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Leader (1850-1860), 27th January 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 92

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      Untitled Article

      ^ xi ^ - * ™ I * - ** - *** Herbert Lake . ? v . Bentley Women asjxy Are , 2 / ° g : _ Hurst & Blackett 0 a £ * % & # Tt *? £ * MrTcJrev Hurst & Blackett . The Young Husband . JJy bits , trrey . • ,.-, . i _ f 1 We place ^ Hferfier ^ Zaifce at the head of our present list because , on the whole , WcSer it to be the best of the four . Nevertheless it is a provoking novel It wants so little to improve it so greatly , and , wanting that little , wanissomuch . What that little is it woufd be difficult to describe . There Z a certain flabbiness of tone pervading the book ; a perpetual shortcoming which is always leaving a passage , that should have been excellent , merely Sir . Perhaps this want is simply masculinity : a woman ' s eye for details S her too nice regard for them , checks the broad flow of dialogue and story . The elements of the tale are by no means new . They are these . Hero , lowly-bom genius—high-born family in the ne ^ b ° urhoo * - * ie ;; * J footing with highborn famSy—proud , stony-hearted father of high-born ^ : r ^_ i «^ ol « - ^« i , lifAr _ hfiro-ffemus in love with lovely daughter—love

      secretly returned-stony-hearted parent in the way—ricketty son in love with lowly-born beauty—marriage—proud father remorseless—despair of ricketty son and lowly-born genius—an interval of a volume and three quarters—grand catastrophe—pride quelled and love free-proud parent relents—marriage of hero and heroine—pardon of ricketty son—affecting tableau of unitedand happy family—edifying end of ricketty son , who , as Mrs . Gamp would say , makes " a sweet corpse . " All these characters and situations are nearly as old as chess-men ; but as chess-men are susceptible of ever new combinations , so the author has given a new treatment to ancient friends . The first volume drags , and is dull ; the second and third are stirring and interesting , full of vigorous painting of character , and vivid dialogue . !

      _ . . _ * nw ~~ „« : * : * , « Women as they Are would more properly be entitled : " Women , as it is a blessing to fathers , brothers , and husbands they are not : ' Everjrwoman , except one , is an exceptional character . The heroine , who tells the _ story , is morbidly nervous in body and intellect . Of plain , sensible words , for which there is so constant a demand , she has no supply r on the other hand , she has an exhaustless supply of tears and aspirations after everything that isn ' t as it is , for which there is no demand . The author in the preface denies being a copyist of Currer Bell . Intentionally so , of course she is not ; her book is not the less a diluted Jane Eyre . Story there is positively none . For two volumes the writer proceeds minutely , inch by inch , laying out her ground and developing her characters with a certain ominous , invsterious hint of a catastrophe : and that catastrophe is neither more

      nor less than the word Finis . Despite all this , there is a strange , weird , although disappointing , attraction ; and if the author could only get a good tale Ho tell , we ~ are half disposed to-believe there are few would tell it better . . ... ¦' ,..., The writer of Oahleigh Mascott apparently possesses a fairly-cultivated mind and good animal spirits , the latter finding their outlet here m pages of vivacious rattle . The story is old ( is a new plot possible ?; , but is easily made readable with the aid of judicious skipping . The fault is that it is too long for the materials . jHad it been half as long , it had been three times as successful . Sir Charles Oakleigh is a north

      country baronet , and his family consists of a son , two daughters , and a foundling , commonly called Ella . The young lady came into his family by her nurse dying in a snow-storm close by his residence . They know nothing of her save that her nurse was French , and called her Gabrielle when dying ; and they have a medallion which ( like the spot your long lost brother always has somewhere about him ) will inevitably identify her . Sir Charles adopted Tier , "" and " she"is ™ her 6 ine 7 possessed * ofan ' amount of beauty and virtues in direct defiance of the science of averages . The Honourable Mr . Mountjoy is hero- ^ visits his uncle Sir Charles—falls in love with Ella , as also does , apparently , one Lord Grantham , a regular tragedy villain , with eyes like railway signals . Mountjoy is refused because Ella considers her unknown descent a barrier . Grantham is refused because she really loves

      Mountjoy . A lull . Presto 1 Ella is Viscountess Grantham in her own right—Grantham is a rascal—suppresses the proofs of Ella ' s identity to enjoy her money and title—is found out—and becomes plain Mister , like the rest of us . It is now Mountioy ' s turn to be high-mindedly proud : he won't propose again to Ella , the Viscountess . This is the pons asinorum of the tal ©; and short work should have been made of it . That they will marry of course everybody knows , the only question is , does Ella propose to Mountjoy , or viceversd ? Now , instead of finishing his hero and his story at a

      blow , our author takes both offto India , and indulges m a esBum nearly a volume about hog-sticking and other recreations , veryweU _ m _ their way , but quite out of plate here , tnd filially brings the . hero back to England , and marries everybody to everybody in afeyr rapid pages . , . Of the Young Husband , we are sorry only to be able £ > speak m dispraise . It is badly put together , worse written , and of the queerest morality . The Young Husband is in love with an English opera smger ; is virtually engaged to Tier . An old idiot dies and leaves the heroine alLhis property , and a round sum to the hero , provided he marries her . The hero does marry her , she adoring him , he bating her . The opera singer , broken-hearted , submits to her mother ' s influence , and marries L , ord Duncan , hating him also . Young Husband runs away with ex-opera singer , Ladv Duncan—young wife divorces Young Husband . Lady Duncan js drowned , after undergoing poignant remorse—Young Husbandvgoes to Torquay , and perishes in full health and m the prime or life , also suffering frightful remorse ; and so ends this delightful story . Now , what are these two foolish fellow-mortals stung by remorse for ? _ For having m : aA « onnio + 1 iav Ti n + prl—surelv a sin of some m agnitude r JNot at alij

      but simply for having violated some mysterious je nesats gnat , which the authoress fancies there lies in an orthodox marriage , and which is , withJier , all in all—in fact , which is marriage . Again , the heroine very properly ( and very fortunately being rich enough ) divorces her husband ; surely , the best thino- she could do . But the novelist actually makes her suffer poignant remorse , for haying set aside the jene sais quoi , although her husband was living in open infidelity . The style is pure slip-slop : " sweet creature ' " dear novelties iuB

      baby , " " foreign clime , " and similar staring , run mrougu ^ r The authoress is cruel to the last degree—creating only to kill . Men , women , and children , are called into life and killed off with no necessity as regards the story , and with reckless disregard to the feelings of . a susceptible public . We close the last volume with pleasure ; this is the most favourable word we have to say of the book . '

      Untitled Article

      FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE . Tuesday , January 23 . BANKRUPTS . — John Stevens , Fetter-lane Cheesemongor—Edward Muruss , Maldstone , licensed , victualler—William Pharos , Clorkonwell-grcon , gas . flttor— Hknrt BlNtfBL Harris , Shrewsbury , draper — Henry Spencer , Boss , Herefordshire , linendrapor— Jambs Lucas , Stroud , Glouceatorshiro , choose factor — Jontf Ward , Ponistouo , Yorkshire , surgeon—John Ooxon , Macolesflold , butcher—Thomas Bscoxasxico Pearson , Soaton Carow and West Hartlepool , merchant . SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS . — J . Kbi / t . Glasgow , olothior—J . Faujlds and Co ., Beith , merohants—J . WOaujlz ,, Straaraor , bootmaker . Friday , January 20 . BANKRUPTS . —Nbhbmiah Wiixiam Paeson . Southwark . millwright and engineer—George Hall , Brighton , upholstoror—Arckibalp Nevibon , Darlington , hosierwzixiak Ludiow PAirw , Putney , licensed victualler—Samubii GiiOVBR Fairbrothbr , Bow-street , > printer — Joim Riohard West , Sun Saw Mills , Canal-road , Kingsland , Middlesex , dealer in hard wood—David Enoch DAvnco , Pontypridd . Glamorganshire , grocer — George Smith , Bouthwark , hat and cap manufacturer 1— Gkoroe ward , Bristol , victualler — Henry Pnir . ups , Bothnalgreen-road , Middlesex , corn chandler and corn dealer—Richard Beck , Blackman-stroot , Southwark , watoh and clock maker—Joseph Bradford , Coventry , licensed victualler—Wiimam Gawdt and Gborob Gandy . York , merohants — Jonw Waidbow , Montgomery ,

      innkeeper—Bichard CoiiiAKD , Dovonport , coach proprietor—John William Shaw , Liverpool , passenger Droker—Samuel Garratt and Hbnry Buoklky , Sand Hill , near Mottram , in Longdendale , Chester , innkeepers .

      Untitled Article

      OLYMPIC—TIT FOR TAT . "Tat , " it appears , means making your particular friend jealous , in a' general manner . " Tit" means a ferocious retaliation . Such may be called the argument or explanation of Les Marts me font toujours rtre of M . M . Delacour and Jaime fits , and which , under the name ofTit for Tat , has been Anglicised , witboutbeing " vulgarised , by Mr . Frank , possibly Francis , Talfourd . For plot , there are two plots very similar in conception , and almost identical in execution . Mr . and Mrs . Sowerby live with their friends , Mr . and Mrs . Frankland ; there is also a niece " Rose , " a " Frederick Thornby , " to whom they let bachelor apart * ments . " Mrs . Sowerby" is the victim of attentions—the recipient of elegant bouquets , and the rejectress of indifferent verses . " Sowerby" ( Mr . Robson ) observes that " Thornby" ( Mr . Wigan ) always calls aboutrthe time when he is going to his daily labourand from that circumstance and the-bouquets he

      , draws an agonising conclusion . " Thornby" sees all , and enjoys all . The game goes on , and " Frankland" is also jealous , but suddenly all clears up , the act drop falls , everything has been a mistake , and " Thornby" marries "Rose / ' So far the piece is complete in itself . In the second act everything is soon reversed " Sowerby , " whose fears are fled , is bent upon taking a terrible revenge : For this purpose he plays precisely the same game , with the same machinery , and the same results . Nevertheless , a harmonious whole is produced . There are fifty positions and elucidations impossible to describe—but a word for the performers . Miss Maskell , Miss Turner , and Miss Bromley , as the three wives , are great in art , for all are malicious—they are yet true to their natures , for all are playful and pleasant : "Mr . Wigan plays ayoung manrof goodlooks and manners , deprecating marriage , yet not minding the taunts when he becomes a

      Benedick . More admirable acting it would be difficult to find . Mr . Robson is a plain man of business who makes himself mad through unwarrantable jealousy . He has fifty " nervousnesses" and a " good-natured friend" who constantly reminds him of them . Mr . Robson ' s despair is becoming chronic—bis effects are falling into a " damnable iteration , " hisjmanner is a perpetual twitch ; but he is always conscientious , always in earnest , and he never loses hold of the audience or of his personation . In this part , he has no good speech , no capital point ; he makes his point through feeling and looking the infliction . The boxes and dress circle were generally in favour of the gentleman who had , for the time being , the lover ' s position . The pit and gallery were generally with Mr . Robson , possibly because the populace will not sympathise with the fortunes or misfortunes of a British dandy . Yet , somehow , the entire house was always with Mr . Robson—or , was it always with Mr . Wigan ?>

      Untitled Article

      B di& of an THE LEAP 1 . ^ msm ^ , ; oA . .. -. ¦ • - - - ' — - == ^____^^__^^ ^ mmmmmmmmmm ^^ mmmmmttmmmammmammmmmmmmmmmtmmmtmm . - ^^^ M ^ M ^^ M^^^^^— - ^ jg- ^^^ JJ ^ JM ^^ M ^^ MIfP ^^—i ^^^^^ S ^^^^^^^*^ . ¦ ¦ . . . »¦»• . - . . ' ,. 5 > 1 I' -1 r » . _ . ( 4 *

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      Untitled Article

      MONEY MARKET AND CITY INTELLIGENCE . Friday Evening , January 20 , 1855 . Tub Funds have drooped very considerably sinoo last week . Thocontinued gloomy account * from the Crimea , and the tone adopted b y the loading Journals , must have convinced oven tho most determined liull that matters at Vienna and in our Cabinet at homo woro not all couleur do rose . . Yoatorday ' s third editions of tho morning papers , announcing tho resignation of Lord John Russell , caused but a slight sensation . It was only a matter of speculation who waa to go ; and a general regret prevailed that tho retiring Ministnr or Ministers had not been rather Lord Aberdeen and his accomplices .

      Untitled Article

      BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS . BIRTHS . CORBBTT . —Jan . 19 , at Paris , tho wife " of Edwin Corbott , First Attache to H . 13 . M . Legation nt Madrid : a daughter . GARNJ 3 TT , —Jan . 22 , at Quornmoro-park , Lancaster , tho wife of W . J . Garuott , Esq : a son . PBLHAM . —Jan . 23 , at Ilampstcad , tho Hon . Mrs . John Pelham : a son . PKTRB . —Jan . 2 . 3 . at Thorndon , tho Lady Petre : a daughter . WINN . —Jan . 19 , in Upper Seymour-street , Portman-square , tho Hon . Mrs . Rowland Wfnn ; a son . MARRIAGES . BINNEY-BL 1 SS Jan . 4 , at tho Cathedral , Halifax , Nova Scotia , by tho Lord Bishop of Newfoundland , assisted by tho Von . Archdeacon Willis , tlio Right Rev . Hibbort Binnoy , D . D ., Lord Bishop of Nova Scotia , to Mary , daughter of tho Hon . William Blowers Bliss , one of tho Judges of tho . Supreme Court . OHAS E—NORTHCOTB .-Jan . 16 , at South Bront , Somorset , the Rev . Temple Hamilton Ohaso , Michel- Follow of Queen's College , Oxford , incumbent of Lydbrook , Gloucestershire , to Elizabeth eldest daughter or Georgo Barons Northcoto , Esq ., of Somerset Court .

      COOKSON—AINSLIE . —Jan . 23 , at St . Mary ' s-thc-Less . Cambridge , tho Rev . Henry W . Cookson . D . D ., Master Of St . Peter ' s College , to Emily Valence , oldest daughter of the Rev . Dr . Ainslie , of Hall Garth , Lancaster , Master of Pembroke College . DEATHS . BASSET . —Jan . 22 , at Tehidy-park , Cornwall , Frances , Baroness Basset , aged seventy-four . BOYD . —Jan . 19 , at Boulogne , after a short illness , Sir John Boyd , Bart ., aged sixty-eight . HILL . —Jan . 20 , at Wanner Lodge , Deal , Rear-Admiral Sir John Hill , Knight , aged eighty-one . HORTON . —Jan . 21 , at Calton , Derbyshire , Commander Frederick Wilmot Horton , R , N ,, aged thirty-five .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 27, 1855, page 92, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2075/page/20/