tions who has now been named, and how base are the motives which he attributes to our minister.

Let us pass from such silly and vile insinuations to strong probabilities which recent events may be held to have completely demonstrated to be undeniable truths.

Lord Palmerston must in no inconsiderable degree have been influenced by the desire to check the progress of the French in the East. They had, contrary to promises, retained possession of Algiers; they are looking towards Tunis and Tripoli; and have for a series of years been endeavouring to establish extraordinary relations with Mehemet Ali; so that had the Pacha been allowed to retain Syria, and if that country as well as Egypt had become by the consent of Europe hereditary possessions in his family, a formidable ally of the Erench would in all probability have existed in the East, so as to render France too powerful in Europe, and dangerous to our Indian possessions and influence in Asia.

Again, it is not to be credited that Lord Palmerston was callous whether Turkey should fall into the hands of Russia or not; or that he did not see, if a war broke out in the dominions of the Sultan, that the Czar would step in and jeopardise directly our Indian empire. Prevention was a far safer and cheaper measure than an attempt to expel.

Egypt and the Red Sea, since the introduction of steam naviganon, and the wonderful increase of steam-power in the hands of the most enterprising nation in the world, whose possessions and intercourse reach every quarter and almost every corner of the globe, became objects of extraordinary interest to our merchants. A passage to or from Bombay might be completed in the same number of weeks, that the Cape route took months. The condition and affairs of the Turkish empire therefore peremptorily claimed the attention of our government; and the importance of the passage of Suez could not be any longer overlooked while the increase of power, the ambition, and the arrogance of Mehemet Ali did not admit of further forbearance or of undecided steps.

But in proportion to the decision and the late triumphs of the British have been the disappointments and wrath of the French; nor is it unlikely that they may seek to cultivate an alliance with Russia in contemplation of neutralizing our success, which, it is believed, is galling to Nicholas. Let them; for even were we at war with both of these great powers, Egypt and Syria might in a short time be placed on such a footing by us as would defy the whole of Europe -colonized as well as conquered by the hundreds of thousands that might be brought to these keystone countries from India and from the British isles. We must therefore conclude that if Lord Palmerston's policy and success be followed up wisely and steadily,

England never was more powerful or in a more enviable situation than at this moment; and that the rage of France is a proof of this superiority and of her own humiliation, let Urquhart and Attwood say what they will.

1. Mercedes of Castle.

COOPER, ESQ. 3 vols.

ART. V.

A Romance of the Days of Columbus. By J. F.
Bentley.

2. The Tower of London; An Historical Romance. By W. H. AINSWORTH. Bently.

3. Tippoo Sultaun; a Tale of the Mysore War. By CAPTAIN MEADOWS TAYLOR. 3 vols. Bentley.

4. Longbeard, Lord of Loudon: a Romance. London: Bull.

5. Night and Morning; a Novel. By the Author of "Eugene Aram,' &c. 3 Vols. London: Saunders and Otley.

6. Poor Jack. By CAPTAIN MARRYAT: with Illustrations by C. STANFIELD, R. A. London: Longman.

We shall not recur to the oft discussed questions with regard to the rules which should guide the writers of what are called Historical Romances; how recorded facts and real character should be dovetailed with fiction and imaginary persons; and, what may be the effects of such composite productions upon the earnest student of the past who looks for absolute and naked truth. The occasion is not sufficiently important to require any nice disquisition on the subject. A few words will suffice, especially as regards the two first mentioned works, to describe their character and merits.

It will be conceded that he who undertakes to compose a romance of the kind promised in the above works must have his mind fully imbued with the history, the complexion, the very atmosphere, in all its phases, of the period upon which he casts himself. We should say that his reading and sympathies must have made the era and some particular occasions, incidents, and personages in it dear to him; so that he writes from a teeming impulse, rather than that he reads, or crams, in order to write. But this is not all; for uncommon skill and art are required so to dispose of the real with the unreal that the period and the actors in it may be mirrored and reflected, with such effect as to bring into one great picture its ideality,-its very genius and poetry. Scott was possessed in an unrivalled degree of the pre-exquisite knowledge and sympathies to which we have referred; and not less of the artistic skill to do these pre-requisites ample justice, so as to bring epochs with a master-painter's powers fully and touchingly before his readers, and to avoid offending our certain knowledge" by over drawing or perverting familiar facts and

established realities. It was by means of certain fictitious characters to whom, and descriptions of romantic incidents, to which all the real historical circumstances and personages were made subservient in his fables, that these fables told so strikingly what he meant to convey, and picture so faithfully an age; while even in the portraiture of his imaginary beings there was such a strict regard paid to human nature as never, (we are speaking throughout in general terms) to violate our feelings of propriety-our common sense apprehensions. If we, however, apply these canons to Mr. Cooper's romance, we shall find him greatly deficient.

The work is heavy: this is our first observation. It is unreal: which is our second. But why? We answer,-because he has so contrived the plot, and so worked it out, that the interest which the reader takes in it, abides chiefly with the real historical characters and events,-Isabella and Columbus, the voyage, &c.—while of these there is nothing new conveyed, nor better told, than has often been done before. We look in vain in his fictitious and imaginary creations for novel, or even for strikingly brilliant lights; neither do these deeply, much less pre-eminently engage the attention. They hardly excite one's fine sympathies. Ozema, the sister of a Cacique, is one of these creations, but she is merely a Minerva-press composition. The Hunter of the Deserts, and the Saltwater Sailor are better, and bring the author upon elements and among scenes where he has chiefly distinguished himself. But otherwise the romance is a failure both as to construction and execution. It is verbose, tame, and unsatisfactory.

Mr. Ainsworth has not been more successful, if we test him by the Scott standard, although his failure has not arisen from precisely the same mistakes and incapacities.

The subject of his romance is the tragic story of Lady Jane Grey, the lovely, the learned, and the pious. But he is not faithful to history; neither is he more true to consistency in the details. So much for his imbuement of fiction with requisite truth. Then he has trammelled himself with a false idea of what is possible or necessary in the sort of picture intended; for having determined "to leave no part of the old pile unillustrated," we have so much of tedious and minute description as becomes absolutely tiresome, the tale being thereby obstructed, divided, and spoiled; so that there is no strong and prominent image of the time or of the principal actors produced. To be sure we are made to sup plentifully upon horrors, and therefore the Jack Sheppard style of colouring is seldom for any considerable space amissing. But whether this will make up for the legitimate method of powerfully impressing the feelings, which is done by making stern or horrid realities work with a fine, melting, or generously arousing efficacy upon the imagination, we leave it to others to judge. There is sometimes considerable dra

matic power displayed in the dialogue, and the descriptions are frequently, taken piecemeal, graphic. But when combined the whole is incongruous and disturbing to the mind. Mr. Ainsworth attempts on occasions drollery, in which, however, we find nothing better than caricature; and his grotesque characters are unnatural; while those that live in history are either rendered tame by him, or unlike

the truth.

We pronounce "The Tower of London," a locality and a subject so ripe with curious and stirring information and associations, to be neither strikingly illustrative of actual history, nor abstractedly of human nature; and even George Cruikshank's pencil-aids cannot supply what is wanting, or make amends for what is wrong; clever as many of the Illustrations are in respect of effect. The designs however are often as badly conceived as the drawing is bad; and the copperplate etchings are miserable things.

We feel considerably relieved on turning to the "Tale of the Mysore War," and which, while exhibiting no less knowledge of Indian character and Oriental scenes than did the "Confessions of a Thug" by the same author, is less revolting and more varied. Captain Meadows Taylor has besides given us the historical hero Tippoo Sultaun with great force and distinctness; we should say with eminent success in point of truth, although a mixed character that has perplexed many describers. He has also made his qualities come out in action, and with no mean dramatic power; these qualities being extraordinary subtlety and apprehensiveness of intellect, combined with excessive vanity, gross ignorance, and Mahomedan superstition. But while our author's knowledge of Indian character, life, scenery, and history, together with his pictures of military movements and habits are striking, he is too diffuse and anxious, like Mr. Ainsworth, to tell all that he knows, and to cram his pages with particulars, to allow his tale its proper straightforward effect. But not to be more particular or hypocritical, let us in a word give these volumes the preference over those of the preceding authors named in this paper, by saying that the picture of Indian life is not only true, and vigorous, according to all the ideas which we have gathered of it, but that Captain Taylor's mind is so imbued with its spirit and sympathies, that what in the abstract would appear exceedingly gross, impure, and horrid in the eyes of a European, have far less offensiveness in his representations; thus demonstrating that he has looked upon these things with a discriminating eye, and as one who judges of the whole, even when he seizes upon a part.

Let us first of all see how he deals with the troubles of Polygamy:

"Leaving Kasim with his tents, which had arrived and were being pitched for the accommodation of Ameena, the Khan, accompanied only by his ser

vant Daood, rode into the Fort, to his own house, in order to break the news of his marriage to his wives, and to prepare them for their new associate. There is sure to be a storm,' he said, and it may as well burst upon me at once.'

"Alighting therefore at the door, where he was welcomed affectionately by his servants, the news quickly spread through the house that the Khan was come. He only delayed while he washed his feet and face, to cleanse them from the dust of the road, as well as to refresh himself a little ere he passed on into the zenana.

"The two ladies, who had expected his arrival, and who had employed a person abroad to inform them of it, were sitting on a musnud at one end of the room, with their backs to the door. As he entered, the gurgling of their hookas became doubly loud; a few slave-girls were standing about the apartment, who made low salaams as he approached them; but the ladies neither rose nor took the slightest notice of him.

"The Khan was surprised at seeing them together, as when he had left them they were bitter enemies; and he stopped suddenly in his approach. It was evident at once to him that they had heard of his marriage, and made common cause against him; he was justly enraged at this, and at the want of respect, nay insult, with which they now received him.

"Kummoo-bee! Hoormut- bee!' he cried; 'women! do ye not see me? Where is your respect? How dare yet to sit as I approach? Am I a man, or am I less than a dog, that ye take no more notice of me than if I were a stone? Speak, ye ill-conditioned!'

"Ill-conditioned!' cried Kummoo-bee, who, though the youngest wife, was the worst-tempered, and who led the reply ill-conditioned! Alla, Alla! a man who has no shame-a man who is perjured—a man who is less than a man-a poor, pitiful, unblest coward! Yes,' she exclaimed, her voice rising with her passion as she proceeded, a namurd! a fellow who has not the spirit of a flea, to dare to come into the presence of women who, Inshalla! are daughters of men of family!—to dare to approach us, and tell us that he has come, and brought with him a vile woman-an unchaste-"

"Hold!' cried the Khan, roused to fury as the words fell on his ear, advancing and seizing a slipper which was on the ground, ' dare to say that again, and I will beat thee!'

"Yes, beat us, beat us!' cried both breathlessly at once; 'beat us, and our cup of shame will be full. Beat us, and you will do a valiant deed, and one that your new mistress will approve of,' cried Hoormut.

'Ye will re

"Alla, Alla! an old man, one with white hairs, to bring a new mistress to his wives' house! Shame, shame!' vociferated Kummoo. "I tell thee, women, she is my wife!' roared the Khan. ceive her as such this evening; and cool your tempers in the mean while, or, by Alla and the Apostle, I will send ye both to your relations; and they may keep ye or not, as they please, for I will not. So bethink ye what ye do. This is my house, and, Inshalla! I will be its master :' and so saying, and not waiting to hear any reply, he left the apartment."

We shall copy out other two scenes; the first giving us not only