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Art. 28. The Natural Daughter. With Portraits of the Leadenhead Family. By Mrs. Robinson, Author of Poems, Walsingham, &c. &c. 12mo. 2 vols. 7s. Boards. Longman and Rees. 1799.
Fancy has been little restrained in the composition of this novel, and the satirical talent of the writer has not lain dormant. The story may be said to possess more of entertainment than of probability; a predominance which will more readily find favour with the generality of readers, (and, critics as we are, we cannot in conscience much blame their taste,) than if it had been reversed. Marat and Robespierre are made to appear; and in affairs, we were going to say, of gallantry, - so unrestrained is the acceptation of the word! The [94] Leadenhead family we did not deem the most diverting part of the company introduced. Sir Lionel Beacon afforded us more amusement.
Mrs. R. has occasionally interspersed small pieces of poetry; which have feeling and imagination, and form by no means the least commendable part of the work. We give the following stanza from the description of a poor soldier: To mark the haughty brow severe;
To hear th'imperiour, stern command;
To heave the sigh, to drop the tear,
While mem'ry paints his native land.
To know the laurel he has won
Twines round the brow of Fortune's son,
Whilst he, when strength and youth are flown,
Shall die unknown.
[complete] Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, August 1999.
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