Star.
London, England, 1831-03-19 00:00:00

LITERATURE.
Geraldine of Desmond. 3 vols. Co!burn and Bentley.
The historical novel, or prose epic is, we apprehend, too
often considered of modern origin; but the more erudite
reader of works of imagination will not fail to recollect,
that the historical novel was the earliest species of narrative
composed for the relaxation and instruction of the mind.
It is not surprising tfrit the story-teller should soon find
eut how much the deli;At of his auditors was increased by
giving real names to his heroes and heroines, by inter-
mixing. incidents gr itifyingi to their recollection, and local-
izing them to spots dear to thei- affertione. It is to be sus-
pected that what is termed ancient history. consists almost
entirely of this mixed kind of narrative. The nreeks, it is
r ell known, have left some invaluable specimens of the '
historical novel. The Italian lang.lige is rich in such
works; and in the early part of the last century, the
l'aramond, and other works familiar to the students of old
French literature, were of the same order. The earlier novels,
indeed, were seldom purely fictitious ; they had all more or
less referenee to historical facts.

It would be detracting from the magic of Shakes-
peare's poetry, to insinuate that his popularity was
much assisted by his adoption of the Tales of English
history, in which to interweave the rich embroidery of
his imagination ; but to a certain extent it is true,
and in the same way, no narratives purely fictitious, have
ever been read with so much interest, as the novels and ro-
mances of Sir Walter Scott—in which he has so skilfully
mixed historic truth and fiction. The genius of that great
writer has revived the historical novel so successfully, as
almost to have obtained for himself the honour due to the
original invention.

Of the many imitators of this revived species of literary
production, we think the fair author of the novel before us
has been most successful. Miss Crumpe has done for Ire-
land what Sir Walter Scott has so ably achieved for Scot-
land and England. She has taken up the historical out-
lines of an obscure page in Irish history, and filled them
up with a most skilful and masterly pencil. Some of the
scenes delineated in this interesting specimen of the histo-
rical Epope remind us of Kenilworth, but although similitude
may be traced, there is no tame copying ; every part is ori-
vinal and illustrative not only of the genius, but the anti-
quarian research of the authoress. The character of Ge-
raldine is imagined with singular felicity, and supported
without the slightest deviation from the original idea. The
fierce and indomptable spirit of O'Neil, the persevering cou-
rage and pertinacity in principle of Desmond, and the chi-
valrous perfection of Thurles, would do no discredit to Sir
Walter himself. We can, on the whole, recommend Geral-
dine of Desmond with sincerity to those of our readers, who
are in quest of such efforts of imagination. The only objec-
tion we make to the novel is its melancholy termination.—
Gorahline of Desmond, like Amy Robsart, becomes too
much an object of admiration, almost, we may say, of at-
tachment, to be seen perish so miserably, without leaving
torture in the mind that reason cannot hastily erase. We are
not partial to Tragedies; but the horrors of a five act tragedy
seldom get beyond the playhouse door ; while a novel
comes too much, and for too long a period, " home to the
fire-side."

We are happy to find, in confirmation of our favourable
opinion of this novel, that a translation of it is announced
already in the German language.

DEATH OF LORD DARNLEY. We yesterday an-
nounced the sudden death of this Nobleman. His Lordship
was found dead in his bed on Thursday morning, at his
seat at Cobham, in Kent. He had been rather unwell for
some weeks, but was so much better on Tuesday last as to
be enabled to attend the Rochester Reform Meeting. After
leaving the Meeting, however,te became again so ill as to
find it necessary to retire into a small Inn on the road,
where he was advised to be bled, but refused. He was
then conveyed home in his carriage, but, thinking himself
better, wished not to have any further medical advice. A
Coroner's Inquest was held on his Lordship yesterday, at
Cobham. His Lordship was 64 years of age. On the death
of his father, in 1781, he succeeded to the family honours.
His Lordship has left issue two sons and one daughter—
EDWARD LORD CLIFTON, who succeeds to the Earldom;
JOHN DUNCAN, and ELIZABETH.
DARING ROBBERY.—A most impudent and daring
robbery was yesterday committed between the hours of ten
and one o'clock in the day, at the house of Joseph Planta,
Esq. M.P. No. 10, Charles-street, St. James's-square,
when a cloak of great value and a new close-bodied coat
.were carried off by some expert thief, from the seat in the
hall. The servant, it seems, after brushing the cloak and
coat, laid them on a part of the hall-seat, that comes close
to the window, by the side of the street door, so that any
one lifting up this window outside, might put in his hand
and draw out the things, and this is the way in which the
z obbery is supposed to have been effected, although the risk
of such a mode was very perilous. In the course of the
morning, before the things were missed, several paupers
called at the house to ask some pecuniary relief of Mr.
Planta, describing themselves as freemen of the town of
Hastings, which Mr. Planta represents in Parliament ; and
it is supposed that some of these pretended independent
electors saw the tempting situation of the clothes near the
window, and thought they might as well have them as a
compensation for being deprived of their franchise by the
forthcoming Reform Bill. The cloak was a very beautiful
one, made of fine blue cloth, with a large black velvet collar
and tippet, with silk strings and tassels, and the cloak
I:ound through with silk. The body coat was also of blue
loth, and a green velvet collar—the whole worth about 151

NEWGATE AND LEADENIIALL—THIS DAT.
By the Carcase.—Per stone of 81bs.
Peet" Ss 041 Ss 84 Ss 10411 Mutton Ss 841 4s Od 4s 4d
Ve.d 3s 84 5s 2d 51 8d Pork Ss 6.1 40 8d 5s 24
Lamb.... 7s 8d ... 7s Od 7. 4d.

FARIIIN Cr DON 11.1 ARkET—THIS DAY.
Cafir—Fitirst Itoabling, Sd ter hr. Dolling. sed to 6d. SIUT.
9d. Shoulder, Td. VEAL— Leg, bed. Fillet, 1041.
I .mit, 741 .11 9J.