The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-18

or explanation, appears again fulsome apo-
ogist: quotes himself from other works, and
repeats, in the course of few pages, almost
the Identical sentences two or three times over !;
makes continued illusions to Louis Napoleon,
the present Emperor, as if his mind was run
ming too on what he might think of the work.
The volume could have been put in one-third
or half of the size-many things left out-and
the reader left to gather the impression for
himself the letters should make on him but
there is the same labored effort to make what
is bad appear good, and the good as superla-
lively so, that runs through his former volumes.
The volume, as part of the chronicles of Napo-
leon, should be read, but remembering always
there is another side.
RErRIBUrIoN. A Tale of Passion BY Emma D. T. n
Southworth. Philadephia: T. b. Peterson. For sale
by Taylor Maury, Washington, ID. c.
Mrs. Southworths writings indicate genius,
great powers of invention, and a graphic abil-
ity but she deals too much, we think, in the
passionate. She lets her pen 60 out in untamed
exuberance of language; and though all this
may suit present effect, and produce excited
interest in many readers, it is injurious to the
moral power and permanent influence of her
works. The cast of story, likewise, in her sew
eral volumes, have too great resemblance-they
are, for the most part, dark pictures in the dark
passages of human life. 1t is on this account
we do not place these tales of passion, aiming
though they do at presenting the illustration OF
chrtain phases of human character, and deal
ing out its reward, so highly as many others Of
the works of fiction issuing from the press
Were their gifted author to select some better
development of character, treat it more calm
ly, chasten down her language, and abandon
the impulse of desire for present effect in the
higher aim of usefulness in the longer period
we are confident richer product of salutary
| influence would be the result, with, we believe
too in the end, the reflection that her pen had
wrought better in the cause of human welfare
The present volume has the characteristics OF
the others-their excellences and their defects
1t appeared first in the Era in l84S, we think
produced widespread sensation-and intro
duced her as novelist, most favorably, to the
literary world. We regard Mrs. Southworth' s
"India" 1.-THE story published in this iournal)
as one of the best of her efforts, wrought up
with equal effect to any, with less of their de,
fects. Shannondale, too, belongs to the same
class. All of her volumes contain vigorous
sketches of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES records o.
wrong. She ever comes forth on the side O
right against injustice. She might throw more
at times of the religious in CLEANS of ligh
across her dark foreground, and so relieve the
mind receding from the horrors Of one scene
after another of fell passion. Here she greatly
fails, as compared with Mrs. Stowe, whom she
would do well to study, and gain if she car
the wondrous secret of her power, by which
employing her own varied talent, she Nigh
fasten in the minds of her readers stronger
hold on their best sympathies. The volume il
printed neatly, and does justice to the press O.
its publishers.