NOVELS OF THE MONTH. 101 



worth our while to observe, has been won by the pure force of merit 

 in the teeth of some odds and particular disadvantages. The son of a 

 musical composer, who, if he has not raised the style or character of 

 English music, has, at least, contributed many pleasing pieces to the 

 national stock of melody. Theodore Hook first became known as an 

 author by writing for the stage. His first productions, stamped by 

 the same qualities which so peculiarly distinguish every thing that 

 proceeds from his pen, were decidedly successful. In his farces and 

 little two act comedies, there is the same easy and natural way of 

 writing, the same store of quaint puns, together with the same ex- 

 quisite perception of the weak sides of character, and those ludicrous 

 false positions into which people are falling every day while strug- 

 gling with might and main for a very different result. But it was 

 not on the stage alone that his fame as a wit became established ; in 

 society and at convivial parties no man could often or more' happily 

 set the table in a roar. He was sought after and cherished in the best 

 circles, made many high friends, and at last, through their interest, 

 obtained a valuable appointment in one of our colonies. There, how- 

 ever, some pecuniary difficulties caused his return to England after 

 a short absence. His condition now made it necessary that he should 

 again be an author. A Tory in politics, he became by common re- 

 port, if not the projector, at least the principal contributor to the John 

 Bull Newspaper, a periodical which for keen wit, bold satire, and 

 severe libels, was, when first it started, perhaps the most pointed and 

 vehement organ by which literature in this country ever supported 

 an unpopular administration. But the effect was more startling than 

 serviceable. Not long after this, Mr. Hook made his maiden essay 

 as a novel writer in the First Series of Sayings and Doings. It will 

 be readily conceived that he had much to contend with. The greater 

 portion of the periodical press then as now was of liberal politics, 

 and therefore but little disposed to hail the advent of one who was 

 generally reputed to have struck harder blows at the great popular 

 leaders of the day than any other contemporary writer. Besides 

 being thus obnoxious to many of the influential critics, a cloud hung 

 over his character, in consequence of several remarks, by no means 

 complimentary to his honour, which were made in the House of 

 Commons, relative to the monied embarrassment which had caused 

 his retirement from office in the Colonies. Notwithstanding these 

 disadvantages, the great merits of " Sayings and Doings" were 

 directly appreciated, series followed series with unabated popularity, 

 and Mr. Hook established himself as one of the best writers of Tales 

 our country has to boast. One great charm of his stories is, that he 

 never seems to go about seeking for incidents to pick up, or studying 

 characters to present to us. He meets with and introduces them to us 

 pleasantly and off hand ; they are every day acquaintances but never 

 common place. Other authors may paint elaborately and powerfully, 

 Hook sketches only, but nothing can be truer than the copy he 

 presents to the eye. You recognize the original at once ; the per- 

 formance resembles the pictures presented by the camera obscura, 

 whereby the magic work of a moment, scenes and figures just as we 

 saw them a minute before in nature, are exhibited before us. As to 



