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

LITERATURE.

The Reigning Beauty. By Georgiana, Lady
Chatterton, author of " Life and its Realities."
3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
The title of this work naturally suggests to the
mind a record. of the glittering career of the star of
the season, with descriptions of the gay scenes in
which she shines with splendour, and the chro-
nicles of tb e brilliant company who form her
gorgeous entomrage ; youth in its flower, beauty in
its bloom, pleasure in its zsnith, enhanced by the
treasures of fortune, and adorned with the lustre
of rank, are scen among the shining ornaments of
such a smithag fate. It is not here intended, how-
ever, to giv 5 a partial view of the events likely to
occur on the stage of existence, and the reader will
find that in ay.hat concerns the frivolous belle alone,
there appears; .much that may awaken thought an, t
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 disgusts, 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 herseg, was the impor-
tant agent in many momentous concerns, and
the sustainer. and guide, of some troubled and
perplexed spirits. Nelly 'Mugging, as the old go-
verness was called, might look 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 on 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
heath In the course of the work we meet with
several families, who form distinct objects of inte-
rest themselves, yet who aro ingeniously interwoven
in the plot, no as to concentrate the attention on
one point at the conclusion. If there is not much
novelty in the incident of Lord Severn being lost in
infancy, and tb e title being borne by another, it is
described in a nianner that imparts to it a zest, and
the impression. producedby Ernest Clanronald him-
self, goes far to keep alive in the mind the interest
his romantic position has excited. With all his
faults, there seems something genuine in his
na-
ture, and one feels inclined to sympathise with
him in the paia-ful 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 thinking vs ith dismay of the impracticability
of reconciling what honour commanded in reference
to Miss Severn, with his own wishes in iegard. to
Margaret Norms at. He had not met her for years,
years which had transformed her from the child lie
had forgotten, to the woman he 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 eridures, when fascination fades, and
when talents may cease to charm. Perhaps the
portraiture given of the heroine, Anastasia Severn,
is, after all, the mast meritorious in its likelihood
and in the forceof its touches. It is not probable that
those, in whose minds the seeds of vanity are so early
implanted, in whose heart= the love of the pure and
the good,is so soon extinguished,to he replaced by tLe
worship of Maircuon, and tie devotion to self, as was
the case with th.e proud girl here mentioned, should
escape the enervating influence, and pass unharmed
through the dangerous ordeal. In the ease of
Anastasia it is plain that she Noluutarily yielded to
tvery evil suggestion, and fell a willing victim into
the snares that were prepared by lr-r mother's folly
and the flattery of her friends. It might be useful
to those, who trust all, and everything, to their
powers of attmcting by the beauty an instant can
destroy for ewer, to dwell on the moral conveyed by
the humiliating position el the reigning beauty at
Westlands. She found herself deprived of that
dazzling loyalness which she had so idolized when
she possessed it, in the lonely lions of a sick room:
she gad leisure to ponder on the life she had led,
and the time she had wasted. She did not regret
the lost oppc rtunities in a higher sense, all she
lamented was, th et her weapons should have filled
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 Slave witne=sed her selfishness, her
vanity, and bier heartless conduct, wilt rejoice at
her final. discomfiture. There is ,omethilig
reel tn-
choly, in the record of the life, of the narrator of
thee events. She had much to c :ntend against,
and never appeared to be free, from .one weAring
anxiety, or dopressing care. Fitz Petrick 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, white 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 lie eo-
sin ed his great afflictions is the more s riking when
the intensity of his feelings is considered. The
love he bore his 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 relinqu'sh, 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 Anistat.i., and of the bro-
ther of the instructress she despiFed ; but in her
happiest hour she might have sighed for the peace
that ever wanting in her b:illiant sphere, St.
Leon valued as the treasure, of which nothing could

deprive him. On the whole, it may be considered
that the author ha; been successful in producing an
interesting work, 0.-e that will amply repay perusal,
for those who desire entertainment, while those who
wouldlook forhigher objects mayfuid much to suggest
reflection, and to attract notice, by the record of its
scene.; of suffering, its pictures of vanity, and its
details of ambition. Without being of a melancholy
hue throughout, tie tone of the story is rather sad
than anima. ed, while the fate of the reigning beauty
herself holds out no false, alluring promises ; but
demonstrate, 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
rwiigthht,th charms
ineatale, of whichrom
antacle.ent has made brilliant

Ursula : a Tale of Country Life. By the Author
of "Amy Herbert," (Sic., &c. 2 vols. Longman.
This is another of those excellent works which
have attracted so much attention from the lofty
principles of right whidh they inculcate, and the
purity of purpose which animates their author.
She does not seek to direct by any decisive mea-
sures, or to lead in any peculiar path, but she en-
deavours to influence, by simple and straightfor-
wardly me
resultn troutl'to point out how much good or evil
m the actions of those in humble
a
station, in circumscribed spheres. Such represen-
tations of existence will not please those who
are excited at the prospect of anything great,
and turn aide frOm stuall sacrifices or petty
struggles, but they maY serve to illustrate the
path of duty to the many whose lives are
made up of, little things- 'Without the occurrence
of any extraordivaiY events, we meet with much
not only thou, whose follies areY
impresses, and ably ad-
irnnonthil,tsa.
It is
edi who s:Tve as warnings ;
from studying the actions of
muchimm e dmi aatye lyb al
epapraaient
the self-denying and
those, who are really under the influence of good
impressions, and actuated by the most laudable
butonly in the volatile
lr:
motives. Thus we find much to reprehend, not
jesse
not only in the self.sutlicient Millicent,
Mrs. Weir, and in the upright Ursula. The
latter was always labouring to do right, and she
often succeeded, while her conduct was always
each that all appealed to her for assistance in
difficulty, and looked to her for sympathy in
trouble. She was apt, however, to dwell
too much on her own fancies, and not enough
on the inevi'able changes of time and place.
She was devotedly att wiled to her brother Roger,
and she wilful!y 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 almostloyond her strength. Mrs.
Weir is a melancholy instance of what want of de-
cision will occasion in Fume persons,who are willing
to bear anything for the cause of truth, but cannot
overcome the ofstacles of their own weakness. Her
sufferings principally concerned herself, and she de-
server pity, ouly,, while every feeling of indignation
seems aroused against Mrs. Temple, for her despi-
, cable conduct. She is a type of a class that is only

too numerous for the peace of society, who go about
pretending to do goode_while they aro really occa-
sioning great evil. She would not have knowingly
committed any offence, but persisted in carrying
out her peculiar notions of right—she must settle
not only her own duty, but others also. The only
happy hour for poor Mrs. Weir was that in which
worldly troubles were forgotten,when her spirit, on
the threshhold of its eternal fresclom, could look
back with calmness on the earthly bondage in which
it had so long been fettered. It was certainly a solemn
warning alike to the daughter who had wilfully
neglected her, and the relation who had relssitlessly
persecuted her, with her presence, to stand beside
the bed of death where t!.eir gentle victim forgave
all injuries. Ursula hurried from one scene of-suf-
feting to another as painful. Jessie, her dearly-
' beloved brother Roger's wife, liw4 deceived him.
Although by no means so faulty as her enemies
made out, she had committed grievons errors, such
as au upright and straightforward man like Rogsr,
above all, shudders to behold in a -wife, He had
been wrong in persisting to consider her perfect,
and still more reprehensible in not counsel-
ling her more when he knew elle was so
giddy and inexperienced. He paid a sad pe-
nalty for his wilfulness, as be could never be
again happy in the trust that implicitly confi&s,
and the affection which is based on respect, Tho
true lessons of life are learned in scenes, like these
through which Ursula pasted, and she derived
profit from reflecting on their import. It is re-
marked that " each event of life, however trifling,
bears 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 some of its predeces-
sors, it is fully. as instructive, and will, no doubt.
from the discriminating and discernin;, meet with
that appreciation, which so es imablo a work de-
serves to obtain.