The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-10
VOL. XII.
Gbs 8sbieb.

Inc name OF the writer OF this new story il
enough TO cali the attention Of the readirg Dub.
lie to Moss Side" The author Of Alone
is sure of wide circle Of readers.
We are happy that the present story Is a Dc.
cided improvement upon its predecessors. It,
language is more carefully chosen, the story !.
developed in q more artiatc style, and Their.
is less passion, less exaggeration, than !,
"Alone" and "The Hidden Path" But "Nou
Side" has its blemishes. What novel has not
In passages it is too extravag ant in It's Ian
gusge, and uses too freely the cant expression,
Of the transcepdental school Of writer's Ys,.
contradictory as it may seem, we ike the story
principally for its simplicity, its life-like per.
ceptions of homely scenes. The greater part
of the book is written in a simple, transparent
style; it is only occasionally th2, the au,horess
permits herself to initiate the frenziei school
which deals always in paroxysms.
The scenes Of home.life in Virginia are ey.
quisitely pictured. Nature is represented 10
the very life; and I" Moss Side" will long live
in the memory Of the readers of the book, Al,
delightful home in the wild parts Of Virsiail.
The characters in the story are well d-szr.
all distinctly sketched, with perhaps one Or tvo
exceptions. In Louise We see how a3y-c..rs
Of woman's rights are made, according 10 lis,
Harland's notions, but we can hardly h,'.eva
in the reality of her early character. The father
of Grace Leigh is in most respects a de,isi.lal
old man, kind indulgent father. BIZ h:s
conduct towards Grace is indefensi5le AID ag.
natural. For father to separate two l1r.ag
hearts, without giving them soli.sgr reason
for it, is simply monstrous, and ths exr'anatos
afterwards given for his course is b. 20 means
sufficient to clear his character from tLe char,.
of cruelty.
Grace Leigh is held up to US as tee heroine
of the book. She is woman perfected by sat,
fering. We are to admire her devotion 10 he-
father. II strikes US that the world affords us
thousand instances Of nobler hero.sn than
this. Think of the unavoidable suGeria. iu
this world. Grace Leigh loved Herbert Wynre,
and he was worthy of her love, and she accept.
ed it. Yet, at this stage of affairs, Graces ia.
Their peremptorily forbids the marriage, and
will give no reason for his conduct. simply saw.
ing that he cannot give q reason. Aud Grace,
against the advice CT brother and lover, obevs
her father. 1t is clear to Us, that her d,ify was
to wait, and try to persuade her father into &C.
quiescence and after she had arrived to years
of maturity, TO insist upon reason, or become
the wife of the man who loved her. To DO
otherwise was not heroism, but treating Ler
lover with cruelty. What shall we think OF
fathsr who pursues such course towards
loving, dutiful child ? There can be no excuse
for him. And the excuse which is Afterwards
given for Mr.. Leigh in the book, only illustrates
his sef;hness, or at least his mistaken nc.
tons of right. he alone knows that Herb=-
Wynne's father was, years ago, his moral enc.
my, the seducer of his sister, and finally, as be
supposed, fell in duel with himself What
excuse does this afford for breaking the hear.
of his daughter, and blighting the happiness Of
the son of his cid enemy? None at all
In the earlier novels of Miss Harland she
incidentally ridicules anti slavery people, and
admires the institution of Slavery. There is
little of this in Moss Side. She speaks in terms
Of horror of those who would separate families.
Will the Richmond Enquirer, which praises
this book, endorse that sentiment? Does not
Miss Hsrland, native and resident OF Virginia
know that unless slaves could be sold, the IN.
stitutiOn would not be popular in the South,
especially in her own State? Does she not
know that the beet families of Virginia are in
the habit of selling slaves ?
In conclusion, we advise our readers to ye.
" Moss Side" 1t is one of the best stories Of
the year, full Of interest, and is worthy Of great
popularity. 1t is in every page upon the side
of Christianity and good morals, and may safe.
ly be introduced into the family library
The Edinburgh Review. New York. Leonard sen. s.
Co For sale by Taylor Maury wa.hiug,ou. D O.
The July number of this able quarterly is
received. 1t contains several interesting arti.
cles, and two or three of great ability. The
article entitled The License of Modern Nov.
eists, will excite general attention. Il isa
severe attack upon Mr.. Dickens and Mr.. Reada.
The attack upon the former gentleman IS
failure, as his reply, which we published as
literary curiosity, shows. If novelists cannot
hold up the misdongs of men in power to con.
iemnatiou, through the medium Of fictitious
characters, who may they describe, what ci.ces
invade?
An article upon Electrical Science. and al
other upon Goethe's Character, are the best in
this number of the Review.
n