The Sun.
London, England, 1802-04-12 00:00:00

THE NOVEL OF SPLENDID MISERY.

- As this exquisite Novel continues to fix the atten.
tion of the public in a very unusual manner for works
, of that description, we flatter ourselves that the fol.
lowing Critique will be acceptable to our Readers.—
We confess ourselves at a losi whether to give the
preference to the design or the execution of this
admirable produdion of real genius. The Story
constantly arrests attention, and its events uni-
formly gratify expeaation. The style, at the same
time that it is admirably varied, according to the
levity or dignity of the varying subjeas and cha.
. rafters, is uniformly perspicuous ; it never evaporates
in bombast, nor-sinks into vulgarity. The pecu-
liar and striking merit of "Splendid Misery," how-
ever, is its dramatic struaure. From the opening to
the conclusion, attention never tires.—New scenes
present themselves, and new charaaers develope
themselves, as on the stage, without scarcely any
- other conjunftion than we perceive in a drama,
'while at the same time the progress and interest of
the whole is still so joined, as to excite equal ad-
miration and delight. It opens with a scene drawn
from Nature itself, in which Captain Melville nar-
rates to his friend the departure 'of his reputed
daughter, the Heroine, froM 'his retreat in Wales,
to spend a winter in the metropolis. Perhaps na-
tore was never more accurately copied than in the
allusion of Captain Melville to the sampler which
his adopted child had worked, but the "flourish_
jugs round which were Worked by his deceased
wife." Nothing could be more artfully contrived
than the time chosen for the commencement of the
Piece, which is precisely two days after Oceana
quits her suppoised father at Tenby, in South .
Wales, to join her friends, Ladies Julia and Ame-
melia Latitnore, in London, and a six months resi-
dence in that -family comprises the whole time oc-
cupied in the volumes. We peruse the first 'chap-
ter, ana are instantly deeply interested in the
fate of Oceana. The second chapter brings us to Lon-
'aon, and introduces us to the famify of the Earl
of Latimore, the Hero of the Novel, and- whoe si- ,
tuation in society, contrasted with his state of
mind, gives name to it. In the whole range of
charaders exhibited on the Stage, or
-in our Novels
and Romances, we know of none which has appeared
of late years, at once so interesting, striking, and.
original, as that of .Latimore. His character is
drawn .with,a' bold and masterly pencil, and his
story furnishes one of the finest lessons of morality
ever presented to mankind in the
,form of a Novel.
Of the charaaer of Elmer, his Secretary, we cannot
speak so highly. ,There is, we conceive, a defet
in making him so wholly and completely the to6l of
Latitnore, at the same time that -lie possesses so
many excellent qualities. Besides this error, 'we
are too strongly reminded of Caleb Williams, by the
confidence which Latimore reposes- in him. The
many noble sentiments, however, of which. Elmer
is the organ, more than atone for-these faults. The
Dutchess of Denington is a finished rortrait : a
mar) of lishion with a good heart, was never more
successfully drawn: Mortimer is also a bold
sketch, and the n'irvello.us ingredients in his cha_
rafter and story may perhaps be necessary in a mo-
dern Novel. His assumed resemblance of the Aa-
trologer Julian of Resenbergh, is in . the best
style of the marvellous ; and the error of those
who implicitly rely on the. Starry Oracles, is
most strikingly illustrated in. the fate of Lati-
more. We abstain from analyzing the story, be-
cause -we are persuaded that most of our Readers
either have•tead, or will read, .so populai' a Novel.
Among the defects of this Work, we venture to
point out the passage in which Elmer carries his de-
votion to Latimore so far as to say,-that fur the sup_
port of his Patron's charader and fame, he will
immolate hiniself, and all his hopes of hereafter.--
This is inconsistent with common virtue and com-
mon sense. On the Other hand, the beauties we
could enumerate, are much too numerous for our limits.
We cannot however refrain from mentioning a few.
The personification of " Poise r," is nearer to
Shakspeare than any thing we recoiled
.since the
days of our.immortal Bard. The idea of. its pos_.
sessing all the attributes of humanity, except the •
human heart, is fine beyond all ptaise. The de-
scription of the appearance "of the Heavens, on a
starry night, with the efreds which it is calculated
to produce on minds of all descriptions, is, extremely
beautiful. For boldness of imagery, and sublimity
of thought, nothing that has lately appeared can vie
with the expressions of Latimore, when denouncing
his defiance of his-enemies. There is an originality
in the figure, which commands all the admiration
due to first rate genius, when Latimore compares
his state of mind respeding his foes, to that of an
'adamantine rock, which soaring its majestic head
above the. roaring ocean, sees e. little downy
feather dropping from a bird .of passage, 'wafted
by the air towards its flinty bosom. Of the
lighter species of ornament, we would point out
the cross questions at
,the Leyte of the Dutchess
of Denington ; and among the elegant, the self-ac-
tusatiou of Her .Grace, so ingeniously conveyed in
her dialogue with Meriton. Upon the whole, we
congratulate Our Country on this literary produc-
tion, respeding which we may certainly. use the
words of M.' Andre, a .French Critic- upon the
" GEORGE BAR NWELL" of the same Author, with
much more propriety; " Ce roman' est un de ceux,
qui font honneur au genie Anglois."
Splendid Misery is dedicated to Mr. Sheridan, in
a strain of elegant and original compliment.—May
we suggest, that if Mr. Surr has .such a patron, he
ought to avail himself of his talents, and write for
the Stage: We are much deceived if his genius has
not a theatrical diredion.

But where this Deficiency has for years existed, a propel
perseverance is indispensably requisite to revive the slum-
bering Sparks of Lite, and to re-animate the Constitution.
MARRIED WOMEN, who have long been disappointed
in their expedations of a Family, may, be assured, that in
most instances, such deleas are curable by Medical skill.
- The secresy . which .is so essential to my :undertaking,
and the qualifications which 1 have presumed to state, form
the basis of my pretensions, and in coincidence with' such
this intimation is given, that Mr. B. may be consulted
personally, or by Letters (inclosing a-small Note), ,at his
house, No. 29, Arundel street, Strand, near Temple Bar..
There is an additional Entrance )n Water-street,
adjoining, and the Name is on both the doors.
M. B---, Member at the Royal College of Surgeons.

and Published by WILLIAM ARM ic.za SCRIPPS, (of Horse-ferry-road,' Westminster);
for the Paper,'Lcittr's for the iditori (post-taidi, must be 'addresseia.

NEW FOREIGN GARDEN' SE EDS
.;
rian,ll'ocr.ueen
solidity,tLielavtaunrte4,-
Geo g..• Tile
1 . TWO New' C,UCUMBERS, viz, I• ,
. - uit o''
tween one.and two feet • long. • For exquisite Vavour, . 0,
petitor: 2. The New'Egyptian, not so large as the —3l,
but equally delicious, and every way diderctit.
f:nthrie,
z"in'lCl.ibcehauptreOduuscteosrmit,sitit 11-IF:c°,;(tiiricril,
2. NA T-0 LIA N. ASPARAGUS, - ~,s 6
or 8 of the coinznun sort, and the taste far superior.
.• chief
p. soB, 4th Edit. The buds are as ;,C "
~3.; New UPALIAN PURPLE BROCO El. Its
i„..10
head is 6 or 8 inches broad : its numerous lateral bi"' ',llei
give••finc heads of tile 'Common size-, so.that several b1i",,,0i..
may be cut from one Plant: I t'has the richest tilveur. lon/
'sible, and its beauty when on table' 'must be. seen tp I,"' •
ceived ct
r ot 0 t
•- • •
'4; New SPANISH COSS LETTUCE, grows a '9,,c'ona.
half high, and two feet round; is exquisitely wi''`,i, all •
crisp,. oe .sweetest of any Lettuce known, altialnw•
heart: ' a,
,
5. MALTA CAULI F LOW E R, grows a full fo°t 111-°' ''
and. Its delicacy-is as superior as its si ' zc. d 6 or 1..
6. ANTWERP CELERY rows 3 feet high, an . tits'.
, 111
inches'round; and stands most eigninentlyclistinguisliedP-" •
very rich taste. ; ii. -ti by,,:„;
7. NORTH AMERICAN KALE,tin'n'-11•-• '''-'3)
severest frosts, givei the most lielicion's Wiiiter (;foLl'' 3 g 1.1 s
, ... A 5 pa .
as green as the springing Grass, arid is-'sweet a., •
itself. . .
L. AFRICAN .ENDI•VE Sulnlrier. Vttulter'.
such Salad in Nature.
and for whiteness, crispn&s.;, and tendern,ss, there is mid,
dling'Cabbages.• - rge
J"
9. The NewEA RBA Rs/ ONION. 7,row-s twic.)..e, di,
as the Spanish, • . • - li••ately wl. IL
is beautifully formed, de ,- . , .in
as mild as an Apple. . , Mal.: •
• il-
Sold at- Crocker's, St. Alban's-strret, Pa 4
Packets, as. 6d. each, No Credit. Fay • Po,,ta '•
____,,,...-o.'
!'he Plants are often as large a.

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