The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-12 00:00:00

worth. 2 Vols.

It is far more agreeable to commend than to censure,
and " Claude" affords us ample opportunities for com-
mendation. Let us, however, before beginning that
grateful task, hint to the fair authoress that a
woman's pen, no matter how ably it may touch upon
the most important topics, should always preserve a
peculiar grace and softness of expression. While
" Claude" abounds with beautiful thoughts, there are
occasionally to be met with sentences, sometimes put
into the mouth of Ada, its heroine, which we are in-
clined to think deficient in feminine delicacy. These
blemishes are only trivial ones, but we particularise
them because the authoress evinces such a capacity of
feeling and such a power of expression, as in-
duce us to number her among our writers
of fairest promise. " Claude" may be divided into
two parts—the one, gay and sparkling, fascinates from
its vivacity of style and variety of scene, while the
other is rendered yet more fascinating from its
genuine pathos and enthralling interest. In the com-
mencement of the tale the beautiful, clever, and
wealthy Ada Franscillon is wooed by many suitors,
hut persuaded by none, and, in her conversations
with an anxious aunt, the fair lady evinces a wise
conviction that a single life is an infinitely happier
- lot than a marriage of convenaiwe, or ambition. In
this part of the narrative occur many shrewd obser-
vations and much brilliant writing. Ultimately,
Claude makes his appearance, and after some of those
difficulties which proverbially impede the course of true
love, is betrothed to Ada, and now commences the
mournful but most beautiful portion of the narrative.
The young officer (he is in the army abroad) is about
to return to claim his bride, when he receives a
wound which threatens to prove mortal. He
comes home in the daily expectation of
death. The womanly character of the gay and bril •
liant Ada now becomes apparent. There are passages
towards the close of the simple narrative (the first
volume of which abounded with matter of amuse-
ment) which it is hardly possible to peruse without
tears. We shall not say how the " Double Sacrifice"
is terminated, but we commend " Claude" to the at-
tention of all who can sympathise with a truthful
picture of human hearts agitated by the most sub-
lime emotions.

The Double Oath. By the Barmatess de Calabrella.

-3
Vols.

The principal incident of this novel somewhat re-
minds us of the main feature of Miss Edgeworth'a
" Helen." Like Heleta, the virtuous hut too easily
guided heroine of the " Double Oath" is exposed to
unjust suspicions from which;he cannot clear her-
self without inculpating a married friend. The cha-
racters of the two ladies chosen by the Baroness Cala-
brella as the heroines of her romance are totally dissimi-
lar, but their different portraits are sketched with a skil-
ful hand. The one is favoured by fortune and the other,
jealous of her companions's superior lot, devotes her
very considerable abilities to her own aggrandisement.
To effect this end she scruples not to sacrifice the
dearest feelings of her own heart, and, consequently,
even though for a time successful in her schemes,
she reaps nothing but misery. The climax of the
tale is horrible and somewhat overdrawn, but the
moral is good, and some of the characters introduced
are very attractive. Of these is the charming Lady
Horton, who, possessed of most refined tastes and
mistress of various accomplishments, finds on her
marriage that her husband, notwithstanding their
mutual attachment, has no sympathy with her pur-
suits and is devoted to agricultural cares and sporting
pleasures. The secresy with which the fair
Julia conceals her disappointment, the amiability
with which she adapts herself to her husband's views,
and the dexterity with which she wins him to more
intellectual occupations, is cleverly described, and
conveys an instructive lesson.

Light and Darkness. By Mrs. Crowe. 3 Vols.
The title of this novel, and the name of its
authoress, sufficiently indicate its nature, and pro -
raises a rich treat to the lovers of the supernatural,
but not the lovers of the supernatural only will be
gratified by these three volumes. They dontilin tales
of different lengths, some of which have already ap-
peared in print, of very. various characters, reflect-
ing the lights as well as the shadows of life. The
" Two Miss Smiths," for example, is a sprightly and
humorous sketch ; and " The Bride's Journey," on
the other hand, possesses a ghastly fascination. One
of the best stories, " The Money Seekers," contains
as much matter of interest as a three\ volumed novel
or a five-act play. Some of the situations are capital,
and the denouement, though of a tragic nature, is
most felicitous.

The Abduction. A Tale of Mesmerism. By the

Baroness Prochazka. 3 Vols.
Less "light" and " darkness" of a yet deeper hue
characterise this mysterious tale. The lovers of ro-
mantic horrors, who mourn for the obsolete produc-
tions of the Minerva press, and the mysteries of Mrs.
Radcliffe and Horace Walpole, will greet the
Baroness Prochazka with a hearty welcome. Her
work is a felicitous specimen of its iclass, a class for
which we entertain little sympathy. Is abounds with
murders, and mysteries, and dark prophecies, and
birds of ill omen, &c. The third volume is of a less
horrible character, and it is very skilfully invested
with considerable interest. The young daughter of
the unhappy hero and heroine of the first volume is
the subject of the "abduction," she has been
spirited away. After much difficulty her father
recovers her (as he supposes), but the reader
is bewildered by doubts as
.to her actual
identity. A mesmeric doctor .and his clair-
royante patient throw some light upon the mysteries
by their revelations. Evincing considerable ability,
and abounding in horrors, this tale will in all proba-
bility find admirers.

Lettice Arnold. By the Authoress of "Emilia Wynd-

ham." 2 Vols.
Totally dissimilar in style and subject to the
last-mentioned tale of terror is this delight-
ful book. The perusal of anything by Mrs.
Marsh is, to use an old metaphor, rs-frcshing as a
ramble in the green fields in spring. This delightful
peculiarity, which pervades all her writings, is in none
more apparent than. in " Lettice Arnold." Lettice
herself is a generous•hearted, cheerful-spirited
creature, somewhat resembling in character " the
dearest girl in the world," below(' by Thomas
Traddles. Catherine Welwyn also appears like
a sunbeam upon the scene. Contrasted with
these is Myra, spoiled aed selfish, miserable
in herself and inflicting misery on all about
her. In the course of the story some
glimpses are thrown upon the condi-
tion of the over-tasked dressmakers, and the
benevolent Mrs. Fisher holds up a bright example
to the mistresses of large establishments. Every two
hours her hard-working stitchers are allowed a few
minutes to stretch their weary limbs—weary with in-
action; and the increased industry constquent upon
these pauses is found to more than compensate for
the trifling.loss of time. We shall not attempt to
give any inkling of the story of "Lettice Arnold,"
seeing that the charm of Mrs. Marsh's charming
tales consists more in their characters than in their
incidents, in their style than in their theme. Heartily
commending the two volumes to all who love natural
pictures, we quote the fbllowing too little heeded
truth for the benefit of those who may not miet with
" Lettice." Politeness, we are reminded, is
" A charming thing ip.,itself, and when exercised in
the dem,stic relations smooths and sweetens the current
of life to an incalculable degree. It enhances the value
of• a really gentle'and kind upper; it solti.ns down the
asperities Of a harsh and rugged one; and to an extent,
of which many worth A ople who mistake politeness
for insincerity, and . •"'lt blunt roughnc:s of dunes-

nour a warrant for the honesty and truth or their affze-
tions, seem to be little aware."

Hearts in Mortmain, and Cornelia. 1 Vol

Instead of spinning out one little story into three
volumes, the author of this work has given us two
delightful novelettes, in one book. " Cornelia"
abounds in incident and matter of interest, but
" Hearts in Mortmain" is, to our thinking, its su-
pprior. 'Both tales display considerable ability, but
the first overflows with pathos. It is simple, even to
naturalness. Its curious title, " Hearts in Mort-
main," is occasioned by the incident on which the
whole story is founded. A dying father demands
from his daughter a solemn promise that she will
never marry a cousin and companion, with
whom she has been familiar from childhood.
The promise is willingly made and faithfully kept,
although soon afterwards poor Ethel has cause to re-
pent her ready vow. The different conduct of the
two sufferers, the reigned, self-sacrificing Ethel, and
the passionate, undisciplined Edward, is most force-
fully portrayed. The passionate wrestling of a re-
bellious heart, and the calm serenity of a self-con-
quering spirit, are most naturally and powerfully
depicted. One lesson is learned from the tears and
anguish of these sufferers—the virtue and the efficacy
of truthfulness. Ethel, acting for the best, preserves
a fatal secrecy on most momentous matters,
and with a cruel kindness adds to the sorrows
she is anxious to diminish. As showing the ill-
effects of such a mistaken course "Hearts in Mort-
main" is worthy of perusal, independently of. the
attractive nature of its exquisite and natural delinea-
tion of human feeling.
" Alton Locke," and some other novels, still
remain to be considered. We must defer
them until another opportunity—those already
enumerated, however, affJrd a fair specimen in num-
ber and variety of the novels of the last few weeks,
most of them possessing considerable attractions,
but few conspicuous for any transcendent merit.

HISTORIC SCENES AND POETIC FAN-

CIES. By Agnes Strickland.
" This volume," writes the authoress in her pre-
face, " contains my earliest literary productions,
written when the vivid feelings and perceptions of a
young heart and ardent imagination found their natu-
ral language in poetry." As such, as containing the
early writings of the authoress of " The Queens of
England," this volume possesses peculiar interest. In
its general features, and more especially in the choice
of the various subjects, we easily recognise indications
of the tastes and habits of thought of the future his.
torical biographer. Tnose romantic incidents, rendered
more romantic and more interesting from their truth-
fulness, which abound in every history, are favourite
subjects of contemplation to Miss Strickland, and'
many of her " poetic fancies" are suggested by " his-
toric scenes.", " Queen Mary's Welcome," " The
Escape of Mary Beatrice and her Babe," " The Part-
ing of Louis XVI. and his Family," " Sultan
Atnurath's Dream," "The Earthquake of Callao," and
many other attractive themes are celebrated in verse
and illustrated by a prose description. The prose
account of " The Sifter Cities of the Thames"—
London and Westminster, is full of most valuable
and interesting information regarding the early
history of the metropolis. In addition to the
historical poems, the poetic fancies comprise subjects
of all kinds and characters, many of them very grace-
fully and exquisitely portrayed. Among the best are
pieces descriptive of the varying seasons of the year,
flowers, and other themes connected with the beauties
of nature. "The Seven Ages of Woman," in allusion
of course to Shakspere's " Seven Ages of Man," is
gracefully written, and abounds with beautiful and
womanly thoughts. The seven ages are those of
the infant, the girl, the maiden, the wire,
the mother, the widow, and the old lady
" Night in the Metropolis" and " Morning in the
Metropolis" are the subjects of two beautiful poems.
Of a different character are the musical lines on "The
Birth of Spring" and " The Death of Summer."
Dissimilar in their subjects and in their styles, the
various poems and prose pieces here collected form a
very attractive volume, likely to be perused with
pleasure by the numerous admirers of the accom-
plished authoress. To add to these attractions, it is
graced with a portrait of Miss Strickland.