The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-09-05
MISCELLANY. ~
- AC.:-..-
" NO FICTION"

From the Rhode-Isla,sd .9aeredn.l
Nh. GODDARD
do not remember to have seen in
the American any notice of work
which has recently appeared, and which,
notwithstanding its intrinsick claims,
and its possessing the sanctions so indis-
Pensably required by all who read
books as they purchase patent medi-
cines, having originated on the other
side of the Atlantick, passed through
several editions, and received the COM
mendations of reviewers and others. has
not. fear, been as generally read as
It's merits would lead US to expect. |
mean the work entitled g No Fiction"
which, under the popular guise of
novel, presents US with a narrative,
full of deep interest and important In
struction. The main story purports to
have been founded upon facts, while,
TOR some of It's minor incidents and
subordinate machinery, it is indebted to
the fancy of its author, Whether the
events really occurred, or not, in the
precise manner, time and circumstance
detalledin the book, is not, however.
of material consequence. 1t is because
they spring from the natural workings
Of human passions have, with various
notifications, repeatedly occurred. and
will continue to present themselves till
the heart of man shall be purified from
that "perilous stuff which weighs up
on its life" that the work claims the
attention Of every one who deplores
the errours which it describes, and
would himself avoid, and would endeav-
our to rescue others from the fearful
consequences of similar transgressions.
1t is not my intention to present re-
view OF the work. This has been al
ready done, in some of the periodical
publications. The main story presents
TO US an amiable and interesting youth,
possessing good principles and yirtuOus
affections; fortified by all the guards
which maternal watchfulness, pure and
enlightened friendship, cultivated taste,
and an exemplary and apparently sim
cere religious profession, could throw
around him, yielding almost unconscious
ly to the artful seductions of temptation
and through variety of adventures,
betrayed from one excess to another.
and following, with frequent yet con-
stantly weakening efforts at resistance.
train Of downward tendencies, which
powerfully awaken our sympathies, and
starue us when we perceive how un-
suspectingly their victim was drawn
within the influence of the vortex.
when once he had cast off that anchor
of the soul sure and steadfast, which
enters within the veil Of divine power
and protection. The degradation of the
unhappy youth from the depths Of vice,
into lower deep of misery, in the fear
fol forms of poverty, disease, remorse,
insanity, and exile frcm his friends and
country, is powerfully and pathetically
described. While on the mighty waters
which bore him to America, he came
TO hlmself,' to use the beautiful lam
guage Of the Saviour with reference to
the Prodigal Son. The process by
which this happy change was effected
is described by the pen of man who
is evidently no stranger to the deep
mysteries which lie in the human heart.
and who has himself experienced the
living energy of that power whose
trlumphs he has recorded. The man
per in which the grand appearances Of
nature assisted in the work is striking
ly portrayed. The beautiful lines of
Wordsworth were brought to my rec
objection -
Aih gentle pinisiFations, Thou, o Nature,
Meaiess Thy wspd'rilx and dstemperd child