The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-22 00:00:00

LITERATURE

OWEN TUDOR. By the Author of " White-
friars." 3 Trois.
The author of " Whitefriars" holds a deservedly
high rank among the historical romancists of the day.
His style is remarkable for a vigorous boldness of de-
lineation and an exceeding richness of colouring.
These peculiarities, added to the interesting nature of
the tale itself, rendered " Whitefriars, a Tale of the
Days of Charles II.," one of the most popular ro-
mances of recent times. Neither " Whitehall," }tor
" Caesar Borgia," nor " Owen Tudor" are equal, as a
whole, to their author's first production. Still, the
same vigorous hand is conspicuous in all these
works, they are characterised by the same nervous
animation in the delineation of portraits and in the
grouping of materials which invested with such an
air of reality the story of Algernon and Aurora
Sydney, in the pages of " Whitefriars." But if the
attractive peculiarities of that work are visible
in its successors, its imperfections have also de-
scended to them, and in a more remark-
able degree. For example, that warmth of
colouring which threw an almost too vivid glow over
the dissolute scenes of Charles the Second's Court,
deepened in intensity when it revealed the doings of
the Borgias to such an extent, that some of the chap-
ters of " Caner Borgia " (saving in point of style
only) read like extracts from the worst feuilletons of
Paris. One of the worst faults which the author of
" Whitefriars" occasionally commits is his warm
colouring of voluptuous scenes. " Owen Tudor "
begins well ; the opening chapters are interesting in
material and admirable in style. The scene is Wales,
and the epoch the reign of Henry V., when the he-
roic Glendower is dead and Welsh independence ex-
tinct, save in the breasts of some few remaining
rebels. The father of Owen Tudor, the companion
in arms of Glendower, expires at the commencement
of the tale. His de nth scene is characteristic of the
time and place. He leaves his son as a legacy, a
prophecy of Glendovver'e, and an aimless enmity
against King Henry. On his father's death, Owen
proceeds to France, where the English King is en-
camped. The scenes in Wales and Owen's adven-
tures for awhile after his arrival in France are full of
interest and admirably described. On perusing so
far of the narrative, we anticipated that "Owen
Tudor" would prove one of its author's masterpieces;
before the close of the first volume, however, the
character of the story changes, and Owen himself is
metamorphosed into one of those most despicable and
unheroic heroes " not half a villain and not half a
knight." The remainder of his story is of a most
repulsive character. In this part of his narrative the
author has been guilty of a violation of all the or-
dinary laws of chivalry and romance. Much as he
seems to delight in portraying scenes of passion, the
historian of Owen Tudor has proved himself a
most unworthy expositor of the passion of love.
Never have we read such a love-story as that of " Owen
Tudor." In a popular tumult in Paris he was instru-
mental in saving the life of Hemline, a beautiful
minstreless and a child of the people. The grateful
maiden in her turn preserves her protecter, and Owen
is for a time concealed in the Boucherie, in the house
of Hueline's friends. Up to this portion of the story
the reader's sympathy still lingers with the young
Welshman, and the dawning of the mutual passion of
Owen and Hueline is described in this writer's
usually effective manner. The treasured prophecy of
Glendower has, among other things, foretold that
Owen shall wed a king's daughter, and he has pro-
mised his dying father that he will obey, to the
utmost of his power, its injunctions. Here is an in-
superable bar to his union with Hueline, and here
we might expect a violent struggle with himself, on
the part of Owen, ending by his fulfilling his pro-
mise and manfully flying from temptation, or by his
voluntarily abandoning all his royal dreams, for the
sake of Hueline ; but the recreant Welshman does
neither the one nor the other. Never for one mo-
ment does he think of relinquishing his ambitious
expectations: Hueline, the young poetess, is a noble-
hearted and devoted creature, too warm and
passionate, as are generally the heroines of this author.
The devotion of Griselda to her relentless lord is
hardly a parallel for the deep and enduring affection
of Hueline for the worthless Owen; and Owen, be
it remembered, is not represented as a villain. We
are expected to regard him as our hero, a preux
chevalier, even while he repays the most devoted
affection with every possible cruelty. He
at length discovers the long-desired " king's
daughter," in the person of Katharine of
France. Hueline is for a moment revenged, when
the Princess scornfully abandons Owen for a royal
lover, and becomes the Queen of Henry V. ; but
Owen maintains his unmanly character to the last,
and notwithstanding the Princess's insulting treat-
ment, accepts her hand on her widowhood. History
tells us that almost immediately after the death of
Henry V. his widow became the wife of an " obscure
Welsh gentleman," from whom descended the royal
family of Tudor. Better that royal ancestor had re-
mained in his obscurity than become revealed to pos-
terity under the character of Owen Tudor I By a
curious coincidence the two historical romances of
this season tread upon the same ground. " Owen
Tudor" describes the same scenes and some of the same
incidents recently so admirably described in the " Lily
of Paris." The readers of both works will be enabled
to institute an interesting comparison between these
different views of the same scenes and characters. In
some cases the effect of the one work is diminished by
our previous perusal of the other. For example, the
Perrinet Leclerc of " Owen Tudor" is so totally dis-
similar to the hero of the "Lily of Paris," that it is
impossible to believe them to be the same person.
We should possibly have liked " Owen Tudor" better
had we not previously perused the " Lily of Paris."
Among other things, the mad King had been so
tenderly depicted in the work of Palgrave Simpson
that the different description of " Owen Tudor"
produces an unpleasing effect. Again, the
passionate Hueline, in one scene at least,
forms a repulsive contrast to the pure and
gentle Lys d'Ange. Although Palgrave Simpson is
in some respects inferior as a writer to the eloquent
author of " Whitefriars," it is unfortunate for the
latter that in this instance they hare entered upon
this accidental rivalship. Notwithstanding the faults
we have found in " Owen Tudor " this work fully
corroborates our high opinion of its author's merits,
and we trust that ere long he will in the same inter-
esting and eloquent manner relate the history of a
more interesting personage than Owen Tudor.

THE ELECTORAL LAWS OF BELGIUM
PROPOSED AS THE BASIS OF PAR-
LIAMENTARY REFORM IN ENGLAND.
By Philip Edward Barnes, Esq., 8.A., F.L.S.
London : Longman, 1849.
Works on constitutional law are so rare, that any
contribution deserves to be thankfully received, for
no subject of study is more important in a country
like this. The author is a gentleman who took a
high degree at the University of London, has devoted
some years to legal studies, and is intimately conver-
sant with election proceedings at home, while he en-
joys the esteem of many eminent public men of all
opinions. The work is singular on two grounds—first,
as addressed to the Conservatives of England in favour
of an extension of the suffrage, and next, because
adducing the example of Belgium as a proof that its
institutions have enabled it to withstand the present
revolutionary crisis. It would scarcely be useful for
us to give any opinion on the doctrines propounded,
for each is the subject of lengthened controversy;
but the essential value of the book to all interested on
constitutional questions is, that it brings new autho-
rities to bear on the several points in dispute. It is
likely to meet with the more attention as addressed
to the opponents of Parliamentary Reform, instead
of to its partisans.

ENFRANCHISEMENT OF CHELSEA, HAMMERSMITH,
AND THE ADJOINING PARISHES.—Last night a meeting
of the householders of Chelsea, Hammersmith, Ken-
sington, and Fulham was held in the Commercial Hall,
King's-road, Chelsea, for the purpose of supporting the
petition in Parliament for forming the above parishes
into a metropolitan borough. Mr. Thomas Gaskell
took the chair. Mr. F. Gaskell read letters of apology
from Mr. flume, M.P.; Mr. George Thompson, M.P;
Mr. Cobden, M.P.; Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P.; and
Mr. B. B. Osborne, M.P., all expressing themselves
favourable to the objects of the meeting, and
regretting they were unable to attend. He then moved
That this meeting is of opinion that Chelsea, with
the adjoining parishes of Kensington, Fulham, and
Hammersmith, comprising, together, a population of at
least 130,000, and 17,500 houses, should return at least
two representatives to Parliament." This and another
resolution pledging the meeting to support by every
means in its power the movement for enfranchising the
district, having been passed, a vote of thanks was given
to Mr. Berkeley, M.P., and Mr. Macgregor, M.P., for
their attendance that night, and their support at all
times of the interests of the people. Thanks having
been passed to the chairman, the meeting separated.
DEPARTURE OF THE LORD LIEUTENANT.—
DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING. Ills Excellency
the Earl of Clarendon will leave Kingstown Har-
bour this morning ut nine o'clock, in the Banshee
steamer, for Holyhead. A Privy Council is summoned
for two o'clock this afternoon to swear in Lords Justices,
to act as Chief Governors of Ireland during his Excel-
lency's absence in England.
_

The West India steamer Dee, which is daily ex-
pected, will, there is every reason to believe, bring the
largest amount of specie (800,0001. sterling) ever brought
to this country by a merchant vessel. The largest amount
of specie over brought to this country by as man-of-war
wz.s 1,000,000/.

A LITT BEAR'S GREASE.—It is rumoured that
the Emperor of Russia has conferred on Mr. Anstey the
title of Count Out.—Punch.