The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-12 00:00:00

LITE RATURE.

Madeline Clare ; or, the Important Secret. By
Colburn Mayne. 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
This is a romantic story, agreeably narrated,
and well arranged. Though a great portion is of
a melancholy cast, the general tenour of the style
is sparkling and lively. The descriptions of the
country are vividly described, and evidently with
the genial spirit and enthusiastic energy of one
who descants upon a theme that is kindred to his
nature and congenial to his taste. The hero,
Philip Clarges, is a noble character, and one who
is deserving of his prominent position. The ladies
of the tale are not so attractive. Mabel does not
appear much on the scene; thus, although the
finest disposition of the two, she does not claim so
large a share of notice as the heroine Madeline
Clare. There is something unsatisfying in her
career; she seems so bright and beautiful a charac-
ter, until tried at last she fails. Yet.it is probable
that, though painful, it may be a real and likely
occurrence, that one like her should approach but
not attain to the standard of perfection. She came
trusting to the might of earth, not looking to the
majesty of Heaven for support, and in her worship
of the beautiful she did not pay homage to the
sternershrine of duty and self-sacrifice. She was im-
patient and impetuous, and being greatly beset and
troubled, she threw away her own peace of mind by
an impulse of rage and mortification. After her union
with the treacherous Temple, she is lost to us for
interest or excitement ; there is but one goal for
her to travel to, where she must pass from the
stirring scenes of worldly excitements to the rest
of the grave. A pure and spotless nature like hers'
could not endure to exist with one like Herbert
Temple, and hence she was worried and harassed
by the unequal and unnatural strife. Her death
was inevitable, but it was not beneath the skies of
Italy that she passed away, as she had supposed.
Stung with remorse, her deceiving husband put'
an end to his ill-starred career, and then the for
lorn Madeline returned home to die. During her
brief experience with the world, Madeline had suf-
fered keenly, and had also enjoyed with excess.
Her temperament was one which is not often happy,
and the description of her ideas and fancies when
all seemed prosperous, reveals that such a nature
expects too much from a perishing state like this.
" Then every emotion of the inner reflects'its own'
beauty on the outer world. Earth has a bloom,
and ocean a purple ; we look on the heavens that
store no'cloud, and the wilderness is brightened
by the rose. The breezes as they pass us make
melody as of the lute and viol, and the very winds
of heaven sing rejoicingly on our path.''
Thus Madeline regarded her future course, and
she was disappointed. She did not cultivate
that better knowledge of the world around her and,
within her that sorrow and suffering could have
taught her. In her case, after a short struggle,
she would have been freed from trouble, and even
if not, how grand and glorious would have been
the contest, instead of her precipitate retreat into
the ambush made ready for her. There are enough
rash and vacillating tempers in the world to fall
a prey, without the high and lofty natures adding
to the awful list. With Madeline, however, the
error was soon seen, and the rest of her life became
a purifying preparation for a better. She had
passed through the ordeal which, fiery and consum-,
ing, had left the best feelings of her heart incor-
ruptible and immortal. They were preserved from
the taint of sin and evil by her stedfast spirit and
devotion to right. The mystery that hangs over
the life of Philip Clarges is ono of deep import, and
skilfully devised and worked out. The other per-
sons who appear on the scene are calculated to add
interest to its relation, and the descriptions of the
circles of high life into which the heroine enters for
a short time, diffuse a brilliancy over the narrative.
Altogether, " Madeline Clare" ca.nnotfail to please
those who are charmed by romance, and interested
by an attractive story. There is great variety in
the different natures presented before us, and the
intricacy of the plot possesses marvels to fascinate
the lovers of mystery: The bright and sparkling
character of its composition, the lovely scenery,
picturesquely described, all combine to create for
it an interest, and impart to it a merits

Audubon. By Mrs. Horace Sr. John. Longman,
Brown, Green, and Longmans.
_

A pleasing narrative of the adventures and dis-.
coveries of the great naturalist in the New World,
derived from his own works and from fragments
published iu the United States. A work that may
be placed with advantage in the hands of both
young and old, and likely to be an acceptable pre-
sent.

POLISH NATIONALITY.