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Art XX. Joan; a Novel. By Matilda Fitz-John. In Four Volumes. pp. 1191. 12mo. Hookham. London, 1796.
Joan, or rather Joanna, Doveridge, is the orphan daughter of a nobleman, and, at the commencement of the story, is resident in the family of a clergyman, whose wife and daughter treat her with much indignity, the young lady considering Joan as a powerful rival. The arrival of Mr Byram, a young gentleman of family and fortune, contributes to render Joan's life insupportable, as Mr Byram soon distinguishes Miss Doveridge, and pays his addresses to her. He prevails on her to leave the family, and elope with him to London, where he marries her. After living a short time with her, he finds his circumstances embarrassed; and at this time his father, who is unacquainted with his former connexion, but hears of his difficulties, proposes to extricate Mr Byram, provided that he will marry a woman of fashion, whom he approves. To this proposal Byram readily agrees, and writes to Joanna that she must no longer think of him as her husband; but that, if she will give up her claim, he will allow her a maintenance, and provide for her infant daughter. This proposal she determines to comply with, since she has lost the affection of her husband; as, by so doing, she hopes to secure a future protector and friend to the little Elizabeth, their child. Byram, glad to find himself released, flies to his father, who relieves his necessities; and he is married to a Lady Jemima Fawley, the sister of Lord Armathwaite. This nobleman had been an admirer of Joanna's previous to her marriage with Mr Byram.
Mr Byram and Lady Jemima, immediately after their marriage, set off for Ireland, where they are to reside. Lady Jemima is a dissipated woman of fashion, without any affection for her husband, who soon begins to think of Joanna with returning regard. He has no society with his lady. This determines him to send a trusty Irish servant to England, in order to steal his infant daughter, Elizabeth, from his wife. The servant executes the commission, and brings the child to a country seat, where his master generally resides alone. Here Mr Byram determines to dedicate much of his time in forming the mind of Elizabeth, and giving her every accomplishment; Lady Jemima and her two daughters residing chiefly in Dublin. Her ladyship affects to believe Elizabeth a natural daughter of Mr Byram's, though she is well acquainted with his former marriage. Mr Byram dies, and leaves Elizabeth unowned and unprovided for. Lady Jemima, on this event, comes to the country, and treats the poor defenceless Elizabeth with much cruelty and cunning.
[480] Joan, after the death of Mr Byram, marries Lord Armathwaite, her first lover, and brother to Lady Jemima Byram. His lordship goes to visit his sister in Dublin, in order to inquire for Elizabeth, and restore her to her mother. This suggests an idea to Lady Jemima, who, left in indigence, and overwhelmed with debts, that she may conceal the real Elizabeth, and palm one of her own daughters upon Joanna as hers. This she effects. She sends the real Elizabeth to London, as a companion to a friend of her own; in which situation a new history commences, highly interesting, but of too great a length and intricacy to admit of a detail. The history ends with the discovery of the imposture; and the restoration of Elizabeth to her mother.
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We recommend this novel for uncommon originality of character and humour. The short sketch given of the story has not done justice to its merit. It is agreeably varied, without being too complicated. Most of our late novels superabound in sentiment, but are deficient in incident. [complete]
Provided by Julie A. Shaffer, January 2000
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