The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-24

so as to leave an impression that he has been
Killed In duel. There is no doubt much tai
ent displayed in working up the story, much
to move the readers feelings, and some things
to excite him to laughter, in many of the events
that pass before him, but we doubt the moral
of the whole effect. It is surely misnomer
to call by the name of Slavery all the wretch
ed position of circumstances subjecting one
to the caprice or commands of another, chill
dren to their parents, workmen to their en-
ployers, civil officers to their duties or their
superiors; to draw together concentration of
wretched discomfort and cruelty and crime, by
voluntary agents, and set it forth as at all re-
semblng the state of those who are chattels to
be be bought and sold as their masters may
choose. 1t Is true, the terms Slavery, bondage,
have become fgurative expressions, to denote
wrongs and sufferings of all kinds; but the
reason Is, because common opinion and COM
mon sense regard the state as a master evil,
filled with wrong and outrage; and whatever
occasions discomfort has by the same parlance
come to be spoken of by similar language, be-
cause the idea of comfort and happiness does
not rightfully belong to it. But it is a decep-
ton on humanity to try to soften down the
glaring wrong, by contrasts of physical supply,
or even pleasures, while such is its tendency to
injure the best interests of man, and to keep
back nations progress toward the career to
which God in His good providence would des-
tine 1t. For this reason, we object to the posi-
ton the writer of this book seems often to as
sumo. 1t may, as he supposed, have been ne
cessary to his object, in bringing out his phases
of social life, but it is false in principle and
tendency.
JOHN HALIFAX AND HELEN LINCOLN are
both of them novels, though not of equal merit.
The former belongs to the pamphlet form of
fctions, of which the Harpers have issued so
many from their press. 1t is written finely,
and the moral is good. Though not aiming
to be religious fiction, yet the development
of trust in Providence and determination to
do what is right, by the hero and heroine, are
clearly presented. The interest of the story
rests not so much on exciting scenes-yet it is
not destitute of these-but on the development
Of characters tried by many an ordeal, and all
along enlisting the sympathy of the reader by
honorable and upright conduct. The style is
easy, and arrangement of situations in general
happily managed, so that the whole forms an
effective tale, begun and ended well.
The other of the two works, HELEN LINCOLN,
seems to be first effort, and, if so, is a credit
able one. There are defects and reduudancies
which, if corrected, would be an improvement
The writer would, we think have done better,
had she not resorted to the too common Incl
dent of crazy old woman, to bring out the
mystery of the tale. Helen's character is we'll
drawn, and so are several of the others. The
moral aimed at in the story is praiseworthy
Two orphans, Helen and her sister, early sun.
dered and left to varying fortunes, the former
subjected to trials of poverty, and the latter
soon Tapped in indulgence, are watched over
and cared for by kind Providence, brought
at last together, recognised, and both meriting
and securing the esteem of friends, and made
happy with husbands of their choice. Feelings
of benevoence and piety are inculcated, and
virtue receives its reward. The authoress is
not afraid to quote Scripture, which she does
APPLY and impressively; and the volume, as a
whole, is one which might be fifty dedicated, as
she has done, @ To the memory of my brother
who is not, for God took him, and to my sister
whose smiles still tighten life's pathway"
Rev. j. l.. WILSON'S WESTERN AFRICA, also
from the Harpers, we regard as work of high
interest, and intend to notice ere long.