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Art. XXVI. Nature and Art. In Two Volumes. By Mrs Inchbald. pp. 395. London: printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, Paternoster Row. London, 1796.
These volumes are of a tragic nature. They begin with the fate of two young men, who set out on an adventure to seek their fortunes in London. After trying all honest means in vain, at length it is found out that Henry can play on the violin, and by skill in this instrument he is enabled to provide for his brother, for whom he procures a living of five hundred a year. This at length leads to a deanery, and afterwards to a bishopric. William marries a lady of quality, and soon despises his brother, who was the means of his aggrandisement. Henry marries; his wife dies, and leaves him a son. Stung by his brother's ingratitude, accompanied by his son, he joins a party who are going to a settlement in Africa. The settlers are all murdered by savages, except Henry, whose violin again befriends him, and he saves the life of his son, until an accident deprives him of the power of playing to amuse them. They think that it is only obstinacy, and imprison Henry, who, fearful for his own and son's life, and hearing of an English vessel, determines to send him with a letter to his brother the bishop. This he effects, and the young Henry is presented, on his arrival [378] in London, to his uncle, who receives him with great kindness, determining to pay, in gratitude to the boy, what he had been deficient in towards his brother. The Bishop has a son of the same age with Henry, who is also called William after his father. These young men, of opposite dispositions, go together with the family, during the summer, to their country seat. Here they both fall in love, though on very opposite principles; the one to protect, the other to destroy. - Rebecca Rymer, the daughter of the curate, is beloved by Henry; and Hannah Primrose, the daughter of a cottager, is addressed by William, who gains her heart, and practises on her sincere affection for him until he robs her of her innocence, and then deserts her. She then goes through many trying situations, until she sinks into vice, and is tempted to be an accomplice of crimes for which she is sentenced to death by the very man who was her seducer, and who is now become a judge. Henry, after encountering many difficulties, goes in search of his father, finds him, and, on his return to England, marries Rebecca, after an absence of more than twenty years.
In this novel the feelings of an innocent but susceptible mind, such as Hannah Primrose's, are well described, as also the fatal effects of too easy credulity in young women, whose vanity leads them to believe the flattering tales of those in stations above them: and there cannot be a better book of this kind put into the hands of young persons than the one before us. We consider it as an excellent lesson of morality, except in one instance, where Rebecca, the daughter of a clergyman, and a virtuous young woman, is induced to own herself the mother of a child, with which she is falsely charged, and almost take her oath to the truth of a falsehood, when she knows this is no such thing; a perjury from which she seems to be saved not by the recollection and strength of her own mind, but by the interference of the generous Henry. However, the gradation by which she is led to the brink of such a precipice serves, in some measure, to account for, and render such a desertion of fortitude, and such a sacrifice to the amiable virtues, not wholly incredible. The noble sentiments, and quick conceptions, of the savage Henry, are admirably contrasted with the formality, the cunning, and selfishness of his cousin. - Hannah Rymer [sic] maintains a struggle against temptation to vice as long, and under as severe trials, as is possible for human nature - yet she suffers death. We are sorry for her fate; and could wish that she had been saved from such a weight of affliction, and so tragical an end. But the great end or moral of the fable is thus more forcibly impressed, than if after the loss of virgin honour, though deceived, she had been restored even to a moderate share of peace and consolation. [379] The betrayer, judge, and condemner, of this young woman, is very properly consigned to the stings of remorse, the severest punishment that could be inflicted even by poetical justice. The misery as well as vice incident to high life is well described; and those in humbler stations are taught, in this moral and very interesting drama, a lesson of contentment with their lot. Yet, although the authoress consoles the poor with the hope of heaven, we do not entirely approve of her doctrine, that the bulk of the community should leave the management of all public affairs to those who have studied the science of politics, in the same manner as we leave to the physician the care of restoring our health.
Mrs Inchbald is well acquainted with the nature of the mind, and the conduct of the passions; and, without the lest affectation of learning, she is really a respectable moral philosopher. [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, January 2000
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