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ART XIV. The Advantages of Education; or, The History of Maria Williams. A Tale for Misses and their Mammas. By Prudentia Homespun. In Two Volumes. pp. 480. 12mo. Lane. London, 1794.
The author of the above work wishes to present an innocent, if not an instructive, entertainment to young minds. She has often lamented, that the majority of modern novelists, instead of imitating the nature, wit, and vivacity, of Fielding, or the interesting morality of Richardson, disgust or mislead the public taste, by inflated language, forced incident, an affected refinement of sentiment, and an unnatural romantic caricature, usurping the place of character.
As it is known that, in spite of every precaution, young people will prefer fictions, is it too much to wish that their hearts and understandings may not be perverted by what might afford improvement? Yet, while this kind of writers dress out life in false colours, what is to be expected? Instead of gently checking the enthusiasm of youth, that parent of bitter disappointment, they flatter all its foibles.
They excite the dangerous indulgence of love and friendship, which in their works is made to flourish best, when expressed by parental disapprobation. They introduce a number of contradictory duties, and, by perplexing the path of virtue, introduce a kind of puzzling morality. Fortune too, which at the beginning appears to place insurmountable bars between the hero and heroine, at last good-naturedly, at the expence of probability, complies. And thus, in language sufficiently signifi-[62]cant, the young reader is advised never to be intimidated by improbabilities. Lothario may reform; Eugenio may, by some propitious magic, be transformed into a man of fortune. Who knows but a sudden influx of wealthy may change even herself into a rich heiress, and suitable wife for Lord Rickly? Or his lordship's friends may, in compliment to superior merit, overlook dissimilarity of fortune. Or, last of all, as parents may mistake the word competence for superiority, when they affirm it essential to married comfort; she and the dear swain may live upon love only, in high Arcadian felicity.
Meanwhile, to the indulgence of these fantastic dreams, re-echoed by some dear confidante, she sacrifices the known duties of domestic life, and the improvement of those important hours which never can be recalled.
While reprobating the flimsy morality and turgid bombast of the generality of writers of this class, the author wishes to pay due respect to many dignified exceptions. To name them would be invidious, and certainly impolitic, as she is now going to speak of herself.
Her chief object is to delineate the maternal character in pleasing colours. As the friend, as well as the instructor, of an amiable, but inexperienced young woman; who, by filial duty and confidence, is not only preserved from the deception of a villain: but at last rendered happy, by an union with a man of merit, in a situation similar to her own.
The under-plot affords a contrast of character. A lively girl, imprudently indulged, and unhappy by the permission of acting as she pleases, may, as this novel is professedly written for very young women, suggest a useful hint to those who suppose tenderness and indulgence are synonymous.
To those who love to 'outstep the modesty of nature,' Maria Williams has no recommendation. She never attempts to confuse or to surprise. The marvellous is banished; her wish is only to be agreeable and intelligent; and it will readily be allowed that she has accomplished her object.
[complete]. Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, September 1999.
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