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Art. 21. The Bachelor and the Married Man, or the Equilibrium of the Balance of Comfort. 4 Vols. 12mo. 16s.6d. Boards. Longman and Co. 1817.
This novel is written in a familiar and unaffected style; religion and morality are throughout treated with respect; and the reader’s suspense is so kept up as to enliven his interest in the denouement. The 'Equilibrium in [sic] the Balance of Comfort' is, however, scarcely maintained; and the author's verdict in favor of 'the married man' seems to be given on the principle of Dr Johnson's observation, that ‘matrimony has many pains but celibacy has no pleasures.’ The characters of Rosa and Florence are rather over-[440]drawn, and the conversation of Vivian is too silly to appear natural in a man of mature age. Various dialogues are given between persons of quality, which might have been omitted without loss; and we must remark that, when Florence, being on a visit to Lady Cardonnel, and required to attend her father who is dying, sets off without taking leave of her hostess, this is an unnecessary piece of rudeness, and the more obvious because Florence begins again to pay visits in three weeks after her father's death. [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, September 1999.
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