the

family of Vivian Grey. There is the same pretension, pedantry, and affectation in both, and the two heroes are almost precisely alike, made up of elegant audacity and vulgar accomplishments, each having a miraculous power of managing cabinet ministers, and organizing political parties, of overawing the freedom of those whom they injure, and carrying captive female hearts. Pelham is equipped with better feelings than younger rascal, but the conception of both characters gives strong evidence that they were drawn by the same hand. If not, we can only say, we are sorry that there are two. It is not difficult to account for the success, or more properly the run of Pelham in this country, where it has been read with much interest by many who have no pleasure in immorality. The truth is, that we have a feverish interest in the concerns of English high life, and every description of it is received with implicit faith by a large body of admirers. This credulity has been imposed upon to an alarming extent, and we were fast growing wiser, when Pelham appeared, and convinced us, by his fashionable dress and knowing air, that he came fresh from the inhospitable regions of high life. Now the ready simplicity with which we take these adventurers upon trust, might remind us of the Vicar of Wakefield, who was struck with the gracious manners of the two fashionable ladies, though he thought it very coarse in them to speak of the living jingo.' That there is at times a 'living jingo' in Pelham, is obvious to every eye; but we are so trained to confidence that we do not suspect him. These, however, are points on which we would be understood to express ourselves with much hesitation. We can say with more confidence, that there are opinions given with more freedom than judgment, and a variety of jests, entertaining no doubt, but far too venerable for their antiquity to be proper subjects of mirth.

It is said that parts of this work are powerful. But it is well to remember, that there is a power of the scene, distinct from the power of the writer. Very inferior painters, by searching out and rudely imitating some fearful scene in real life, may make our blood run cold without much skill; and some perverse writers of the present day, have shown that, by selecting circumstances from works like the Newgate Calendar, or narratives taken from the lips of ruffians, stories of thrilling interest may be written without any invention at all. True, the ablest writers sometimes introduce such scenes; but they are

VOL. VI.-N. S. VOL. I. NO. II.

24

not the evidence nor the triumph of their power, and there are cases in which, like the death of Amy in Kenilworth, they almost destroy the illusion of the whole. The scene in the den of thieves in Pelham, the character and tricks of Job Johnson, were probably furnished in this easy, mechanical way. Compare such scenes with the trial of Fergus in Waverley, where the circumstances are simply told, and in ordinary hands would have made little more impression than any other criminal trial; but Scott, with his usual ease and unseen charm, binds the hearts and souls of his readers in an interest intense and overwhelming.

We think that the whole interest of Pelham is of a kind that implies little ability in the writer. We take the truth of his characters upon trust. We are content to be amused, without asking whether we are not mistaking impudence for spirit, and folly for humor. They are all characters of manners. Nature is out of the question, or rather, where everything depends on caprice, it is impossible for any character, however extravagant, to seem out of nature. We think that an action of libel would lie against him, for his representation of the English peerage. For, unfavorable as their position is for moral or intellectual improvement, it is not easy to believe that they are, as this writer represents them, rakes without honor or shame; jockies in their own mansions, or epicures inferior in every respect to the animal whom they most resemble. Specimens of all these there may be, and circles in which impertinence is talent and shame is glory. But if there is no more relief to this dark picture, than this author would have us believe, and if such are the favorites and friends of his 'gentleman,' they are more in need of civilisation than the same class at the Sandwich Islands, and it is shameful to describe the ways in which they tatoo their characters and persons, till they leave not a trace of nature.

But the lower characters in Pelham are drawn with the greatest relish and apparent truth. The high are not so well described. Pelham makes his first appearance with a vile jest upon his father's meanness and his mother's dishonor. Now, though such things may be specially amusing when related of others, we cannot think the English 'gentleman' would bring the joke to bear upon his own connexions. The pathos is apt to turn on subjects of a similar cast. Thus Glanville, the extravagant character who is represented as something above humanity in all virtue and honor, seduces a wretched female to elope with him, and his respectful attachment keeps on increas

ing under circumstances, which we are assured by a great authority in such cases, are apt to 'harden a' within.' The sequel of her history we would not willingly explain, though it is doubtless read with much interest by many who would find some difficulty in relating the circumstances in their own words, with the poetical drapery taken away. Her fate fills this magnificent being with a burning spirit of revenge; and what think ye he resolves to do? Why, to plunder his rival of his last penny at the gaming table; and to accomplish this noble purpose, he leagues himself with the lowest of the human race. This is a pretty fair example of our author's ideas of what is sublime and exalted-we may say of his morality; for a writer can hardly do a greater injury to truth and virtue, than to throw the veil of sentimental or pathetic interest, over that love to which Heaven has annexed a curse that changes passion into disgust, tenderness into unnatural hardness, and life unto something worse than death.

The author seems suspicious that Pelham is not exactly what it ought to be, and by way of conciliating the public taste has published the Disowned; a work of a different character in some respects from the former. He seems aware that high life, above the limit of vegetation, is not the most favorable for the growth and cultivation of virtue. He has therefore brought us into somewhat more domestic scenes; but enough of high life is introduced to give him an opportunity of painting a graceless libertine, who is no less than his Grace the Duke of Haverfield. In order to be exact, the author has formed his characters on scientific principles, like the Laputan tailors who used quadrants in taking their measures; and perhaps like those learned artists, he has been puzzled to account for his dress not suiting the natural form; for his characters, though formed by rule, are not less extravagant than those of Pelham. His principle seems to be, that we are all under the dominion of some ruling passion, and the chances are even, whether it incline to vice or virtue. At different times it may incline to both, and the virtue will not be the less excellent for springing from bad principles. This is exemplified in the case of an old beau, whose disease was vanity. After various acts of malice in his youth, this vanity induces him to gain the affections of an amiable woman, whom he at the same time intends to abandon. Hearing, after her marriage to another, that she is the delight of all eyes in London, he hurries thither and regains his influence

over her, though, according to the author, with no fault on her part. By an unmanly insult he contrives to break her heart. For this he is sorry; but now, intent on gaining the applause of men, the same principle of vanity makes him benevolent, useful, and happy. He enjoys the consolations of religion withal, while his sole resource is to pay a weekly visit to an exquisitely vulgar family, who feed his vanity with their paltry admiration. Here we think is a tolerable confusion of moral principles and traits of nature. The author may say that the history is a true one. Perhaps so, but it is something more than error to challenge for such a wretch our respect and regard.

Selfishness, according to our author, is the source of virtue. He introduces two characters to show its effect; one, a profligate swindler, who acts naturally enough upon this principle; the other, a man of cold and retired manners and feelings, who becomes an enthusiast in virtue, and through various trials not only holds fast his integrity, but has hours and trances of delight. Desolate himself, he devotes himself to others, and with apparently no other hope of immortality than Plato affords him, he perseveres in maintaining that virtue is its own reward. We need not say that selfishness is not apt to make philanthropists and martyrs, or that religion, as we understand it, is not a principle of vanity. The author has a moral theory, which he unfolds like the Egyptian who brought a broken cruet-stopper to Belzoni, believing it to be a jewel of immense value. Of this it is enough to say, that it seems to be the system of Plato, blended with that of Clootz the orator of the human race, with a strong leaning to the theory of Condorcet, that the progress of reason will remove all disease, vice, and suffering, and in the result make men immortal in the present world.

The author has so many graver faults, that we should not think of criticising his style, if it were not of a kind which many second rate writers consider very fascinating. Its great merit is, that it suggests instead of defining, and makes an impression instead of communicating thoughts. The reader is imposed upon with an appearance of precision, while everything is left in that happy obscurity, which he must believe, covers something striking, and in which his imagination, if he have any, may trace whatever meaning it will. It is sometimes seasoned with a little insolence or profaneness to make it the more commanding. Some of the little English periodicals afford choice specimens of this style, which is particularly convenient in their

craft, enabling them to speak with much majesty, while they leave their readers in perplexity as to what they say, so that no man can expose or contradict them. This author is much indebted to his style. It enables him to parade common maxims with an air of originality; to deal out thoughtless judgments, as if they were deliberate opinions, and venture into philosophical discussions without fear of pursuit and detection. But with all these advantages, it is by no means to be recommended. The 'dim religious light' is not the most favorable for study, nor is a style like this, though it may please the fancy, well calculated to enlighten the mind.

We have no hope that an author like this, though not deficient in talent, will ever do service to his art. We should have said, on reading Pelham, that he was in that state, which Hume describes in the affairs of nations, when any change must be for the better. In the Disowned, there was certainly a change, but not altogether a reform; for though written with more regard to decency, it shows that his moral sentiments are unaltered. But his art can do without him. Though no one may ever rival Scott in variety and power, we shall doubtless have many, who can look with an accurate and prophetic eye into the depths of the soul. The field of imagination is perhaps not more cultivated as yet than the face of nature. There may be many a region where the foot of the adventurer has never trod. But in encouraging the spirit of adventure, the public must be jealous of its honor, and if any one offers to tempt it, must resent the insult, by instant and unsparing condemnation.

ART. V.-Memoirs of a New England Village Choir. With Occasional Reflections. By a MEMBER. Boston. S. G. Goodrich & Co. 1829. 18mo. pp. 149.

LIVELY and faithful delineations of our national habits and manners are always highly acceptable. We have had some such, but they are rare. Miss Sedgewick and Cooper have employed their talents successfully and delightfully in this field, but as yet it has been but little explored, and many an untravelled tract remains. We give our new adventurer a warm and smiling welcome. To criticise him we find impossible. How