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Leader (1850-1860), 13th November 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1222, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      answer to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us , " we must strive to attain " a penetration in abstruse questions , and a quickness in philosophical discussion . " .. •' ...

      Untitled Article

      CHECKMATE . Checkmate : a Tale . R . Eentley . Thu opening chapter introduces us to a noble French family , who found a refuge in England from the terrors ot the French Revolution—Comte Jules Deguseau , the father , a fine specimen of the old noblesse ^—his daughter , Lucy ( the Count had married an English lady ) , and the family priest , a little abbe * . The daughter is depicted as a fine joung creature , fresh-hearted , ingenuous , and full of all those graces of which big-h health , exuberant spirits , and worldly luxuries arc the common parent . Miss Julia Manners , a friend of the English side of the

      family , is introduced , and affords a good contrast to Lucy * being older , more sedate , and with a deeper insight into the world and the world ' s doings . The quiet tenor of life at Chateau Royal , the Lancashire estate of the Comte l ) eguseau , is interrupted by the visit of Ernest Jules Deguseau , nephew or the Count , a man on town , a blackleg , spendthrift , over head and ears in debt , who hopes to mend his ruined fortunes by a marriage with his wealthy cousin Lucy , and whose last hope of release from the threateuings of importunate duns lies in this marriage . The worldly deliberations of this roue on . the subject of

      matrimony are well given , and the plans by -which success is to be achieved are developed with ability . But Lucy ' s good genius , in the person of Miss Julia Manners , comes to the rescue . Miss Manners has a brother , Frank Rowley , a thoughtless , spendthrift lieutenant in the Guards , to whom she is devotedly attached , and as she is aware that Frank and Ernest were old acquaintances , she applies to Frank for information as to Ernest ' s motives in visiting CLateau Royal , and the reply puts her in possession

      of the whole scheme ot the desperate fortunehunter . To save her young friend she tells Lucy wliat she has learned , and eventually discloses to the Count the real character and object of Urnest , but not before Ernest has proposed to Lucy , and , to his utter dismay and astonishmant , been refused ; though on grounds wholly distinct from the revelations made by Frank Rowley . Ernest , however , does not know this , and believing Miss Julia Manners to be at the bottom of his discomfiture , he

      resolves on a singular piece of revenge . Knowing her fondness for her flighty brother Frank , he contrives to pick a quarrel with him and to draw Hm . into a challenge . Fraught with this peculiar project he visits Miss Julia Manners , and terrifies her into compliance with his wishes , which are to promote his suit with Lucy , threatening to fight JPrank in case of non-cornpliance . On condition of retiring from the hostile meeting Miss Manners agrees to his conditions , but her inexcusable and rather improbable promise is not called into

      requisition , as the creditors of Ernest become suddenly too exigent , and resort to summary arrest . The confinement in gaol for debt of course brings on disclosures which will not permit the Count any longer to doubt the true character of his nephew , ana his real views in proposing for his daughter . The Count , who is anoblc-hcarted creature , relents on . seeing his nephew in durance ; he pays his debts , releases him , mid , with his daughter Lucy , assists to nurse the broken-down but reformed

      reprobate into health . The Count is disposed to forget and forgive , and wishes his daughter to do the like . But the daughter , to his amazement , and no doubt to the genuine amazement of all readers of this clever tale— -for the book will be read *—refuses all solicitations to enter into the married state , and declares her irrevocable determination to become a iSgmne connected with some convent at Bruges , at which in her early youth she had been educated . This ludicrous and unlooked-for termination is carried into effect , and the curtain drops on Luoy as nbfyMne , and Ernest , who after the Count ' s death takes his uncle ' s plnco at Chateau Royal , as a country gentleman , going ubout among the poor people on his estato very much after the pattern of a masculino scow de charitti .

      Wo would oflbr u word of advice to tho writerwho . is evidently a person of talent , with a cultivated tasto , but ; no very doep insigjit into the world of London as if ; goes—to abstain , in futuro works of imagination , if addressed to an English public , from tho polemical olernont . This kind of thing is getting common , anil must bo chocked , or rather checkmated .

      Untitled Article

      PHANTASTES . Phantasies : a Faerie Romance for Men and Women . By George M'Doriald . Smith , Elder , and Co . A dkeamy pr oduction of the German school of imaginative literature , not without fine fancy , considerable invention , and an occasional vein of real poetic feeling- An extract from Novalis , which is inserted by the author instead of preface , we will translate for the benefit of country gentlemen , as it will , perhaps , best explain the leading idea of the author in penning this amusing and highly imaginative work : "One may conceive fictions like dreams , without connexion , yet having legitimate association . " This very well indicates the character of the work , but by no means tells the reader enough of its quaint merits . With a special class this work is tolerably sure of being received with great favour . The conclusion appears to us to be weak , and not in harmony with the power and fancy displayed in the progress of tliis very fanciful work .

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      TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN . The Surprising Travels and Adventures of Baron Munchausen . Edinburgh : A . and C , Black . Everybody has heard of the renowned and veracious traveller Munchausen ; everybody , we hope , has read his " moving accidents by flood and field , " but if they have not we bid them send at once for this very neat and very cheap abridged edition .

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      THE TRAVELS OF MUNGO PARK . Travels in the Interior of Africa . By Mungo Park . Edinburgh : A . and C . Black . We are indebted more to Scotchmen than to any other class of enterprising travellers for our knowledge of Africa , and its remarkable races and productions . Park , Bruce , and Livingstone are names that will ever be identified with the history ot Africa . Park , however , must have the honour of being the pioneer of exact information in this direction , and though more modern travellers have carried their researches into more , remote tracts , they have not produced anything more interesting or more trustworthy than Park ' s Travels . The edition is a cheap one , and . very handsomely got up .

      Untitled Article

      Eclectic Review : ( "Ward und Co . )—There arc seven articles in this number , and a copious account of books published . The important essaya Are those on " The Vatican Manuscript of the Old and New Testament , " lately published in a costly way at Komo ; and that on tho fourth volume of Humboldt ' a " Cosmo 9 . " These a re exceedingly interesting , and tho first particularly , ns every one will bo anxious to have an account of the completion of a Uiblical work so long delayed , and so important in every way . It would soem , though produced under the care of tho celebrated Cardinal Mai , it is not satisfactory as an edition , and it is highly probable tliat another , and possibly a facsimile of tho famous manuscript , will alono satisfy the theological world . Map of the Atlantio Ocean . ( A . and G . Black . )—A 8 mall but distinct sheet map , showing the ocean ourronta , tho routes proposed in conjunction with a Pacific Kail " way , and also tho lino of tho Atlantic Telegraph Cubic ,

      Map qf North Avwica . ( A . ami C . Black . )—A clear and woll-sizod mnp , with tho very latest discoveries . It has also an enlarged view of lirltl . sU Columbia and Vancouver ' s Island , showing tho Frazer Kivor Gold Fields . Tho Law of Wills , Executors , mid Administrators . By W . A . Iloldswortli , Ksq ., liarriHter , of Li ray ' s Inn . ( Routlodgo and Oo . )—A very useful and thnoly littlo work . The recent altoratiou in tUo laws rolativo to wills and trusts , renders it essential that every one iii tlio position to doviuo or inherit property should be put in possoHHiou of tl » o rights , duties , nntl regulations which attend those functions . Tho troutlao in simply and clearly written , and can enwlly bo understood by unprofessional renders .

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      DRURY LANE THEATRE . —Mr . Tully's arrant ment of Auber ' s delightful Crown Diamonds has been added by the Pyne and Harrison management to their already attractive programme , and seems to increase in popularity , as indeed it should con sidering Miss Pyne ' s wondrous excellence as Catarina The general cast is nearly the same as that em ployed at the Lyceum revival under the same manage ment , the only substitution , we believe , being that of Mr . Henri Oorri for Mr , Hamilton Brahnm in the character of Jtebolledo , the bri gand lieutenant By this change neither the music nor the authors in * any way suffers for Mr . Corri has a voice of

      excellent quality , and acts with much intention and natural vivacity . The more prominent moi-ceaux of the Diamans « fe la Couronne are so well known ns to render any chronicle of the successes achieved in them by the talented artists of this company utterly superfluous . We have only left , then , the dutvof reporting that Miss Louisa Pyne achieved consummately well all she undertook as Catarina , the Queen of Portugal ; that Mr . Harrison was hardly less rapturously applauded ; and that the completeness of the success was secured by Miss Susan . Pyne aa Diana , and Messrs . Corri , St . Albyn , and G . Honey in the subordinate parts . The musical world nro c \ -

      cited at the -unnecessary interpolation of I fortes ' Air , with variations , at the close of the opera ; and Brinley Kichards ' s ballad , " Whisper what thou feelest , " Introduced by Mr . Harrison in the third act , and made a great feature of . They are * -perhaps * right in their observations' that M . Scribe would shudder at the liberty tnken in the former ' instance with his-well-arranged climax , and that the-music of the ballad is a dislocation , if not a distortion , of Auber ' s delicious ensemble ;¦ but they should bear in mind that the almost total abstinence of the

      ajsthotics from the pay-places at public entertainments rather disposes managers nntl others to consult the predilections of the nioney-bringin <* multitude ,.. who cannot have top much for their shillings , ami who would by no means object to a pot-pourri opera , made up of fragments from Spohr , Beethoven , Aubcr , and Richards , so long as tho said fragments . were -wcsU sung . Catholicity" may be all very well , but JSpolir ' s " Jessonihi" nnd Mendelssohn ' s " Lorelei" would prove avenues to Basinghall-street in a little month , if rigidly adhered to . Mr . Harrison has perhaps strayed into an excessive degree of liberality by Ilia Diamonds

      attempt to lend attraction to the Crown . We should have thought , in this particular instance , that neither musician nor author needed illustration or decoration . However , as we before said , barrowloads of bouquets , and rapturous plaudits from stalls and boxes as well us pit and gallery , show that the management do not miscalculate the tastes of their patrons ; and , the above-mooted question set apart , it would be ungenerous to deny that the brilliant performance of tho principal character , and the unvaried excellence of the subordinates ' , as well as of Mr . Mellon * s fine bund , well deserved all—and more than all—the approbation they met with .

      IIAYMAKKET THEATRE . —On Saturday last , being the occasion of Mr . Mathews ' s benefit , his own petite comedy of The Dowager and the farce cu The Eton Boy , in both of which Mrs . Matliews appeared , were followed by a new piece , called flic talc of a Coat , an elaborate patchwork by Dr . Frunclcand Mr . William lirough , which wo must endeavour to dissect for our readers as briefly as possible , i no Baron de Mercwvut ( E . Villicrs ) , a diplomatist , charged with a despatch from the Court of I ' ranee to Queen Christina respecting tho marriage of tlio Due de Montpcnsier , stitches it for security into ins coat lining , and in avoiding tho results ot a uuoi loaves that garment in his lodgings . In Ins

      coinusion ho meets with ono Jacques Molinet , a commercial traveller ( Mr . Charles Mathows ) , who undertakes tne restoration of tho coat , mid accordingly proceeds 10 tho scene of its loss . There ho commences to nrruDRO its redoliyery by intriguing with tho maul , J aqmia ( Mrs . U 2 . imsiwilliani ) . But tlio artful mistress or the liouao , Dona Inez ( Miaa Jfitsswlllinm ) tlliiooverij this , frustrates his plan , and transmits tho jmuicoc 10 Court by tho hands other own husband , I tun oauuz ( Mr . Cullvnford ) . Gomez executes his mission , iinu is entrusted with tho answer , which ho also , beioiu tlio <¦

      starting for Purls , causes to bo sown in lining ' * his own coat for bettor security . J '( i'i "' "^ l" - '"' ^'' happening to repont of her coquetry und tivnoiHr ^ agrt' 08 , on the eve of her master ' duparturc , u » 1 ' <•« French loavo ofher mistress , and dopes into i' " with Molimt , making him 11 present ol oW ''<"" - ' pulotot uiid it * precious freight , and tllus i » u . o - 8 ciouHly'b 6 nri ( ifr with them a Biiiidfijoiury Bc > hitim tho Baron ' s dlltlcuU'loa . On roiushlntf . l ' l }"* - " ' , leaves Paquita lur u while , soeks tho < isaoinli u diplomatist , nnd rctuniH him , us ho M' ^" ' !'* lostooat . Thoir exultation Is hooii . turnwl to b «' when thoy dleoovor tlwir mistuko 5 but afc . "

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      ¦ ; 122-2 \^__ THE LEADE R . [ No . 451 , November lS ^ JLggS .

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      THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO . The Castle of Otranto . A Gothic Story . By Horace Walpole . Edinburgh : A . and C . Black # The tale , with its supernatural horrors , which made the hair of the juveniles of ourgrandsires' age , like Katterfelto ' s , " stand on . end , " is ' destined to perform the same . feat to the present and to unborn generations . The Castle qf Ot ran to'is- the putative parent of a popular and populous school of fiction . It has stood the test of time , it has maintained its original rank in the annals of fiction , and it would be " gilding refined gold" were we to waste our space in superfluous laudation .

      Whp Wvitt ^Jj* Mlw

      € jjt Slrts . ..... ^ .. ...

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 13, 1858, page 1222, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2268/page/14/