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Art. IX. - The Pilgrim of the Cross; or Chronicles of Christabelle de Mowbray: an ancient Legend. By Elizabeth Helme. 12mo. 4 vols.
Notwithstanding the plentiful improbabilities which occur in this novel, a considerable interest is excited, and what is more, preserved to the last. The period of time in which the events are supposed to take place is that of the holy wars, and the scene is laid partly in Palestine, partly in England. To pourtray the manners and the costume of those remote times was a most hazardous undertaking: great allowances for this difficulty must be made on the part of the reader. He is not called upon, however, to grant a similar indulgence towards the numerous grammatical inaccuracies which disgrace these pages. We have given Mrs Helme a hint on this subject before: we now give her a second and more serious caution, as we find that she has announced for publication a History of Scotland designed for the use of young persons. Mrs Helme probably writes with a very rapid, as she certainly does with a very careless, pen. It is of the utmost importance to correct this negligence, if she undertakes to prepare books for the perusal of young persons.
The Pilgrim of the Cross, like every other production of this lady, is strictly moral: it enforces good precepts by example, punishing profligacy and rewarding virtue. [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, January 2000
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