The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-15 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

; a Tite :—By Mrs. HOVLAND, Author of In-
L.grity, ,a Tale ; Patience, a Tale; the Son of a Genius;
• rale3 of the. Priory; Tales of the Manor, &c. &c.
The fair writer of 'the interesting tale before
us is so well-known, and so justly admired, for
:her literary talents, that merely enumerating the ,
Cy les of her former productions, would be a sof-
tieient recommendation of the present work. The
• motto which appears in the title-page, viz. " first
koow that ,thypriticiples are just, and then be
thou inflexible in the path of them," is evidently
tlie maxim which she has illustrated on the pre.
vitt occasion. Maria, the heroine of die work,
whose conduct gives it the title, is the daughter
of parents who possessed affluence, but were re-
duce_d by the imprudence and projecting dis-
po,iiiou of her father to poverty. In this situa-
tion she deems it necessary to form a plan for
the slimy4l of her parents, rather than of herself,
an l w hen she duly considered the plan, and, after
inquiry, has reason to believe that it may
be rendered practicable, site resolutely decides,
immedia:uly adopts, iwrseveres in pursuing it,
and r,••ic,ns all pretensimor to the rank which
she he'd, anti the accomplishments which she
l'ad acquired. The plan is extraordinary, but
as the Author had doubtless fully acquainted
herself with its nature, and the probability of
irs success, it may be supposed to have been
carried into practice. Indeed, we are informed,
that the tale is actually founded upon facts, and
that the heroine, now in her sixtieth year, is in
good health, and in the
_practice of every virtue.
We shall not forestall the pleasure which the
reader will derive from the whole of this very
interesting. tale—that pleasure will be occasion.
ally mingled with strong sympathy, arising from
scenes of a very pathetic description. We shall
not even develope tire bumble plan on which the
heroine resolutely proceeds, till she raises her-
self again into the power of giving affluence to
her parents, and practising a diffusive benevolence.
Suilice it to say, that a more amiable, a more re-
spectable, and a more determined and consistent
character than Maria cannot be conceived, and
icli an example of virtuous resolution firmly
maintained, must operate beneficially upon all
Peaders, but particularly on those who may ex-
perience the vicissitudes of fortune, in teaching
them not to sink into despondency and despair,
but to endeavour to wade through " a sea of
troubles" by DecisioN in the adoption of means to
stem the tide and by perseverance in action. The
language is correct and elegant, the characters,
of which there are many, are well-drawn and
consistently supported, and the work is at tifnes
Idg hly amusing and deeply affecting. There is
a beautiful frontispiece representing one of the
most affecting incidents in the story. Mrs. Hof.
land is the wife of one of the chief Artists of the
prtNent day, and it. is not a little gratifying to
lied that persons of such distinguished talents, in
their respective provinces, are so happily united.

rs. Mu siT Ft) u.— G wrote his well-known
ballad of Mack esild Susan upon this celebrated
Actress, who was cotemporary with CIRBER.
After her retirement from the stage, love, end
the ingratitude of a bosom friend, having depriv-
ed her of reason, she was placed In a receptacle
for lunatics. One day, during a lucid interval,
she asked her attendant what play was to be
performed that evening, and was told Hamlet In
this tragedy she had always been received with
rapture as °phalli. The recollection struck her
forcibly, and with that cunning which is so often
allied to insanity, she contrived to elude the care
of her keepers, and got to the theatre, where she
concealed herself till the scene iu which Ophe,lia
Valet's in her insane state. Then. she pushed on
the stage, before the lady who had performed
the previous part of the character could come
on, and exhibited a more perfect representation
of madness than the utmost exertions of mimic
art could effect. tilu was, in truth, Ophelia her-
self, to the amazement of the pr-rfortners and to
the astonishment of the audience. Nature hav-
iog made this last effort, her vital powers failed
lwr. •On 4oing off she exclaimed, " ft is all
Vf.r." She was Immediately conveyed back to
her place of security, and a few days after
" Lila ;o lily drooping,
her bead and died."

It is -generally supposed that we confer au
obligation upon a people when we bestow upon
tiwat a vegetable containing much nutritious
substaece, at once palatable and wholesome, such
as the bread fruit tree. Undoubtedly this plant
mould be most useful in a temperate climate, if
it could be made to grow there, as it would
furnish an abundant and easy snbsistance to men.
occupied in industrious pursuits, and would cause
a diminution in the number of hands employed
the culture of corn. '!.fltis we admit..; but in
countries where excessive heat invites to ~rest,
such a plant, however valuable, becomes a nui-
sance, as it adds to the listlessness natural to the
inhabitants of the tropics. "In the plains of
America (obse.rves MOLLIE: in his Travels
through 'Colombia) the bread-fruit tree will pre-
litice. effects similar to those caused by the date
tree in Africa ; it will make Bedouins in the
.West, as the latterhas perpetuated those of the
.East. Must not this-be the case when we con•
alder the abundance of the produce of this vege,'
table ; the rapidity of its growth, and the facts
City of its culture?" 'Thus, contrary to general
'oliinion, the greatest abundance is not always the
source of prosperity ; and that which supportft
man witlytoo much facility, may,be, injurious to
civilization, by limiting hi:; wants, and come.
quently dimishing his industry. This proposition,
;which has the airof.a,paradox, is nevertheless
it truth ; but it would, pass unobserved, except
by men of sound. observation, anti. clear discern-
Meat. •

Er,' G ENtl [M.-4 LEX . 11/111311E, snuff-
box maker, at Dalgonar, Dumfries, has made a
wooden leg and foot, with uncle and toe-joints,
guided by springs, not likely to fail. It has been
vxarnined by several Gentlemen, and pronounced
to be a very neat, suitable,, aid useful substi-
tute. s It draws on like a boot, and is almost as
retained iu its place.