-
Articles/Ads
Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS: ← Page 2 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications:
Aubrey , believing herself on her death-bed . Lady Aubrey discovers that the supposed Sir Sidney is not her son , but her daughter , and passionately in love with Walsiiigh ; im . _ Isabella , and also a lady Arabella , successive objects of Walsinghani ' s affections , and both in love with him , -very generously give up their lover to their friend , Miss Sidney Aubrey . Walsingham and Miss Aubrey are of course married . This sacrifice of a lover to a friend is a piece of female benevolence
wliich , Fielding says , he believes to be in nature , because he has heard many women declare they would do it , tho' at the same time he acknowledges lienever knew an instance of its being done . Several descriptions of existing manners are just , the exhibitions of characters are not so happy , In one class of society the author falls into a very common species of false reasoning . — From a few individual instances she infers general conclusions . Her peers and peeresses are all either weak or wicked . The miseries and the vices of
the low are uniforml y deduced from the oppressions and the vices of the bi $ : a representation , in the first place , not historically true : all peers are not either weak or wicked ; and the miseries of the low are far from being uniformly , or even very frequently , derived from the oppressions of" the high , and their vices still more rarely . In the second place , this representation is not politically expedient , because , if admitted , it would encourage that dislike for nobility , whichfrom the spirit of insubordination and the fanciful notions of
, equality , is already too prevalent . Regard to truth obliges , us to make these observations . The same impartiality leads us to declare , that , with these defects , there are mingled several excellencies . There is some humour , a considerable share of pathos , many very sensible observations , and a vein of
benevolent sentiments . We shall quote a few specimens , for those readers who may not have read the book . ' The brilliant graces of Lady Arabella , tho' they embellished the circles of dissipation , were of a species too gaud y for the tranquil scenes of life . Like the splendid illuminations of a ball-room , they glittered to the vacant eye of folly , while they banished all the train of" sober enjoyments from the mind
. * The following account of the superficial instructions received at boardingschools deserves the attentive consideration of parents and guardians . ' We found Miss Hanbury extremely beautiful in person , but her mind was as entirely uncultivated as though she had been the pupil of a Siberian savage . — She had not the smallest knowledge of the world or its customs ; she passed the' daily routine of boarding-school tuition with a mechanical precision , which neither expands the heart nor enlightens the understanding . She had read authors , whose works she did not comprehend ; prattled a foreign iaraon .
¦ without knowing the meaning of the words she uttere d ; finished needle-work , - vy hich in half a century would only adorn the lumber-room of her granddaughter ; and learnt a few old lessons on the harpsichord so methodicall y dull , that they would scarcely have served as an opiate to a country ' squire , after the voluntary toil of a fox-chace . For this lingering death of every mental blossom , the conscientious governess had received a considerable anmial sum during- five years . '
From the ability with which Mrs . Robinson copies nature in many instances , we areinclined to think , that where she fails , it is ratherwhen the subjects ( such as criticism and politics ) are beyond her knowledge , than above her powers . A descriptive Sketch of the preset , t State of Vermont , one of the American States , by T . A . Graham , L . L . D . Colonel in the American Service . Dedicated to the Duke af Montrose , COL . GRAHAM' informs us , that in Feb . 1797 , the Episcopal Church # f Vermont , his native province , appointed him their agent on sp ; cial bust .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications:
Aubrey , believing herself on her death-bed . Lady Aubrey discovers that the supposed Sir Sidney is not her son , but her daughter , and passionately in love with Walsiiigh ; im . _ Isabella , and also a lady Arabella , successive objects of Walsinghani ' s affections , and both in love with him , -very generously give up their lover to their friend , Miss Sidney Aubrey . Walsingham and Miss Aubrey are of course married . This sacrifice of a lover to a friend is a piece of female benevolence
wliich , Fielding says , he believes to be in nature , because he has heard many women declare they would do it , tho' at the same time he acknowledges lienever knew an instance of its being done . Several descriptions of existing manners are just , the exhibitions of characters are not so happy , In one class of society the author falls into a very common species of false reasoning . — From a few individual instances she infers general conclusions . Her peers and peeresses are all either weak or wicked . The miseries and the vices of
the low are uniforml y deduced from the oppressions and the vices of the bi $ : a representation , in the first place , not historically true : all peers are not either weak or wicked ; and the miseries of the low are far from being uniformly , or even very frequently , derived from the oppressions of" the high , and their vices still more rarely . In the second place , this representation is not politically expedient , because , if admitted , it would encourage that dislike for nobility , whichfrom the spirit of insubordination and the fanciful notions of
, equality , is already too prevalent . Regard to truth obliges , us to make these observations . The same impartiality leads us to declare , that , with these defects , there are mingled several excellencies . There is some humour , a considerable share of pathos , many very sensible observations , and a vein of
benevolent sentiments . We shall quote a few specimens , for those readers who may not have read the book . ' The brilliant graces of Lady Arabella , tho' they embellished the circles of dissipation , were of a species too gaud y for the tranquil scenes of life . Like the splendid illuminations of a ball-room , they glittered to the vacant eye of folly , while they banished all the train of" sober enjoyments from the mind
. * The following account of the superficial instructions received at boardingschools deserves the attentive consideration of parents and guardians . ' We found Miss Hanbury extremely beautiful in person , but her mind was as entirely uncultivated as though she had been the pupil of a Siberian savage . — She had not the smallest knowledge of the world or its customs ; she passed the' daily routine of boarding-school tuition with a mechanical precision , which neither expands the heart nor enlightens the understanding . She had read authors , whose works she did not comprehend ; prattled a foreign iaraon .
¦ without knowing the meaning of the words she uttere d ; finished needle-work , - vy hich in half a century would only adorn the lumber-room of her granddaughter ; and learnt a few old lessons on the harpsichord so methodicall y dull , that they would scarcely have served as an opiate to a country ' squire , after the voluntary toil of a fox-chace . For this lingering death of every mental blossom , the conscientious governess had received a considerable anmial sum during- five years . '
From the ability with which Mrs . Robinson copies nature in many instances , we areinclined to think , that where she fails , it is ratherwhen the subjects ( such as criticism and politics ) are beyond her knowledge , than above her powers . A descriptive Sketch of the preset , t State of Vermont , one of the American States , by T . A . Graham , L . L . D . Colonel in the American Service . Dedicated to the Duke af Montrose , COL . GRAHAM' informs us , that in Feb . 1797 , the Episcopal Church # f Vermont , his native province , appointed him their agent on sp ; cial bust .