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    Untitled Article

    [ The first part of a new story by Mr . Thackezray is tlie event of the week , and its perusal must have helped greatly during the last few days to mitigate the depressing influence of this wretched November weather . By a kindly social ordinance ., the autumn of the natural year is made the spring of the literary one , so that just at the time when the parks and gardens become drizzled and desolate , grey and dim , beyond endurance , the publishers add to our fireside delights by the issue of their choicest works . Of the new leaves thus providently supplied , none will be more welcome than those which introduce the Virginians to English society . The sketch of the two brothers on the well-known yellow cover is already a familiar picture in a thousand English honiesj as the history of their early days has already delighted a thousand English hearts . We have little more to do than , announce Mr . Thackekay ' s reappearance , and express the delight we have felt in reading the first instalment of his new story . The Virginians is not a tale of contemporary American life , Or , indeed , of contemporary life at all , but of society in England and America during the second half of tlie last century . It is , indeed , a sort of sequel to Esmond , the thread of the same family history being resumed only two generations later , Colonel Esmond ' s grand-children being the ' Virginians' of the new story . In this Thackekay has followed his favourite plan of reintroducing- tlie characters of his previous stories , - so that in every new book of his we meet people with whom we are already well acquainted . The consummate art with which he does this has . all the unconsciousness of nature ., and adds immensely to the sense of perfect reality , which is the great characteristic and rare charm of his writing . The opening chapters of the new story contain some admirable illustrations of this peculiarity . Note , for instance , the fine tact , which suggests rather than introduces the picture of Colonel Esmond's declining years spent in the retirement of his "Virginian home . "We see him saddened rather than embittered by the ' bankruptcy of the heart ' which he had suffered in early life , regarding all men and all thuags with a quiet seriousness , a little sceptical , a little indifferent perhaps , but always kindly , generous , and humane . Here is the picture with the introductory paragraph , which sketches the Transatlantic scene of the story , and illustrates the subtle art of the writer : — The gentry of Virginia dwelt on their great lands after a fashion , almost patriarchal . For its rough cultivation , each estate had a multitude of hands—of purchased and assigned servants—who were subject to the command of the master . The land yielded their food , live stock , and game . The great rivers swarmed with fish for the taking . From their hanks the passage home was clear . Their ships took the tobacco off their private ^ wharves on the banks of thePotomac or the James river , and carried it to London or Bristol , — -bringing back English goods and articles of home manufacture in return for the only produce which the Virginian gentry chose to cultivate . Their hospitality was boundless . No stranger was ever sent away from their gates . The gentry received one another , and travelled to each other's houses , in a state almost feudal . The question of Slavery was not horn at the time of which we write . To be the proprietor of black servants shocked the feelings cf no Virginian gentleman ; nor , in truth , -was the despotism exercised over the negro race generally a savage one . The food was plenty ; the poor black people lazy and not unhappy . You might have preached negro emancipation to Madam Esmond of Castlewood , as you might have told her to let the horses run loose out of her stables ; she had no doubt but that . the whip and the corn-bag were good for both . Her father may have thought otherwise , being of a sceptical turn on very many points , but his doubts did not break forth in active denial , and ho was rather disaffected than rebellious . At one period , thus gentleman had taken a part in active life at home , and possibly might have been eager to share its rewards ; but in latter days ho did not seem to care for them . A something had occurred in his life , which had cast a tinge of melancholy over all his existenoe . He was not unhappy—to those about him most kind—most affectionate , obsequious even to the women of his family , whom he scarce ever contradicted ; but there had been some bankruptcy of his heart , which his spirit never recovered . He submitted to life , rather than enjoyed it , and never was in better spirits than in his last houra when he was going to lay it down . Having lost his wife , his daughter took the management of the Colonel nnd hU affairs ; and he gave them up to her charge with an entire acquiescence . So that he liad his "books and his quiet , he cared for no more . When company came to Castlo--wood , ho entertained them handsomely , and was of a very pleasant , sarcastical turn . He was not in the least sorry when they went away .

    " My love , I shall not be Borry to go myself , " he said to his daughter , " and you , though the most affectionate of daughters , will aensole yourself after a while . Why should I , who am so old , be romantic ? You may , who are still a young creature . " This he said , not moaning all he said , for the lady whom he addressed was a matterof-fact little person , with very little romance in her nature As a pendant to Colonel Esmond we have a picture equally admirable , and far more elaborate , of Beatrice Esmond—tho proud nnd self-willed beauty of the earlier story . She is also grown old , but you still recognize the triumphant coquette who had trilled with and scared the heart of Esmond years ago , now somewhat faded in complexion , somewhat coarse in figure , and somewhat facile in tone and manners , but still retaining truces ofher former beauty , still the lady of high rncc and polished society ; a little punished by her cruelty , a little remorseful at having thrown away Esmond ' s noble and devoted heart , and touched with irresistible tenderness at the sight of his grandson—tho Jiving picture of her old lover in his youth . Here is the sketch : —

    Had tho well-rcmombcred scene ( for aho had viwitcd it often in childhood ) a freshness and charm for her ? Did it recal da 3-a of innocence and hnppiucsH , and did its calm beauty soothe or please , or awnkon romorao in her heart ? Her manner wn « more than ordinarily affectionato and gentle , when , presently , after pacing tlie walks for a half hour , tha person for whom she wan waiting catrto to hor . This was our

    young Virginian , to whom she had despatched an early billet by one of the Lockwoods . The note was signed B . Bernstein , and informed Mr . Esmond Warrineton that his relatives at Castlewood , and among them , a dear friend of his grandfather were most anxious that he should come to l Colonel Esmond ' s house in England ' ' And now , accordingly , the lad made his appearance , passing under the old Gothic doorway , tripping down the steps from one garden terrace to another , hat in hand his fair hair blowing from his flushed cheeks , his slirn figure clad in mourning The ' handsome and modest looks , the comely face and person , of the young lad ° pleased the lady . He made her a low bow which would have done credit to Versailles . She held outa little hand to him , and , as his own palm closed over it , she laid the other hand softly on his ruffle . She looked- ' very , kindly and affectionately in tlie honest blushing face . " I knew your grandfather very well , Harry , ' she said . " So you came yesterday to see his picture , and they turned you away , though you know the house was his of right ?"

    Harry blushed very red . " The servants did not know me . A young gentleman came to me last night , " he said , " when I was peevish , and he , I fear , was tipsy . I spoke rudely to my cousin , and would ask his pardon . Your ladyship knows that in Virginia our manners towards strangers are different . I own I had expected another kind of welcome . Was it you , madam , who sent my cousin to me last night ?" " I sent him ; but you will find your cousins most friendly to you to-day . You must stay here . Lord Castlewood would have been with you this morning , only I was so eager to see you . There will be breakfast in an hour ; and meantime you must talk to me . "We will send to the Threa Castles for your servant and your baggage . Give me your arm . Stop , I dropped my cane when you came . You shall be my cane . " "My grandfather used to call us his crutches , " said Harry . "You axe like him , though you are fair . "

    " You should have seen— -you should have seen George , " said the boy , and his honest eyes welled with tears . The recollection of his brother , the bitter pain of yesterday ' humiliation , the affectionateness of the present greeting—all , perhaps , contributed to soften the lad's heart . He felt very tenderly . gratefully towards the lady who had received him so warmly . He was utterly alone and miserable a minute since , and here was a home and a kind hand held out to him . No wonder he clung to it . In the hour during which they talked together , the young fellow had poured out a great deal of his honest heart to the kiud new-found friend ; when the dial told breakfast-time , he-wondered to think how much he had told her .

    The time of the story is well chosen , and we may be sure , from Thackeray ' s intimate familiarity Ayith the life and manners of ' The Georges / that its social features will be well illustrated . We shall have , however , pictures not only of English , but also of American society during tlie period of the great War of . Independence , ' and most'likely he introduced to some of the leading characters of that stirring era . Already we read of '' Mr . ¦ Franklin ' s press at Philadelphia , ' and Madam Esmond's ' young friend and neighbour , Mr . Washington , of Mount Vernon . '

    Why need we speak of the spirit and style of the writing ? In saying they arc Thackeray's / we say enough . The finished simplicity of the word painting , the scholarly allusion , the dialogue , every sentence of which is a stroke of character , the quiet humour of retort , the keen insight and the large charity , the curled lip of scorn melting into a sad serious smile , and the deep undertone of pathos with which he expounds his favourite text , and sums up all human , experience into the lore and lies which began . in Paradise and will circulate with the sun to the world ' s end , arc all exemplified , and treated in the author ' s best manner in tlicsc opening chapters of the Virginians .

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    We have had time only to glance through Dr . Livingstone ' s narrative , to bo published on Tuesday next by Mr . Murray . The work will innncdiai cly be in thousands of hands ; it is the most powerful light ever thrown upon the African interior . This week , moreover , we can only announce Mi * . UurroN ' s A Hundred Years Ago , published by Messrs . Long 5 £ A . n—a book of curious illustrations , taking the bearings of a century of English history ... Mr . Hutton has mastered the secret , of popularity .

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    The Magazines for November , instead of supplying an antidote ( o the natural dreariness of the season , seem rather to suffer sympathetically from its inllu ence . They have no marked features of special interest this humth .. in Blackwood , ' Janet ' s Itcpontaace , ' No . III . of Scenes of Clerical Lift :, ' is concluded , but we hope the ' scenes' have not yet come to an end , as they have been Iroin the first admirable pictures of English life , marked by rare delicacy and depth of moral insight . ' What will he do with it ? ' increases in interest as ( he story unfolds , though the incidents often violently outrage nil probability . ' Cambria and Cottonopolis' is a pleasant tourist's sketch , varied with a good deal of desultory but sensible art-criticism .

    Eraser opens with an article ' About Edinburgh , ' founded on a volume of dull and trashy sketches lately published under the misnomer of ' Edinburgh Dissected ; ' the paper in Fraser being only a little less dull than I ho volume reviewed . Tho paper on ' Rollers and KingPiHhcr . s' gives a ^ rap liic and interesting history of that most brilliant of British birds ; and the out ; entitled ' Taste of tlie Day' contains some excellent criticism on a subject too little under the control of any recognized or rational principle of art — -Ladies' Dross . The best articles in tho Dublin Uui . rer . vli / Mu-rjazinc are about Scotchmenone on ' Alexander Smith ' s Poems , ' ami tho other on ' IFu ^ 'h Miller ami Geology . '

    The Jiclcctio Review is more vigorous than in its younger day : t , iiW * - continues to he the best monthly organ of 1 , be Nonconformist body . r J " November ' number baa interesting papers on Indian Caste—u subject liithei'U ) little understood—on Flemish Art , on Ancient Husbandry , " and Jhiglish Progress in Australia .

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    ... ¦ —?— . ¦ ¦ Jritics are not the legislators , but the judge s and police of literature . They do not make laws—they interpret and try to enforce them . —Edinburgh Review . ? ¦ ¦ " . ¦ - . ¦ ¦ '

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    1072 T H "E ¦ -, Ii D AD E B , [ No . 398 , November 7 , 1857 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 7, 1857, page 1072, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2216/page/16/