And songs of birds which, ever as they fly,

in all his novels, took a more definite shape, in 1831, Breathe soul and gladness to the summer sky; in The Siamese Twins, a poem satirical of fashion, of Ye courts of Nature, where aloof and lone

travellers, of politicians, London notoriety, and She sits and reigns with darkness for her throne ; various other topics, discussed or glanced at in Mysterious temples of the breathing God,

sportive or bitter mood, in verses that flow easily, If mid your might my earliest steps have trod; and occasionally express vigorous and lively thoughts, If in mine inmost spirit still are stored

but are wholly destitute of the elixir vitæ of poetiThe wild deep memories childhood most adored ; cal immortality. A few months afterwards we If still amid the drought and waste of years,

had Eugene Aram, a Tale, founded on the history Ye hold the source of smiles and pangless tears : of the English murderer of that name. In this Will ye not yet inspire me ?--for my heart

work Mr Bulwer depicted the manners of the Beats low and languid--and this idle art,

middle rank of life, and was highly successful in Which I have summoned for an idle end,

awakening curiosity and interest, and in painting Forsakes and fiies me like a faithless friend.

scenes of tenderness, pathos, and distress. The chaAre all your voices silent? I have made

racter of the sordid but ingenious Eugene Aram is My home as erst amid your thickest shade :

idealised by the fancy of the novelist. He is made And even now your soft air from above

an enthusiastic student and amiable visionary. The Breathes on my temples like a sister's love.

humbling part of his crime was, he says, its low Ah! could it bring the freshness of the day

calculations, its poor defence, its paltry trickery, its When first my young heart lingered o'er its lay,

mean hypocrisy : these made his chiefest penance.' Fain would this wintry soul and frozen string

Unconscious that detection was close at hand, Aram Recall one wind-one whisper from the Spring!

is preparing to wed an interesting and noble-minded In the same vear (1827) Mr Bulwer published his woman, the generous Madeline; and the scenes confirst novel, Falkland, a highly-coloured tale of love nected with this ill-fated passion possess a strong and passion, calculated to excite and inflame, and and tragical interest. Throughout the work are evidently based on admiration of the peculiar genius scattered some beautiful moral reflections and deand seductive errors of Byron. Taking up the style scriptions, imbued with poetical feeling and expresof the fashionable novels (rendered popular by Theo- sion. Mr Bulwer now undertook the management dore Hook, but now on the wane), Mr Bulwer came of the New Monthly Magazine (which had attained forward with Pelham, or the Adventures of a Gentleman a high reputation under the editorship of Campbell), -a novel full of brilliant and witty writing, sarcastic and published in that work several essays and crilevity, representations of the manners of the great, ticisms, subsequently collected and issued under the piquant remark, and scenes of deep and romantic title of The Student. In 1833 appeared his England interest. There was a want of artistic skill in the and the English, a series of observations on society, construction of the story, for the tragic and satirical | literature, the aristocracy, travelling, and other chaparts were not harmoniously combined; but the racteristics and peculiarities of the English people. picture of a man of fashion, so powerfully drawn, Some of these are acute and clever, but many are was irresistibly attractive, and a second edition of tinged with prejudice, and a desire to appear origi

Pelham' was called for in a few months. Towards nal and sarcastic. The Pilgrims of the Rhine--a fanthe close of the year (1828), Mr Bulwer issued The ciful and beautifully illustrated work—was Mr BulDisowned, intended by the author to contain 'scenes wer's next offering, and it was almost immediately of more exciting interest and vivid colouring, afterwards succeeded by one of his best romances, The thoughts less superficially expressed, passions more Last Days of Pompeii. This brilliant and interesting energetically called forth, and a more sensible and classic story was followed by one still more vigorous pervading moral tendency.' The work was consi- and masterly, the tale of Rienzi, perhaps the most dered to fulfil the promise of the preface, though it complete, high-toned, and energetic of all the author's did not attain to the popularity of Pelham. Deve- works. With industry as remarkable as his genius, reux, a Novel, 1829, was a more finished performance. Mr Bulwer went on preparing new works of fiction. * The lighter portion does not dispute the field with Ernest Maltravers (1837) illustrates 'what, though the deeper and more sombre, but follows gracefully rare in novels, is common in human life-the afflicby its side, relieving and heightening it. We move; tion of the good, the triumph of the unprincipled.' indeed, among the great, but it is the great of other the character of Maltravers is far from pleasing ; times-names familiar in our mouths-Bolingbroke, and Alice Darvil is evidently a copy from Byron's Louis, Orleans; amidst manners perhaps as frivolous Haidee. Ferrers, the villain of the tale, is also a as those of the day, but which the gentle touch of Byronic creation; and, on the whole, the violent time has already invested with an antiquarian dig- contrasts and gloomy delineations of this novel render nity: the passions of men, the machinery of great it more akin to the spurious offspring of sentimental motives and universal feelings, occupy the front; romance, than to the family of the genuine English the humours, the affections, the petty badges of novel. A continuation of this work was given in sects and individuals, retire into the shadows of the the following year, under the title of Alice, or the back-ground: no under-current of persiflage or epi- Mysteries, with no improvement as to literary power curean indifference checks the flow of that mournful or correct moral philosophy, but still containing enthusiasm which refreshes its pictures of life with some fresh and exquisite descriptions, and delightful living waters; its eloquent pages seem consecrated portraiture. His next work was Athens, partly histo the memory of love, honour, religion, and unde- torical and partly philosophical-a book impressed viating faith. In 1830 Mr Bulwer brought out with fine taste and research. In the same year (1838) another work of fiction, Paul Clifford, the hero being we had Leila, or the Siege of Granada ; and Calderon a romantic highwayman, familiar with the haunts the Courtier-light and sketchy productions. Passof low vice and dissipation, but afterwards trans- | ing over the dramas of Bulwer, we come to Night formed and elevated by the influence of love. Parts and Morning Day and Night, Lights and Shadows, are ably written; but the general effect of the novel Glimmer and Gloom, an affected title to a picturesque was undoubtedly injurious to the public taste. Our and interesting story. Zanoni (1842) is more unauthor's love of satire, which had mingled largely connected in plot and vicious in style than the pre

vious fictions of Bulwer, and possesses no strong or * Edinburgh Review for 1832. permanent interest. Eva, the Ill-Omened Marriage,

and other Tales and Poems (1842) is another attempt works. His naval commander, Captain Savage, of our author to achieve poetical honours : we can- Chucks the boatswain, O'Brien the Irish lieutenant, not say a highly successful attempt; for, in spite of and Muddle the carpenter, are excellent individual poetical feeling and fancy, the lines of Sir Edward portraits--as distinct and life-like as Tom Bowling, Bulwer are cold glittering conceits and personations. Hatchway, or Pipes. The scenes in the West His acute mental analysis is, however, seen in verses Indies display the higher powers of the novelist, like the following:

and the escape from the French prison interests us

almost as deeply as the similar efforts of Caleb Talent and Genius.

Williams. Continuing his nautical scenes and por

traits, Captain Marryat has since written about Talent convinces genius but excites;

thirty volumes—as Jacob Faithful (one of his best This tasks the reason, that the soul delights.

productions), The Phantom Ship, Mr Midshipmun Talent from sober judgment takes its birth,

Easy, The Pacha of Many Tales, Japhet in Search of
And reconciles the pinion to the earth ;
Genius unsettles with desires the mind,

a Father, Poor Jack, Frank Mildmay, Joseph RushContented not till earth be left behind;

brook the Poacher, Masterman Ready, Percival Keene, Talent, the sunshine on a cultured soil,

&c. In the hasty production of so many rolumes, Ripens the fruit by slow degrees for toil.

the quality could not always be equal. The nautical Genius, the sudden Iris of the skies,

humour and racy dialogue could not always be proOn cloud itself reflects its wondrous dyes :

duced at will, of a new and different stamp at each

successive effort. And, to the earth, in tears and glory given,

Such, however, is the fertile Clasps in its airy arch the pomp of Ileaven!

fancy and active observation of the author, and his Talent gives all that vulgar critics need

lively powers of amusing and describing, that he From its plain horn-book learn the dull to read;

has fewer repetitions and less tediousness than Genius, the Pythian of the beautiful,

almost any other writer equally voluminous. His Leaves its large truths a riddle to the dull

last work, Percival Keene' (1842), betrays no From eyes profane a veil the Isis screens,

falling-off, but, on the contrary, is one of the most And fools on fools still ask — What Hamlet means ? vigorous and interesting of his ' sea changes.' 'Cap

tain Marryat,' says a writer in the Quarterly ReBulwer's own works realise this description of view, “stands second to no living novelist but Miss genius: they unfold “an Iris of the skies,' in which Edgeworth. His happy delineations and contrasts are displayed the rich colours and forms of the of character, and easy play of native fun, redeem a imagination, mixed and interfused with dark spots thousand faults of verbosity, clumsiness, and coarseand unsightly shadows—with conceit, affectation, ness. His strong sense and utter superiority to and egotism. Like his model, Byron, he paints affectation of all sorts, command respect; and in his vividly and beautifully, but often throws away his quiet effectiveness of circumstantial narrative, he colours on unworthy objects, and leaves many of his sometimes approaches old Defoe. There is less of pictures unfinished. The clear guiding judgment, caricature about his pictures than those of any conwell-balanced mind, and natural feeling of Scott, are temporary humorist-unless, perhaps, Morier; and wanting; but Bulwer's language and imagery are he shows far larger and maturer knowledge of the often exquisite, and his power of delineating cer- real workings of human nature than any of the tain classes of character and manners superior to band, except the exquisite writer we have just that of any of his contemporaries. Few authors have named, and Mr Theodore Hook, of whom praise is displayed more versatility. He seems capable of equally superfluous. This was written in 1839, achieving some great work in history as well as in before Charles Dickens had gathered all his fame; fiction; and if he has not succeeded in poetry, he and with all our admiration of Marryat, we should has outstripped most of his contemporaries in popu- be disposed at present to claim for the younger larity as a dramatist.

novelist an equal, if not superior-as clear, and & more genial--knowledge of human nature at least on land.

To vary or relieve his incessant toils at original This popular naval writer-the best painter of composition, Captain Marryat made a trip to Amesea characters since Smollett-commenced what has rica in 1837, the result of which he gave to the proved to be a busy and highly successful literary world in 1839 in three volumes, entitled A Diary career in 1829, by the publication of The Naval in America, with Remarks on its Institutions. This Officer, a nautical tale, in three volumes. This was fiying at higher game than any he had prework partook too strongly of the free spirit of the viously brought down ; but the real value of these sailor, but, amidst its occasional violations of taste volumes consists in their resemblance to parts of and decorum, there was a rough racy humour and his novels-in humorous caricature and anecdote, dramatic liveliness that atoned for many faults. shrewd observation, and lively or striking descripIn the following year the captain wis ready with tion. His account of the American navy is valuable; other three volumes, more carefully finished, and and so practical and sagacious an observer could not presenting a well-compacted story, entitled The visit the schools, prisons, and other public instituKing's Own. Though occasionally a little awkward tions of the New World, without throwing out on land, Captain Marryat was at home on the sea, valuable reflections, and noting what is superior or and whether serious or comic-whether delineating defective. He is no admirer of the democratic a captain, midshipman, or common tar, or even a government of America: indeed his Diary is as carpenter, he evinced a minute practical acquaint- unfavourable to the national character as the preance with all on board ship, and with every variety vious sketches of Mrs Trollope or Captain Hall

. of nautical character. His vivid and striking But it is in relating traits of manners, peculiarities powers of description were also displayed to much of speech, and other singular or ludicrous charac. advantage in this novel. Newton Foster, or the teristics of the Americans, that Captain Marryat Merchant Service, 1832, was our author's next work, excels. These are as rich as his fictitious delinea. and is a tale of various and sustained interest. It tions, and, like them, probably owe a good deal to was surpassed, however, by its immediate successor, the suggestive fancy and love of drollery proper to Peter Simple, the most amusing of all the author's the novelist. The success of this Diary induced the

CAPTAIN FREDERICK MARRYAT.

MRS GORE.

author to add three additional volumes to it in the and the two little hoes for the children ; but he says following year, but the continuation is greatly in that he can't make a spade.' ferior.

• Then I'll take his warrant away, by heavens, since he does not know his duty. That will do, Mr Cheeks.

I shall overlook your being in liquor this time; but [A Prudent Sea Captain--Abuse of Ship Stores.] take care.

Send the boatswain to me.' [From The King's Own.')

A few other authors have, like Captain Marryat, Well, Mr Cheeks, what are the carpenters about ? presented us with good pictures of maritime life

and adventures. The Naval Sketch - Book, 1828 ; "Weston and Smallbridge are going on with the Sailors and Saints, 1829; Tales of a Tar, 1830; Land chairs-the whole of them will be finished to-morrow.' Sharks and Sea Gulls, 1838; and other works, by

+ Well!' •Smith is about the chest of drawers, to match the the sea, and display a hearty comic humour and

CAPTAIN GLASSCOCK, R. N., are all genuine tales of one in my Lady Capperbar's bed-room.' Very good. And what is Hilton about ??

rich phraseology, with as cordial a contempt for • He has finished the spare-leaf of the dining-table, Bound, or a Merchant's Adventures, by Mr HOWARD,

regularity of plot! Rattlin the Reefer, and Outward sir; he is now about a little job for the second-lieutenant.'

are better managed as to fable (particularly Out• A job for the second lieutenant, sir! How often have not the same breadth of humour as Captain

ward Bound,' which is a well-constructed tale), but have I told you, Mr Cheeks, that the carpenters are Glasscock's novels. The Life of a Sailor, and Ben not to be employed, except on ship’s duty, without my Brace, by CAPTAIN CHAMier, are excellent works special permission.' * His standing bed-place is broke, sir; he is only and humour. Tom Cringle's Log, by Michael Scott,

of the same class, replete with nature, observation, getting out a chock or two.'

* Mr Cheeks, you have disobeyed my most positive and The Cruise of the Midge (both originally puborders. By the by, sir, I understand you were not lished in Blackwood's Magazine), are also veritable sober last night?

productions of the sea---a little coarse, but spirited, * Please your honour, replied the carpenter, 'I and showing us things as they are.' Mr Scott, who wasn't drunk-I was only a little fresh.

was a native of Glasgow, spent a considerable part “Take you care, Mr Cheeks. Well, now, what are of his life in a mercantile situation at Kingston in the rest of your crew about?

Jamaica. He died in his native city, in 1835, aged Why, Thomson and Waters are cutting out the about forty-six. pales for the garden out of the jibboom ; I've saved the heel to return.' * Very well; but there wont be enough, will there !! No, sir; it will take a hand-mast to finish the and fashionable novels. Her first work (published

This lady is a clever and prolific writer of tales whole.

“Then we must expend one when we go out again. anonymously) was, we believe, a small volume conWe can carry away a top-mast, and make a new one

taining two tales, The Lettre de Cachet, and The out of the hand-mast at sea. In the meantime, if the Reign of Terror, 1827. One of these relates to the sawyers have nothing to do, they may as well cut the times of Louis XIV., and the other to the French palings at once. And

Revolution. They are both interesting graceful let me see-oh, the pain- tales-superior, we think, to some of the more

now, ters must go on shore to finish the attics.'

“Yes, sir; but my Lady Capperbar wishes the jea- elaborate and extensive fictions of the authoress. lowsees to be painted vermilion; she says it will look In 1830, appeared Women as they Are, or the Manmore rural.'

ners of the Day, three volumes-an easy sparkling “Mrs Caprerbar ought to know enough about ship's narrative, with correct pictures of modern society stores by this time to be aware that we are only allowed much lady-like writing on dress and fashion, and three colours. She may choose or mix them as she some rather misplaced derision or contempt for

This pleases ; but as for going to the expense of buying excellent wives' and 'good sort of men.' paint, I can't afford it. What are the rest of the men novel soon went through a second edition, and Mrs about?

Gore continued the same style of fashionable porRepairing the second cutter, and making a new traiture. In 1831 she issued Mothers and Daughters, mast for the pinnace.'

a Tale of the Year 1830. Here the manners of gay * By the by-that puts me in mind of it-have you life-balls, dinners, and fètes-with clever sketches expended any boat's masts?

of character, and amusing dialogues, make up the Only the one carried away, sir.'

customary three volumes. The same year we find ‘Then you must expend two more. Mrs Chas Mrs Gore compiling a series of narratives for youth, just sent me off a list of a few things that she wishes entitled The Ilistorical Traveller. In 1832 she came made while we are at anchor, and I see two poles for forward with The Fair of May Fair, a series of clothes-lines. Saw off the sheave-holes, and put two fashionable tales, that were not so well received. pegs through at right angles—you know how I mean?' The critics hinted that Mrs Gore had exhausted her

Yes, sir. What am I to do, sir, about the cucum-stock of observation, and we believe she went to ber frame? My Lady Capperbar says that she must reside in France, where she continued some years. have it, and I haven't glass enough. They grumbled at Her next tale was entitled Mrs Armytage. In 1838 the yard last time.'

she published The Book of Roses, or Rose-Fancier's Mrs C— must wait a little. What are the Manual, a delightful little work on the history of the armourers about?'

rose, its propagation and culture. France is cele“They have been so busy with your work, sir, that the brated for its rich varieties of the queen of flowers, arms are in a very bad condition. The first-lieutenant and Mrs Gore availed herself of the taste and expesaid yesterday that they were a disgrace to the ship.' rience of the French floriculturists. A few months Who dares say that?'

afterwards came out The Ileir Selwood, or Three 'The first-lieutenant, sir.'

Epochs of a Life, a novel in which were exhibited "Well, then, let them rub up the arms, and let me sketches of Parisian as well as English society, and know when they are done, and we'll get the forge up.' an interesting though somewhat confused plot. The * The armourer has made six rakes and six hoes, 1 year 1839 witnessed three more works of fiction

from this indefatigable lady, The Cabinet Minister, and she regarded it as a propitious dispensation of the scene of which is laid during the regency of Providence to her parents and to herself, that the George IV., and includes among its characters the comparative proved a superlative-even a high sheriff great name of Sheridan; Preferment, or My Uncle of the county, a baronet of respectable date, with ten the Earl, containing some good sketches of drawing thousand a-year! She felt that her duty towards room society, but no plot; and The Courtier of the herself necessitated an immediate acceptance of the Days of Charles II., and other Tales. Next year we dullest 'good sort of man' extant throughout the have Î'he Dowager, or the New School for Scandal; three kingdoms; and the whole routine of her afterand in 1841 Greville, or a Season in Paris; Dacre life was regulated by the same rigid code of moral of the South, or the Olden Time (a drama); and The selfishness. She was penetrated with a most exact Lover and her Husband, &c. the latter a free transla- sense of what was due to her position in the world ; tion of M. Bertrand's Gerfaut. In 1842 Mrs Gore but she was equally precise in her appreciation of published The Banker's Wife, or Court and City, in all that, in her turn, she owed to society; nor, from which the efforts of a family in the middle rank to her youth upwardsoutshine a nobleman, and the consequences result

Content to dwell in decencies for evering from this silly vanity and ambition, are truly had she been detected in the slightest infraction of and powerfully painted. The value of Mrs Gore's these minor social duties. She knew with the utmost novels consists in their lively caustic pictures of fashionable and high society. The more respect-course or an entrée—the number of dinners which

accuracy of domestic arithmetic-to the fraction of a able of her personages are affecters of an excessive Beech Park was indebted to its neighbourhood-the prudery concerning the decencies of life-nay, occa- complement of laundry-maids indispensable to the sionally of an exalted and mystical religious feeling. maintenance of its county dignity-the aggregate of The business of their existence is to avoid the pines by which it must retain its horticultural preslightest breach of conventional decorum. What-cedence. She had never retarded by a day or anı ever, therefore, they do, is a fair and absolute hour the arrival of the family.coach in Grosvenor measure of the prevailing opinions of the class, and Square at the exact moment creditable to Sir Robert's may be regarded as not derogatory to their position senatorial punctuality; nor procrastinated by half a in the eyes of their equals. But the low average second the simultaneous bobs of her ostentatious standard of morality thus depicted, with its con- Sunday school, as she sailed majestically along the ventional distinctions, cannot be invented. It forms aisle towards her tall, stately, pharisaical, squirethe atmosphere in which the parties live; and were archical pew. True to the execution of her tasksit a compound, fabricated at the author's pleasure, and her whole life was but one laborious task-true the beings who breathe it could not but be univer- and exact as the great bell of the Beech Park turretsally acknowledged as fantastical and as

mere clock, she was enchanted with the monotonous music monstrosities; they would indeed be incapable of of her own cold iron tongue; proclaiming herself the acting in harmony and consistence with the known best of wives and mothers, because Sir Robert's rentlaws and usages of civil life. Such as a series of roll could afford to command the services of a firstparliamentary reports, county meetings, race-horse rate steward, and butler, and housekeeper, and thus transactions, &c. they will be found, with a reason- insure a well-ordered household; and because her able allowance of artistic colouring, to reflect accu- seven substantial children were duly drilled through rately enough the notions current among the upper a daily portion of rice-pudding and spelling-book, and classes respecting religion, politics, domestic morals, an annual distribution of mumps and measles! All'. the social affections, and that coarse aggregate of went well at Beech Park; for Lady Lilfield was the dealing with our neighbours which is embraced by excellent wife of a good sort of man!' the term common honesty.'* Besides the works we So bright an example of domestic merit--and what have mentioned, Mrs Gore has published The De- country neighbourhood cannot boast of its duplicate! sennuyée, The Peeress, The Woman of the World, The --was naturally superior to seeking its pleasures in Woman of Business, The Ambassador's Wife, and the vapid and varying novelties of modern fashion. other novels. She contributes tales to the periodi- The habits of Becch Park still affected the dignified cals, and is perhaps unparalleled for fertility. Her and primeral purity of the departed century. Lady works are all of the same class-all pictures of ex- Lilfield remained true to her annual eight rural isting life and manners; but the want of genuine months of the county of Durhain; against whose feeling, of passion, and simplicity, in her living claims Kemp town pleaded, and Spa and Baden models, and the endless frivolities of their occu- bubbled in vain. During her pastoral seclusion, by pations and pursuits, make us sometimes take leave a careful distribution of her stores of gossiping, she of Mrs Gore's fashionable triflers in the temper with contrived to prose, in undetected tautology, to suci which Goldsmith parted from Beau Tibbs—The cessive detachments of an extensive neighbourhood, company of fools may at first make us smile, but at concerning her London importance--her court dress last never fails of rendering us melancholy.' -her dinner parties—and her refusal to visit the

Duchess of ; while, during the reign of her

London importance, she made it equally her duty to [Character of a Prudent Worldly Lady.]

bore her select visiting list with the history of the i [From “ Women as they Are.']

new Beech Park school-house-of the Beech Park

double dahlias--and of the Beech Park privilege of Lady Lilfield was a thoroughly worldly woman-a worthy scion of the Mordaunt stock. She had pro- heads of the rival political factions--the Bianchi e !

uniting, in an aristocratic dinner party, the abhorrent fessedly accepted the hand of Sir Robert because a

Neri—the houses of Montague and Capulet of the connexion with him was the best that happened to county palatine of Durham. By such minute sectious present itself in the first year of her debut-the best of the wide chapter of colloquial boredom, Lady match' to be had at a season's warning! She knew that Lilfield acquired the character of being a rery charmshe had been brought out with the view to dancing ing woman throughout her respectable clan of dinnerat a certain number of balls, refusing a certain number of good ofiers, and accepting a better one, some

giving baronets and their wives; but the reputation where between the months of January and June;

of a very miracle of prosiness among those

Men of the world, who know the world like men. * Athenæum, 1839.

She was but a weed in the nobler field of society.

Among the other female novelists may be men- nally of French origin, had resided since the revocationed Miss LANDON (Mrs Maclean), authoress of tion of the edict of Nantes. She has herself ascribed Francesca Carrara, and Ethel Churchill—the latter her taste for literary pursuits to the extreme delicacy a powerful and varied English story : Miss ELLEN of her health in childhood; to the infirmity (deafPICKERING, whose novels Who shall be Heir, The ness) with which she has been afflicted ever since, Secret Foe, and Sir Michael Paulet, 1841-42-evince which, without being so complete as to deprive her great spirit and liveliness in sketching scenes and absolutely of all intercourse with the world, yet obcharacters.

liged her to seek occupations and pleasures within In humorous delineation of town and country herself; and to the affection which subsisted between manners and follies, the sketches entitled Little her and the brother nearest her own age, the Rev. Pedlington and the Pedlingtonians, by MR John James Martineau, whose fine mind and talents are POOLE, two volumes, 1839, are a fund of lively well known. The occupation of writing, first begun satire and amusement. The Ingoldsby Legends, or to gratify her own taste and inclination, became Mirth and Marvels, by MR THOMAŠ INGOLDSBY, afterwards to her a source of honourable indepen1840; and My Cousin Nicholas, by the same author, dence, when, by one of the disasters so common in 1841, are marked by a similar comic breadth of trade, her family became involved in misfortunes. humour. MR Douglas JERROLD, author of Men She was then enabled to reverse the common lot of of Character, three volumes, 1838, has written several unmarried daughters in such circumstances, and amusing papers in the same style as the above, but cease to be in any respect a burden. She realised has been more successful in writing light pieces for an income sufficient for her simple habits, but still the stage. Mr Jerrold now edits a periodical—the so small as to enhance the integrity of the sacrifice Illuminated Magazine. Mr W. M. THACKERAY has which she made to principle in refusing the pension published (under the Cockney name of • Michael offered to her by government in 1840. Her motive Angelo Titmarsh') various graphic and entertaining for refusing it was that she considered herself in the works— The Paris Sketch-Book, 1840; Comic Tales and light of a political writer, and that the offer did not Sketches, 1841; and The Irish Sketch-Book, 1842. The proceed from the people, but from the government, latter is the most valuable; for Titmarsh is a quick which did not represent the people.' observer, and original in style and description.

(Effects of Love and Happiness on the Mind.] MISS HARRIET MARTINEAU.

(From Deerbrook.') Miss HARRIET MARTINEAU, an extensive miscel

There needs no other proof that happiness is the laneous writer, published in 1832 and 1833 a series most wholesome moral atmosphere, and that in which of Illustrations of Political Economy, in the shape of the immortality of man is destined ultimately to tales or novels. One story represents the advantages thrive, than the elevation of soul, the religious aspiraof the division and economy of labour, another the tion, which attends the first assurance, the first sober utility of capital and machinery, and others relate to certainty of true love. There is much of this rerent, population, &c. These tales contain many

ligious aspiration amidst all warmth of virtuous affecclever and striking descriptions, and evince much tions. There is a vivid love of God in the child that knowledge of human character. In 1837 Miss lays its cheek against the cheek of its mother, and Martineau published the results of a visit to Ame- clasps its arms about her neck. God is thanked (perrica, and a careful inspection of its institutions haps unconsciously) for the brightness of his earth, on and national manners, under the title of Society in long been parted, pour out their heart-stores to each

summer evenings, when a brother and sister, who have America. This she subsequently followed up by other, and feel their course of thought brightening us a Retrospect of Western Travel. Her first regular it runs. novel appeared in 1839, and was entitled Deerbrook. his children have won, or looks round upon their in.

When the aged parent hears of the honours Though improbable in many of its incidents, this nocent faces as the glory of his decline, his mind work abounds in eloquent and striking passages. reverts to Him who in them prescribed the purpose The democratic opinions of the authoress (for in all of his life, and bestowed its grace. But religious as but her anti-Malthusian doctrines Miss Martineau is is the mood of every good affection, none is so devoa sort of female Godwin) are strikingly brought for- tional as that of love, especially so called. The soul ward, and the characters are well drawn. Deer. is then the very temple of adoration, of faith, of holy brook’ is a story of English domestic life. The next purity, of heroism, of charity. At such a moment the effort of Miss Martineau was in the historical ro-human creature shoots up into the angel; there is

The Hour and the Man, 1840, is a novel or nothing on earth too defiled for its charity-nothing romance founded on the history of the brave Tous- in hell too appalling for its heroism-nothing in saint L'Ouverture, and with this man as hero, Miss heaven too glorious for its sympathy. Strengthened, Martineau exhibits as the hour of action the period sustained, vivified by that most mysterious power, when the slaves of St Domingo threw off the yoke union with another spirit, it feels itself set well forth of slavery. There is much passionate as well as on the way of victory over evil, sent out conquering graceful writing in this tale; its greatest defect is, and to conquer. There is no other such crisis in that there is too much disquisition, and too little human life. The philosopher may experience unconconnected or regular fable. Among the other works trollable agitation in verifying his principle of balancof Miss Martineau are several for children, as The ing systems of worlds, feeling, perhaps, as if he Peasant and the Prince, The Settlers at Home, How to actually saw the creative band in the act of sending Observe, &c. Her latest work, Life in the Sick-Room, the planets forth on their everlasting way; but this or Essays by an Invalid, 1844, contains many in- philosopher, solitary seraph as he may be regarded teresting and pleasing sketches, full of acute and amidst a myriad of men, knows at such a moment no delicate thought and elegant description.

emotions so divine as those of the spirit becoming The following notice of our authoress appears in a conscious that it is beloved-be it the peasant girl in recent publication, 'A New Spirit of the Age:'- the meadow, or the daughter of the sage reposing in • Harriet Martineau was born in the year 1802, one her father's confidence, or the artisan beside his loom, of the youngest among a family of eight children. or the man of letters musing by his fireside. The Her father was a proprietor of one of the manufac- warrior about to strike the decisive blow for the tories in Norwich, in which place his family, origi- | liberties of a nation, however impressed with the

mance.

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