrs. Maberly, in hand, must stand over
till next week.