The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-08
Literary.

LEIGHTON CounT; by Henry Kingsley. TAucHsrrz
Edition." For sale by John Russell
This authors former work, "Geoffroy Hamlyp. a"
was certainly entertaining; hut the careful reader
of it could not have avoided the conclusion that
its interest did not spring from Mr.. K1NesIEy's
ability as novelist. The merit of that book was
chiefly geographical; it gratihed curiosity by it's
descriptions of the unknown Australian continent:
it fascinated by its vivid panorama of tropical
scenes, and its enticing pictures of the happy
indolent pastoral life of prosperous emigrant.
That portion Of the tale which preceded the move
to Australia is heavy, and in no portion Of the
book was the interest due to the attraction of the
characters.
In "Leighton Court" Mr.. KNasIEY's dramatis
persona, derive no Fictitious advantage from the
landscape in which they stand, and the result ia
that the tale in which they are represented does
not deserve the smallest portion of commendation
from the most indulgent critic Indeed It argues
very low standard ef taste among the reading
public In regard to novels, or great feariessness
on the authors part in regard to criticism that he
should have published at all such work as this.
The design Of the book is bad enough for it is in
tended to be sensational; but the execution is
worse, in producing no sensation but wearness.
The plot and the incidents are at least venera-
BILE from their antiquity; the heroine, an, only
child Of an English bsronet falls in love with her
fathers huntsman, who, detecting that passion
beneath it's discreet disguises, avows his own, and
is told to clear of. That night he mounts the
finest horse In the fathers stable, and rides out
several miles to sea at low tide. The next morn
ing the body Of the horse is found upon the
beach, but the rider Is supposed to have met the
fate of, PHARAoH's horsemen. Sweetheart con-
soes hersef with Tractarianism, the confes sional
an Earl, ga soi1ante, mile Rprss de rentes.''
Some one informs the Earl Of her affair with the
huntsmap. and although he, the Earl, who is the
aggrieVsd person, ,'is perfectly willing to take 30
much Of her heart as had not been entirely con-
sumed in tie previous passion, Mademoiselle, our
heroine, breaks off the engagement. JUST ct this
moment the huntsman, not drowned, turns up
again, having just returned from India, where he
had single-handed engagement with sixty
Sepoys, proves to- be a baronet of immense
wealth, and marries Madenoiselle, and. s'eyery.
body,",to quote SYDNEY SMITH. s.liyed very hap
PLY ever After"
relieved By spark of.Hit or by the slightest at
tempt at that Instructive morality social ethica
which is 30 much'in vogue among the novelists
and which makes us hard on some very dull tales
We had intended to enable our readers to Judge
Of Mr.. KEasLEys oalibre for themsalves, by quot
Ing some Of his best dialogue; but we forbear I'd
do them 30 great an injustice; and In It's stead dc
them service by warning them that the smalles,
portion Of time given to the most oursory reading
Of Leighton Court. will be time emphaticallJ
badly spent. . w'H ,i,:pd g'.@sa.!.. r,',j
NJ M, ~ ,I ,t-' y