The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-30 00:00:00

LITERATURE'

- - -
---4.-_—. .
Constance Herbert. By Geraldine Jewsbury, author
of "Marian Withers," ,i,..c. 3 vols. Surat and
Blackett.
well known
The authoress of this work is alrea
to the readers of romance. Iler d works
former
have displayed considerable ability, co
mant of re-
aT present tale,
bined with
pleasing style, and have shown no w
source in incident or character. he
and
although written with equal talent, being per-
cannot,
haps more striking than its predecessors,
however, be said to leave a
the reader's mind. Though possessing a great yell y_
of character, and many impressive vnts, the creesf
pleasing impression otn
feature in the plot is such a, painful one, and_the that
at least one incident so extremely
it fails to convey the idea of natural and domestic
it
ancient legend of
narrative, but seems rather an
Bless fatality which can-
some mysterious and hope improbable, .e
we have before alluded, is hereditary insanity.
not be evaded or baffled. The chief point, to which
We are sorry to see this painful subject becoming
such a favourite incident for the pen of romancists.
" Constance Herbert" bears a strong resemblance
to a very clever novel which lately appea the like-
red under
the title of " The House of Raby ;" and
a
ness is still further increased by coincidence Of
names, the aunts of the heroines, who
case occupy a prominent place in the story,
father of
being both named Margaret. Th
t
the unfortunate Constance is the des en
ions,
dan
of a family in whioli, for many generat
disorder ; b
one has
alwaysutin her been
nasenafflicted with
increased
by the fact of her mother, soon eevil is
after her
smarriage,e
having become insane. Her father, who
is skilfully traced from his first deterioration e career
of
t
eliaracter down to his miserable end, is totally
unfitted to be her guide or counsellor. She is cu-
tirely in charge of her aunt, Margaret, who i
described as devoting all her thoughts and re-
s
ene
gies to the consideration of how she may best pier
pare her beloved niece for the knowledge of
her
he destiny. She arranges very injudiciously,
however, for she allows her to mix in society 0(14
1s her. to her
tofol form a strong attachment, and then, when sake°.
seseanacntioindiotto,
whehremensghaegetinh2t, her
tells her
.her mother. The unhappy Constance is
quite overwhelmed, and it is long before
she recovers from the shock. In the mean;
tune, her father has become worse and worse, au
in-
the end becomes engage
amlready
d in such a questionable
affairr
e aunt is dead, and Mr. flerbert has
,h
parted with the family estate, and at the end of the
story Constance is left alone and almost friendlessi
_ She is, however, in possession of au independen.
(rune and estate, thanks to the most extraordi-
Et Englishman, while travelling
Binary and unnatural event of the book. A Y°11"
rushes after them and follows
in Paris, haPPejill
o see Constance walking with her father.
gambling house. He joins him in ]'introducedht after _
night, in the vain hope of becoming
and
his daughter. He at length proposes for her, s
is haughtily repulsed by Mr. Herbert, whet ~...
the father to a
.upon he goes to a lawyer, makes a
ing all his operty to Constance, and returning
o his hotels ommits suicide, having never ° if
spoken to the object of his affections.
the authoress had informed us that the ancestors.
will Wog
of this hero had been insane we should how:
au):
not have been surprised. We are led to infsr,_ho,w_.
e vex., that he had previously been a reasonablee
ing. Some minor improbabilities there are, such
as the marriage of Miss 'Wilmot and gr. llarr°rF;
but this is the most remarkable.
that a writer possessing b style
and reputation should condescend to sliei' a _s is,
of writing. The object which she
is
expressedbefore us
however, worthy of all praise. It is best
c..
In L'Envoytasl°ents
i t
eau'_
ing any principle in this book, it is to entreat
esr,
readers to have boldness to act up to the stern b.
:---" If we haveM sussiss jeeedweWsdbellinrYarsert in
requirements that duty claims Al
though it may at the time seem to theysla tll
___
it will in the end prove life. Nothing P. orvee
nounce for the sake of a higher principle will r
Pf re
as right..
em,
W 4 bid thorn a. .
to have been worth keepii
well i
he n the quaint words of Harry
wrote by way of an epitaph of himself---
" ' Reader, if you my Word.; will only trust,,
~
You'll gladly do and suffer all you tuns
Martin, which
The
idea of high
a and resolute determination. Coir
s
stan shows its author motto " Point de Faiblesse" also expresses the
ce Herbert, with all its faults,
he will far
from
powers and we shall look forvrard to another. wnrx
Miss Dewsbury,
not doubting s
excel her present production.
___-...----.--r-=-
~

tr---------------____._---------
The ,accounts from Australia by the
reach to the 31st of January, and are 24 days later than
those brought by the Argo on the 17th inst.
The barometer was higher y Aerday at Southampton
most welcome sign of fine weather. than it 'has been known oinceeA.uoust last,
than inisai
As soon as the Paris Exhibition opens,
packet communication will be established belle"
Southampton and Havre. The South-Western Cor
parry's steamer Wonder, a fast and fine vessel, is fitt off
up to be put on that line.ls TO
MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A YOUNG ADD IMO .
the
OF A CAT.-- on Monday last, at Tharnes Lb...ttaoloa:
a daily steam'
As
and truly excellent daughter of Lad
DL.
The
ther expired after a few hours' intense suffering
_1_,,,,t
bite of her favourite cat. This distressing ev",',
hood.
has thrown a deep gloom over the entire neighVirw„ 5,
crew of the paddle steam sloop home:Pro -p'aid
tea;
Commander J. H. Selwyn, at Plyn3out ea to the
;es on Tuesday, and obtained leave of abser—
Sth of April. -
' sE, &C., OF CHAPELS ABBOAD.----
A. return
EXPENSE,
moved for by Mr. Wise, M.P , and , sterday P
advanced by
shows that in the year 1853, there
ofl.l Treasury to fin-sign Consuls 5,7581. ford he expensoes.
in 35, ,
eln.plains and chapels abroad, a ,ai .t 6,731.
1,035/. fir the building and repair'n- of new ellaPele.
at Bahia and Pernambuco ; 28 for the expen'c'
of hospitals at Madeira and 0 )nito ; and for the
I rexlenrs,e,asa(7f buria!-grouuds, nil. T
1....ne expense of but-
to nil,
a t 7:.
90. serounted to 1001. in 1849,and in 18512.iy0e
In many years nothing seems to . _
been spent (. under this head. The contributions of tl'
kip glish Government üblished,
eh
in towards the expenso of churches out
China amounted in 1352 to 15/. (gL'ci,_°!„
4931. 'in 1851), and for the building and repair of chur u,'
in the years 1349 and 1850. The expense of
although 2,579/• was expended for this purpl°
cbsPe'B,
chaplains, and birial-grounds in c ,unexin vrith her Ma'
jesty's einhassies and missions abroad ( notncluded in
the foregoing return) amounted in 1853 to 1,385/.!
against 1,2521. in 1852, and 9851. in 1851. This lea!
return includes the expenses of embassies at the Couro
o fAthens, Constantinople, Copenhagen, Naples, Pile'
Turin and Vienna.