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Art. 30. Hesitation; or, To Marry or Not to Marry. 12mo. 3 Vols. 18s. Boards. Longman and Co. 1819.
In this tale, the character of Lord Montague presents an incongruous mixture of religious sentiments and denunciations against duelling, with romantic tirades about enthusiasm in love, and 'the frantic energies of the heart,' produced by warm climates. The attempts at jocularity savour of pertness; and in vol. ii. p. 155., a very old common-place repartee is introduced as a new acquaintance. Some inaccuracies appear in the style; as vol. i. p.74., 'I came from there.' Vol. ii. p. 13., 'In place of that glow.' This last expression is a Scoticism: but the writer's favourite language appears to be French, with which the novel is copiously interlarded. In vol. ii. p. 23. a lady is made to recommend that a member of Parliament should have more simagrée, and 'be more
agrave; la fanfaron;' and in pp. 93, 94. is a long French speech, the whole of which is palpably incorrect. At page 225. we have a touch of Italian; and a caro sposa is introduced. The obsolete French word bejaune is also dragged from its repose in the Dictionary, and appropriated by the writer as an epithet applicable to silliness and silly people.
[complete] Provided by Samantha Kirkby, September 1999.
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