The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-02 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE OLD WORLD AND THE NEW. By

Airs. Trollope: 3 Vas.

This work may be considered in two points of
view, as a novel, inasmuch as it relates to the ad-
ventures of the Stormont family, the emigrants from
the Old World to the New, and as a series of smart
sketches of various peculiarities, and points of differ-
ence in the inhabitants of the two hemispheres. Those
acquainted with Mrs. Trollupe's writings will readily
inter that the peculiarities she has dwelt upon are
not those which redound most to the credit of either
world. The pen of " Mrs. Barnaby's" creator de-
lights in satire, but that satire is sometimes (not
always, vide the "Vicar of Wrexhill"), as leniently
bestowed as it is richly deserved. In the present
instance, although the Americans, however much
they may consider themselves euperior to the " Bri-
tihers" " in go-ahead briskness," are made to appear
somewhat disagreeable companions, in consequence of
their overweening self- conceit (both national and
individual); and although the letters from the French
correspondent are filled with satire upon the revolu-
tionists of France, we have no cause to find fault with
Mrs. Trollope. She holds up the follies of both
worlds to general ridicule, but her ridicule
is neither distorted by prejudice nor dis-
figured with ill-humour. The running commen-
tory on the affairs of France is most amusing, and
will provoke the merriment of those who, like our-
selves, are not entirely disposed to coincide with its
opinions. It apparently proves—
"'That the capital of the French nation ought to be,
and indeed is, the capital of the human race. There is
no other country under Heaven
.where one experiment
afteranothercould be suggested, brought forward, put in
action, tried, and rejected after the manner they have
been doing in Paris, without absolute destruction to the
very framework of society. The result of such a process
anywhere else would be downright and positive destruc-
tion, but there it is only like the work of an ingenious
milliner, who, after pulling a fabric of wire and lace to
pieces, reconstructs it again, making it look as good, or
rather better than new."

The story which occurs as the connecting link be-
tween the two worlds is very simple in its construc-
tion. A family, impoverished in the Old World, re-
cover themselves in the New. One member of this
family is a Miss Katherine Smith, one of the most
delightful, because one of the most natural, heroines
that any novelist has introduced us to for some time.
It is easy to see that the history of the said Katherine
has been written by a woman's pen, not only on
account of the natural manner which the young
lady's character is depicted, but more especially
because of the very unnatural manner in which the
hero is made to expiate a fault. It used to be a
criterion of the works of authoresses that their ,
heroes were always made to kneel when they prefer-
red a love-suit, but no hero of the Minerva Press
was ever reduced to a more humiliating penance than
the unfortunate Mr. Warburton, the lover of Katherine.
The lair readers of this history will, no doubt, agree
that he richly merited it, our censures, therefore, are
thrown away. It will not be right on our part to
disclose the mystery of the tale. We shall simply
state the offence from which it arose, which is de-
tailed with a charming naturalness, at least so far
as the heroine is concerned. The Stormont family
are as yet in England, and Katherine is betrothed
to a Mr. Warburton, a rich landed proprietor, some
years her senior, who, for twenty years, has been
afraid of matrimony, fearing that his rich possessions
may make him the victim of some fortune huntress.
Katherine is the chosen one, but although much at-
tached to her, he is still somewhat fearful. When the
lady is informed of the troubled affairs of her cousins
(the emigrant family), she hastens to tell her lover,
forming plans for their temporary accommodation,
"as soon as we are married." This.,unlucky obser-
vation, spoken with thoughtless frankness, alarms the
gentleman. He only replies, Compose yourself I"
which reply so effectually composes and chills the
impetuous Katherine that she leaves the room and
the country, and is off to the New World before her
hesitating lover knows what he has done. This is
the oflence which is expiated in the manner we have
hinted at. With the exception of this incident, the
story is barren of events ; and, notwithstanding that
Mrs. Trollope's style is always amusing and interest-
ing, there are very many pages in the three volumes
that contain needless nothings.