The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-12 00:00:00

18.58.

LITER AT URE.

The Reigning Eeauftj. By Georgiana, Lady
Chatterton, author of " Life and its Realities."
3 yds. durst and Bla,clett.
The tine of this work naturally suggests to the
mind a record of the glittering career of the :Ater of
the season, with descriptions of the gay scenes in
which she shines with splendour, and the chro-
nicles of the brilliant c ,mpany who form her
gorgeous entourage ; youth in its flower, beauty in
its bloom, pleasure in its zsnith, enhanced by the
treasuees of fertutio, and iadotited with the lustre
of rank, are seen among the shining ornarnerns of
such r, smiling fate. It is not here iuteneed,
ho n-
ever, to give a partial view of the events lde ly to
occur ou the stage of existence, and the reader will
find that in what concerns the frivolous belle alone,
there appears much that may awaken thought met
give rise to reflection. Anastasia is not introduced
at first, and afterwards she is not the only promi-
nent person, so that no one can be at a loss to
select a more congenial character to study, when
wearied by the vanity that disguste, and the
vexation that can never win sympathy. The chief
events are told by one who was the eye-
witness of the greater part, and who neglected,
and unnoticed herself, was the itnpot-
tent agent in many momentous concerns, and
the sustainer. and guide, of ,some troubled and
perplexed spirits. Nelly Muggins, as the old go-
verness was called, might lock back with satisfac-
tion on her past labours, from the beautiful retreat
in which she was at last so fortunate as to find a
home. The calm evening hour might be fully en-
joyed by one, who had endured to the uttermost
the burden, and heat of the day of toil, and hers
was that genial nature that finds its own happiness
in witnessing the prosperity of those dear to her
heart. In the course of the work we meet with
several families, who form distinct objects of lute-
rest themselves, yetwho are ingeniously iit ter.vey en
in the plot, so as to e-,nce:ll,l,to tee attention on
one po:nt at cue conclusion. If there is not much
novelty in the incident of Lord Severn being lost in
infancy, and the title being borne by another, it is
described in a manner that imparts io it a zest, and
the impression produced by Ernest Clanrouald him-
self, goes far to keep alive in the mind the interest
his romantic position has excited. ail his
faults, there seems something genuine in his na-
ture, and one feels inclined to sympathise with
him in the painful dilemma in which he was placed,
through his engagement to Anastasia. The anxiety
he evinced proved that the real and the true pos-
sessed a power over him, however lost their influ-
ence might have seemed, and however disregarded
appeared their culture. While others of his age
and position, would have been dazzled by the pro-
spects of splendour that dawned upon him, he was
only thanking with dismay of the impracticabiiity
of reconciling what 'ninon( commanded in refererce
to Miss Severn, with his own wishes in regard to
Margaret Norman. He had not met her for years,
years which had transformed her from the child he
had forgotten, to the woman ho too late admired
and appreciated. Margaret is an excellent cha-
racter, not so brilliant as Isabel Severn, not so
beaming or joyous as Beaujolais, but she commands
a respect that endures, when fascination fades, and
when taltntis may cease to charm. Perhaps the
portraiture given of the heroine, Anastasia Severn,
is, after all, the most meritorious in its like;ibood
and in the force of its touches. It is not prebehle that '1
those, in whose minds the seeds of vanity are so early
implanted, in whose hearts the love of the pure and
the good, isso soon extingnished,to he replaced by the
worship of Mem non, and the devceion toself, as was
the case with tae proud girl here mentioned, should
escape the enerse:.ting ieflutnce, and pass unharmed
through the dangereus orLal. In the case of
Anastasia it is plain that she roluutarily yielded to
every evil suggestion, and fell a willing victim into
the snares that were prepared by her mother's folly
and the flattery of her friends. It might be useful
to those, who trust all, and everything, to their
powers of attracting by the beatity an instant can
destroy for ever, to dwell on the moral conveyed by
the humiliating position cf the reigning beauty at
Westlands. She found herself deprived of that
dazzling loveliness which she had so idolized when
she possessed it, in the lonely hours of a sick room:
she had leisure to ponder on the life she had led,
and the time she bad wasted. She did not regret
the lost opportunities iu a higher sense, all she
lamented was, that her weapons should have failed
her, without her having won the contest.
The crowning conquest of her life was
to have been the acquisition of some grand
title, and some splendid establishment, but
those who have witne,sed her selfishness, her
vanity, and her heartless conduct, will rejoice at
her final discomfiture. There is something melan-
choly, in the record of the life, of the narrator of
these events. She had much to contend agaihst,
and never appeared to be free, from some wearing
anxiety, or depressing care. Fitz Patrick is a
character, likely to inspire interest, from his pecu-
liar position. The very mystery that enveloped
him, as with a dark cloud, seems to impart a
romance to his existence. His actions were impru-
dent, but he never appears guilty of any wrong, and
the generous manner in which he resigned what ho
had always called his own property to the rightful
Possessor, proclaimed the worth of his nature.
Isabel presents a pleasing instance of one, who,
having early received good impressions in her
mind, clings to their memory and cherishes their
image, while she is exposed to many and great
temptations. In this she exhibits a striking con-
trast to her sister, whom she had early discretion
enough to shun, as a warning, and not imitate as
an example. There is something touching in
the passages that refer to the French emigrant
Adolphe St. Leon. The patience with which he en-
du: ed his great afflictions is the more sirikioe when
the intensity of his feelings is considered. The
love he bore hie wife was deep and true, while all
his desire of fame, and hopes of independence
centred in the pursuit of that profession, which he
was compelled for ever to relinquish, from the ter-
rible calamity of blindness. In his life of poverty
and suffering he was resigned, not as those who
cannot feel the sharpness of sorrow, but his faith
bad won the victory. Very different were the
positions of the proud Anastasia, and of the bro-
ther of the instructress she despheil ; but in her
happiest hour she might have sighed for the peace
that ever wanting iu her bridiant sphere, St.
Leon valued es the treasure, of which nothing could
deprive him. On the whole, it may be considered
that the author has been successful in producing an
interesting work, ose that will amply repay perusal,
for those whodesire entertainment, while those who
would lock forhig her objects may find much to suggest
reflection, and to attract not ice, by the record of its
scenes of suffering, its pictures of vanity, and its
details of ambition. Without being of a melancholy
hue throughout, the tone of the story is rather sad
than anima ed, while the fate of the reigning h.'auty
herself holds out no false, alluring promises ; but
demonstrates, with all the sternness of reality, that
no reign is more swift in its flight, and more un-
satisfying in its retrospect, than that of a beauty
such as Anastasia Severn. It is probable, there-
fore, that this work will be. welcomed, as it pos-
sesses the merit, of upholding the true principles of
right, in a tale, which talent has made brilliant
with the charms Of romance.

Ursula: a Tale of Country Life. By the Author
of "Amy Herbert," Sec., dec. 2 vols. Longman.
This is another of those excellent works which
have attracted so much attention from the lofty
principles of right which they inculcate, and the
purity of purpose which animates their author.
She does not seek to direst by any decisive mea-
sures, or to lead in any peculiar path, but she en.
deavours to influence, by simple and straightfor-
ward means, to point out how much good or evil
may result from the actions of those in humble
station, in circumscribed spheres. Such represen-
tations of existence will not please those who
are excited at the prospect of anything great,
and turn aside from small sacrifices or petty
struggles, but they may serve to illustrate the.
path of duty to the many whose lives arc
made up of little things. Without the occurrence
of any extraordinary events, we meet with much
in this tale that forciny impresses, and ably ad-
monishes. It is not only those whose follies are
immediately apparent, who serve as warnings ;
much may be learned from studying the actions of
these, who are really under the influence of good
impressions, and actuated by the most laudable
motives. Thus we find much to reprehend, not
only in the v. Mile Jessie, not only iu the self-
sufficient Millicent, but iu the self denying and
patient Mrs. Weir, and in the upright Ursula. Tho
latter was always labouring to do right, and she
often succeeded, while her conduct was always
such that all appealed to her for assistance in
difficulty, and looked to her for sympathy in
trouble. She was apt, however, to de ell
too much oe her 0 411 fauCit 2, and not enough
ea the inevitable changes of time and elaee.
She was devotedly att tched to her brother Roger,
and she wilfully shut her eyes to the probability
of his one day forming a tie to which the love of a
sister would be secondary. When the bitter truth
forced itself upon her, she roused herself to meet
the trial bravely, but the indulgence of her unreal
visions had insensibly embittered her feelings, and
she felt the burden almost beyond her strength. Mrs.
Weir is a melancholy instance of what want of de-
cision will OCCitSi, in tome persens,who are willing
to bear anything for the ce use of ti uth, but eaunot
overcome the obstacles of their own weakness. Her
sufferings principally concerned herself, and she de-
serves pity, only, while every feeling of indignatiou
seems aroused against Mrs. Temple,- for her despi-
cable conduct. She is A type of a Ow that is only

too numerous for the peace of society, who go about
pretending- to do good, while they are really ocza-
sioning great evil. She would not have knowingly
committed any offence, but persisted ;n carrying
out her peculiar notions of right—she must settle
not, only her own duty, but others also. The only
happy hour for poor 11Ire. Weir was that in ,which
worldly troubles wore forgotten, when her spirit, on
the tlTes'.l.hold of its eternal freNlom, could look
back with calmness on the earthly bondage in which
it ha l so lone been fettered. It was certainly a solem.n
warning alike to the daughter who - had wilfully
l nog I ,et-lher and the relivion who had relentlessly
p,rsecuted her, with 1-er presence, to stand beside
the bed of death where their geru le victim forgave
all Ursula hurried from one scene of suf-
fering to another as painful, Jessie, her dearly-
; beloved brother Roger's wife, had deceived him.
I Although by no means so faulty as her enemies
made our, she had committed grievous et rors, such-
as an upright and straightforward man like Roger,
above all, shudders to behold in a wife. He had.
been wrong in persisting to consider her perfect,
and still mere reprehensible in _ not counsel-.
ling her more when he. knew she was so
giddy and inexperienced. He paid a sad pe-
nalty fur his wilfulness, 'as he could never be
again happy in the trust that implicitly confides,
and the affection which is based on respect. The
true lessons of lite are learned in scenes, like those
through which Ursula passed, and -she derived
profit from reflecting on their impost. It is re-
marked that " each event of life, however trifling,
beais within it the seed that is to exist for eter-
nity," an awful truth which those who act on hasty
impulses, and give way to the passion of the
moment, would do well to remember. If this
story is not so interesting as s)ine of its predeces-
sors, it is fully as instructive, and will, no doubt.
from the discriminating and „ „
ieh
that appreciati-n, to is iambi() a work de-
to obtain.