Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1840-01-04
CHARLES RROCKDEN B1owN

I1aa"h q OANAt uAIlc,ll oil AUt
manneros Cod~in. and followed tho grand and gloomy
track of that celebrated writer. Like him. Broxn's
Object was q take a single human heari. anl ssrip and
afnfomiLe II nerve by nerve; TO cast his victim anongs,
appaiiias scenes and stirring passions; aud IN Ibis he
mas IN a great degrees sue cecdcd. But Brown had no
power over character, he dealt only with events; that
IS to say. with sickness. and death and peril; with hair.
breadth cscaPes from tigers and savagcs; with depths.
anu rocks. and the bonndlcSs Wilderness. The hero
ef this tale Was mcrc,y an object SCI up 10 connect
these uhhss. or make them probable. In himself he
was Often little better than a phantasrn or a nia,lm nm.
YET. although Brown cast his stories in the same gen.
etal moulds as those used b. the author or Caleb viii
hams aud II. Leon. his details of circumstances are
'diherenI; and hts descriptions OF nature are perhats
more vivid AMI true. Indeed. his talent for stirring
the expectation of he reader. and keeping his anxiety
aiiNc from inst TO last, throughout some hazardous en-
counter, or mysterious evcni, caa scarcely be parallel
cd IN the history OF fiction. His portraits also of Amer.
lean lie are absolutely alarminy;-:hey are bare, com.
ior'less. uneivilized. We see the aficr. the coarse
dress. the little hoard of corn. the poor co,,ase boi,t
hastily oil logs AMI ON the outside we hear the howl.
ing oil wolves and panthers. the rasiling Of the rattle
snake. and the quiet tramp Of the murderons savares
goGig on iheir way 10 execute some hideous revenge.
We .pcs 'or The walls Of a town. and the poor house.
a. refuge against violence and want. IL is not sole
y, however. ln WOODS and iuts that Brown luxunatex
re ,akes rs often into cities. and makes Us amends with
levers and presentations for the forest wonders which
We have left behind. Nothing can be more uninvit-
20 h@A ITS ANrii ttAoiis ~ AutflCa Society. vel We
remark that there Is litle of what is mean or time
serving. liule of the fantastic humon, 10 be found in
hrs stories; and this is SO far well. though unamusing.
We are. told that society ia the United States has alter
ed very considerably since the time in which Brown
wrote (aboai thirty years aso:) and we can readily sun
pose The fact. Upon The whole. This auIhor NAV be
considered rs one of the best writers of romantic mar.
ratve 1--WE give up charac,c) thai the present age has
produced. There is scarcely any one. indeed, who is
80 eloqarat as he oiientimes is; and no, one who can
I aWsurg aneh
solitary fact, The only incidents that can be comsar.
ed with those of Bsown are. the scene under the cliff
in the 'An;iquary,' and that between the two ladies
and the panihers in the Pioneers' As n specimen OF
Crowns style. we shall give one Of the scenes from
Arthur Mervyn.
: Mersyn and Welbeck This pairon.) il must be own.
cd. stand somewhat in the same relation 10 each other
as Caleb Williams and Falkland; but the charao ter of
the patrons differ, and they are animated altogether by
different impulses. Falkland is the more original. and
certainly the best; bat some of the scenes ,ainted hy
the disciple would mol disgrace hs master. There is
ala energy of language about them, a terrible erpecfa.
lion raised; and the incidents. if they tend somexhat
to the improbable, are soul stirring and eloquenfly de-
scrbed. There are few things in romance which pro-
ducc so extreme an inicres; I'm the reader. as tho in
ierview between welbeck and Meryyn. during The
period Of the plague. Mervyn is wand srinr ab,u;
ulder the in1uenee OF that frighiful disease. when he
arrives at the steps of Welbeck's door, and there he
sinks with fatigue. The dread OF the horrors OF the
hospitdl, uileu 10 the iuca OF helOeCkS dwelling be-
Ing abandoned, iempfs him to seek shelter IN his enc
my's house. lie enters accordingly, and occupies the
bed-chamber of Weibeck. Meryyn is at this lime in
possession Of a large treasure lin bank notes,) which
he hnards with the intention of giving il 10 the mo-
prIeior. who Is an orphan girl, wheresoeye he can "a
her. This treasure Tie desperate Welbeck Lal To-
sought for in vain. Accident had given il 20 Merxvn'
VINO dying, as hc supPoses, Of q Plague and I'm n 40.
solats hoase) resolves 10 enclose IL in a papcr. and od-
dress 10 10 some well known nnd benevolent man a,
/ fhu. - -. .N -
inns moment "eioeck himself, who is supposed to he
dead, is discovered. This is the account OF the meet.
ing
"Welbeek's co1ntenancc and gesture displ- ,nI -
lions too vehement for speech. Tho Elances tb,, bo
liked upon nae were nnsteadlaSi md .sI1 Uo.aIL"S
along the h9or, Stopping At czch moment. and dart;ns
iooks OF eagerpe'S u-.sn me-. A conflict of passions
kop' ni'; mate, A. length, advancing To the bed. ON
AZ size Of which | was now sitting, he addressed
me-
What is thisl-Are ron herein defiance a,
p~estlence, arc you ac:usied by some demon 10 haunt
nc like the glIost OF my offences. and cover me with
shamel-what have ! to do with that daun..ess. vet
guileless Forthwith the foolshly ~clnfline and otse.
qlioas. yet erect and unconluerable sp;rtl-An,
there no means Of e~vading yOur pursuit. Must l di,
my hands n second Time in blood. and dig for YOU q
gray5 by the sido CT Watson 2"
These words were listened TO with calmnsx,
suspected and pitied the man. bnt | did not fear him
HE words ana Ms looks were indicative Ies of cruelty
iilin El1ltfre-. 4 tIpScQ at MIA Win an MIR com ms
sionaie and wtSitgl. 1 spoke with mildnsss and com,
poSurs.
r'Mr. Wcibeek, Won are unfortunate anJ Grimm
al. Would TO God 4 could restore You 10 hapoi
mss and virtue. Bat though my desire he strong
| have no power 10 change yoar habits, or restore you
from misery.
al believed you to be deal I rejoice to end NV
self mistaken. While you live. there Is room 10 hop,
that your errors Will be cured; and the turmoiIs ane
inquietudes thoi have hiIhegio besst YOUR su,ltv nro
grcss, will vanish b. your revering into bette
paths.
fare viii be PROMPTED by my silence on The sub ect O.
yOr- hr'7-r my silence will be inviolaie.
"Ilor- is ne inevitable and universal Iot. When
o. bow 20 e.n.e1. Is OF litfle moment. To stand wher
80 many thousands ere alling arouad me, is not to bc
expected. / have acted n humble and obscure part in
the world. and my career has been short but I nura.,
not at the decree that makes IL so.
"Fhs Pesiiicnce Is Bow upOl me. The chance,
are too slender to deserve my confidence. came
hitler TO die unmslestcd, and al peace. All ask o.
sou - 10 consult your own safety by Immediate Aighi
and not 10 d~isaPpoint my hopes Of concealment' b.
disclosing my condition 10 the agents Of the hospi
nl."
"Welbeck listened with the deepest attention; n,
wildness Of has air Disappeared. aud gave place TO Ger
plsxly and apprehension.
lyon are sick sid he. in a tremuIoos tone !.
winch terror was mingled with affection .yoa know
this. and expect not 10 recover. Nor mother. nor ais
Ter, nor trend. will be here 10 administer food. Of
rledicine.or conlori~-yet you can talk calmly. can
be thus considoraic Of Oihers-of ne, whose guilt ha,
been 80 deep. aud who has meuicd ~ liulc at YOU
hands
"'Wfeichcd eowarl-Thus miserable as I am. AID
expect to be, Z cling 20 life. TO eamuly ,yitb Won,
heroic counsel. and 10 ay-:o leave YOU thus desolat,
ani helpless. TO the strongest, impulse. Fiin would
rsisi D.. bit cannot'~
lie hnnies 10 The door. bui there hesiiaios.
'Whithor should I ny Tho wide world contain,
no asylum ir me. ! lived but on one condition.
came hhher % End what would save me fnUm ruin
if1ia death. J Gmi 30 uoL d has vanished. Some an
dacious end Unfortunate hand has naiched IL from iy
place. end nov my rum Is cOmplets. Ny last hone !.
cxunrf
"fes, Ncrvyu. 7 viii stay with yous--T will hold
/ .nnT hrnlA vii nnI " .lnr b .annr ii IN -