432 Monthly Review of Literature. , 



painter of manners in certain classes, the middling and lower classes of 

 English society ; and it is a matter for regret that his tales do not give 

 point to a better moral. 



The best scenes in the book are those in which Brag plays and exposes 

 himself. His scene at the inn with the incognito Lord Ilfracomb, his 

 interview with this husband- by-advertisement-hunting mother on Waterloo 

 Bridge, his dinner with Stiffkey interrupted so mal-a-propos by the dear 

 mamma and her darling J. S., and the mental and bodily sufferings of poor 

 Brag on board the yacht his yacht are inimitably told. The author is 

 far less successful in the genteel and sentimental parts of his work. The 

 episode of Ann Brown and the physician is poor at best, even if it bore no 

 marks of plagiarism ; and the worthy couples, Sir C. Lydiard and Mrs. 

 Dallington, Mr. Rushton and Blanche Englefield, are the most namby- 

 pamby pasteboard- and-buckram characters that have been inflicted on us 

 for many a day. 



We might give many extracts ; but our contemporaries have already so 

 copiously deluged the public, that our trouble and space is saved. 



The State Prisoner. 2 vols. post 8vo. By Miss M. L. BOYLE. 

 Saunders and Otley. 



THE story of these volumes by a lady who now makes her first appearance 

 as an authoress is founded on the history of Dumont, the mysterious State 

 prisoner, in the time of the Orleans Regency. Clifford, the hero of the tale, 

 obtains the privilege of visiting this prisoner through the influence of De 

 Brissac the governor. Acquaintance warms into friendship ; and friendship 

 prompts a young and ardent mind to aid the emancipation of the captive. 

 Destruction impends over the generous preserver from the myrmidons of the 

 government ; and he is only saved from perdition by the intercession of the 

 fascinating and lively Mirabel de Bernay, whose love for the already pre- 

 engaged Clifford urges her to procure his pardon from her former, unsuccess- 

 ful lover, the Regent duke of Orleans. The fair baronne accompanies her 

 ought-to-be lover to England disguised as his page : and what is her motive ? 

 Most strange, with the view of beholding Blanche Courtney, her more suc- 

 cessful rival. An opportune shipwreck occurs which destroys the baronne, 

 and Clifford soon after, the lady's father's opposition being withdrawn, 

 gains a wife and gets his forfeited estates restored to him through the agency 

 of the same strange and mysterious being whom he had before aided in escap- 

 ing from the Fort du Ha. 



The style of writing gives promise for the excellence of the fair debutante's 

 future works. The characters are, however, too heroic and have too little of 

 human weakness in them to allow the idea of their being natural. There is 

 somewhat of gene and formality in the composition ; but practice will soon 

 work an improvement in this particular. We hope to see more of her works. 



Marcus Manlius. In Five Acts. By D. E. COLOMBINE. Bentley. 

 8vo. fine paper, pp. 112. 



BRITISH dramatic literature is much obliged to the author of "Manlius" for his 

 attempt. Would that it had been more successful in some of the higher 

 requirements ! We have perused the whole of the play with much attention, 

 and with feelings rather favourably inclined towards the author, who would 

 seem to be a very amiable man: and not in vain. We must speak truth. 

 The play is mechanically correct ; and the spirit, feeling, and poetry are not 

 altogether wanting. It will, no doubt, prove to be a good acting play. 



The printer has done his part of the work quite & merveille. Vizetelly and 

 Branston have produced a model of elegant typography. 



