TEN THOUSAND A YEAR.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE DIARY OF A LONDON PHYSICIAN." CAREY AND HART, PHILADELPHIA.

[Text: Graham's Magazine, November, 1841.]

THERE are several circumstances connected with this book which render it an important topic for the critic. We mean its unusual length-the previous reputation of its author the peculiarity of its subject the apparent under-current of design which has been attributed to it the wide difference of opinion existing in regard to its merit- and, especially, the fact of its being, if not precisely the first, yet certainly the chief of the class of periodical novels- the peculiar advantages and disadvantages of which it will afford a good opportunity for discussing. We must regret, therefore, that we have left ourselves no room, in the present number of the Magazine, for an extended analysis of the work. This we may possibly undertake in December, contenting ourselves, in the meantime, with a few observations at random.

It appears to us that a main source of interest which this book possesses for the mass is to be referred to the pecuniary nature of its theme. From beginning to end it is an affair of pounds, shillings, and pence — a topic which comes home at least as immediately to the bosoms and business of mankind as any which could be selected. The same character in the choice of subject was displayed by Dr. Warren in his "Passages from the Diary of a London Physician.' The bodily health is a point of absolutely universal interest, and

was made the basis of all the excitement in that very popular but shamefully ill-written publication.

66

Ten Thousand a Year" is also shamefully illwritten." Its mere English is disgraceful to an L L.D. -would be disgraceful to the simplest tyro in rhetoric. At every page we meet with sentences thus involved, "In order, however, to do this effectually I must go back to an earlier period in history than has yet been called to his attention. If it [what?— attention? - history?] shall have been unfortunate enough to attract the hasty eye of the superficial and impatient novel-reader, I make no doubt that by such a one certain portions of what has gone before, and which [which what?] could not fail of attracting the attention of long-headed people as being not thrown in for nothing (and therefore to be borne in mind with a view to subsequent explanation) have been entirely overlooked or forgotten." The book is full too of the grossest misusages of language — the most offensive vulgarities of speech and violations of grammar. The whole tone is in the last degree mawkish and inflated. What can be more ridiculous than the frequent apostrophising after this fashion 66 My glorious Kate, how my heart goes forth towards you! And thou, her brother! who art of kindred spirit, who art supported by philosophy and exalted by religion, so that thy constancy cannot be shaken or overthrown by the black and ominous swell of trouble which is increasing around thee I know that thou wilt out-live the storm and yet it rocks thee! What indeed is to become of you all? Whither will you go? And your suffering mother, should she survive so long, is her precious form to be borne away from Yatton?" etc., etc.

There is no attempt at plot, but some of the inci

The

Two

dents are wofully inadapted and improbable. moralising throughout is tedious in the extreme. thirds of the whole novel might have been omitted with advantage. The character of Aubrey is a ridiculous piece of overdone sentimentality, and in character generally the writer fails. One of the worst features of the whole is the transparent puerile attempt to throw ridicule upon the ministerial party by dubbing them with silly names, supposed to be indicative of peculiarities of person or character. While the oppositionists, for example, rejoice in the euphonious appellations of Aubrey, Delamere, and the like, their foes are called Quirk, Gammon, Snap, Bloodsuck, Rotgut, Silly-Punctilio, and other more stupid and beastly indecencies.

THE CRITICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS OF SIR EDWARD LYTTON BULWer. AUTHOR OF "PELHAM, ETC. Two VOLUMES. LEA AND BLANCHARD, Philadelphia.

[Text: Grabam's Magazine, November, 1841.]

WE have read these volumes with the highest pleasure. They embrace all the known minor writings of Bulwer, with the exception of his shorter fictions; and we recognize in the collection several very excellent articles which had arrested our attention and excited our curiosity while their authorship was undivulged.

Mr. Bulwer is never lucid, and seldom profound. His intellect seems to be rather well balanced than lofty; rather comprehensive than penetrative. His taste is exquisite. His style, in its involution and obscurity, partakes of the involution of his thoughts.

or rather

we recognize in his appreciation of the Thus he is a man

Apart from his mere intellect, however, as a portion of that intellect, every written word the keenest right, the beautiful, and the true. worthy of all reverence, and we do not hesitate to say that we look upon the charges of immoral tendency which have been so pertinaciously adduced against his fictions as absurdly little and untenable in the mass.

The volumes now before us are plain evidence of the noble spirit which has constantly actuated him. The papers here published were written at various epochs of his life. We look through them in vain for anything false, as a whole, or unchivalrous, or impure, or weak, or tasteless, or ignoble. Were we addicted jurare in verba magistri, there is no man living upon whose faith we would more confidently rely than upon that of Bulwer; no man whose opinion upon any point involving a question of truth, or justice, or taste, we would be more willing to adopt unexamined.

We have been especially pleased with an article (in the volumes now before us) entitled "Literature Considered as a Profession,” and with another " Upon the Spirit of True Criticism." Some remarks in the latter paper are quite as applicable to our own country as to Great Britain.

[Quotation.]

We wish also to call attention to a very excellent article on the subject of International Copyright." The only paper in the collection which we could have wished omitted is one entitled "A Letter to the Quarterly Review" an attempt at vindictive retaliation upon We admire this gentleman quite as little as Mr. Bulwer can possibly do, but we grieve to see

Lockhart.

4

an attack which has neither vigor nor wit, and which proves nothing beyond the writer's wrath and utter incapacity for satire.

GUY FAWKES; OR THE GUNPOWDER TREASON. AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE. BY WILLIAM HARRISON AINSWORTH. AUTHOR OF "THE TOWER OF

LONDON," "JACK SHEPPARD," ETC.

PHIA, LEA AND BLANCHARD.

PHILADEL

[Text: Graham's Magazine, November, 1841.]

WHAT Mr. William Harrison Ainsworth had been doing before he wrote "Rookwood" is uncertain ; but it seems to us that he made his literary début with that work. It was generally commended; but we found no opportunity of perusing it. Crichton" followed, and this we read; for our curiosity was much excited in regard to it by certain discrepancies of critical opinion. In one or two instances it was unequivocally condemned as "flat, stale, and unprofitable," although, to be sure, the critics, in these one or two instances, were men of little note. The more prevalent idea appeared to be that the book was a miracle of wit and wisdom, and that Ainsworth who wrote "Crichton" was in fact Crichton redivivus. We have now before us a number of a Philadelphia Magazine for the month of April, 1840, in which the learned editor thus speaks of the work in question: "Mr. Ainsworth is a powerful writer; his Crichton' stands at the head of the long list of English novels- unapproachable and alone. This great glory is fairly Mr. Ainsworth's due, and in our humble opinion the fact is incontrovertible." Upon a perusal of the novel so be